É«»¨ÌÃ

St Gianna

Mission Driven Healthcare in a Profit-Driven World

Under the intercession of our patroness, Saint Gianna Beretta Molla, we at the Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences seek to serve the health care needs of the people in this region and beyond by preparing participants of this conference to transform health care at all stages of life by upholding the dignity of the human person through compassionate, courageous, ethical, and joyful care.

Learning Objectives

  • Participants will recognize their responsibility to advocate for healthcare structures that balance financial realities with compassionate and just care.
  • Participants will recognize the significance of upholding human dignity and the preferential option for the poor and vulnerable within a healthcare system influenced by financial pressures.
  • Participants will consider how the use of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare can be used to advance the common good.
  • Discuss how advances in genetic science can be harmonized with Catholic moral teachings, respecting human dignity and the sanctity of life.
  • Participants will engage in virtuous practice of self-care to promote personal and patient mental health and avoid burnout. 

2025 Conference: December 5-6

É«»¨ÌÃ's Bismarck Main Campus

Founders Hall | Lumen Vitae University Center

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Ashley Fernandes Headshot

Ashley K. Fernandes, MD, PhD, is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Primary Care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and the Associate Director of the Center for Bioethics at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He has become a national and international expert in pediatric bioethics and professionalism education, and currently serves as the Director of Resident Ethics Education at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. His other scholarly interests include Catholic and Christian Bioethics, clinical pediatric ethics, the philosophy of medicine and medical professionalism, and Medicine and the Holocaust studies. He has presented his work at international and national forums and is the author of scores of peer-reviewed publications and three book chapters. After 13 years practicing hospital pediatrics, he is now an active member of the Primary Care Division. Dr. Fernandes is a member of the Catholic Medical Association and the American College of Pediatricians. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was an elected member of the AAP’s National Executive Committee on Bioethics. He is also a member of the AOA Medical Honor Society and a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, receiving the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine award twice—in 2020 and 2010. In 2020, he was awarded The Ohio State University College of Medicine’s Professor of the Year Award, the highest teaching award bestowed by a graduating class. In 2022, he was elected by The Courage to Teach Society faculty as a Master Teacher. 

Sister É«»¨Ìà Greger

Sister É«»¨Ìà Diana Dreger, OP, MD, is a Dominican Sister of the Congregation of Saint Cecilia (Nashville, TN).  Since 2007, she has practiced internal medicine, currently with Saint Martin Medical Care serving the Sisters in her community.  She previously worked for 10 years serving a predominantly uninsured immigrant population.  She graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School (2001) and completed residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt (2004).  She served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Vanderbilt in the Department of Medicine for 13 years, is board-certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine, and is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.  She completed the National Catholic Bioethics Center certification program with distinction (2011) and a Masters in moral theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut (August 2019).  Sister became an active participant in the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) in 2006 and has served the organization at the local and national levels in multiple capacities.  She is currently a member of the CMA Board of Directors as an advisor to the president.  She has presented over 200 talks across the country and in Canada on topics related to education, medicine, faith, and ethics to high school, college, parish, clergy, and medical audiences.

Dr. Monlezun

Dominique J Monlezun, MD, PhD, PhD, MPH is the world’s first triple doctorate-trained physician-data scientist and AI (artificial intelligence) ethicist. He earned his first AI-focused PhD in Global Health Management & Policy and his second PhD in Global Bioethics (recognized by Microsoft as producing the world’s top AI ethics doctoral dissertation). He serves as a board-certified hospitalist physician and Assistant Professor for Mayo Clinic, Professor of Bioethics and AI Ethics for 3 United Nations-affiliated universities for the Global South, Executive Director for the Center for Responsible AI and Global Health, and the Principal Investigator and Senior Data Scientist-Biostatistician for over 100 research studies associated with Harvard University, the National Institutes of Health, the European Union, and the African Union, among others. He has authored over 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations, in addition to the first 6 comprehensive AI textbooks on quantum health, health platforms, healthcare systems, global public health, bioethics, and multicultural metaphysics. He created QBAM-PS AI statistics, AI-driven Computational Ethics (AiCE), and Personalist Social Contract ethics after co-founding the preventive cardiology field of Culinary Medicine. He has provided medical care for over 10,000 immigrant, incarcerated, and underserved patients.

Caroline Aragon

Caroline Aragon, MS, CGC is a board certified and licensed genetic counselor who is dedicated to personalized, faith-based genetics care. She currently provides telehealth genetic counseling for a range of genetic indications at MyCatholicDoctor. With an emphasis on prenatal genetic testing and diagnosis, Caroline’s practice offers integrative care that prioritizes informed consent and decision making. Her primary focus is helping patients and families understand and adapt to information about genetic risk or genetic diagnosis. Caroline completed her undergraduate degree in biology from Hillsdale College. She went on to obtain her Masters in Counseling from the University of Minnesota and certification from the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). Her graduate research focused on identifying underlying genetic etiologies for congenital ventriculomegaly and hydrocephalus and resulted in several publications. Through diverse experiences in family advocacy and support, clinical study management, laboratory variant interpretation, and model organism research, Caroline has developed a holistic and comprehensive approach to patient care and bioethical advocacy. Caroline is a member of the American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs (AAPLOG) and a member of the medical advisory board at Be Not Afraid, an organization that connects parents to support services following a prenatal diagnosis.

Dr. James Link

A native of Richardton, James Link, PsyD, LP received his graduate education in theology and psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. In addition to his faculty position at the É«»¨ÌÃ, Dr. Link has been in private practice as a licensed psychologist in Bismarck for 18 years. He works closely with local Catholic schools, providing counseling, assessment, and presentations to students and staff. More recently, Dr. Link has been working toward his diplomate in behavioral sleep medicine and provides treatment to patients experiencing sleep disorders.  Dr. Link specializes in the integration of faith/spirituality within the domain of psychology and treats the whole person from a Catholic based anthropology. He conducts extensive work for Catholic Dioceses in the upper Midwest, focusing on evaluations for seminarians, the permanent diaconate, and religious life. He also serves as an expert witness on annulment cases for various diocesan Tribunals. Dr. Link is frequently asked to speak on the integration of psychology and spirituality. Dr. Link is a member of the Society for Behavioral Sleep Medicine, the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy, the Catholic Medical Association, the Catholic Psychotherapy Association, and the Bismarck Catholic Physicians Guild. Dr. Link and his wife, Tonya, have seven children and live in Bismarck.  

Dr Louise Murphy

Dr. Louise Murphy is a  North Dakota native, graduating from Carrington High School. She attended the É«»¨Ìà and the University of North Dakota for her undergraduate degree, followed by medical school at UND.  She completed her residency in family medicine at the Bismarck Campus Family Medicine Residency and remained at the residency as an Associate professor while also seeing patients part-time, followed by a transition to Assistant Dean of Medical students for the Bismarck Campus.  In 1999, she retired from administrative duties and entered part-time practice in Family Medicine with St. Alexius-Mandan Clinic, followed by a part-time position with Mid Dakota Clinic until 2020, when she retired.  Louise is married to Robert Biwer, with whom she has three grown children and five grandchildren, all below the age of 5!   In our free time, Louise and her husband enjoy family time at their cabin on Lake Audubon and sailing on Lake Sakakawea. Dr. Murphy has been the medical director and a board member of the Pro-Life Women's Care Center in Bismarck since its inception in 2010. She also serves as the president of the Catholic Physicians' Guild for the past 8 years and has been a member since its inception in 2010. 

Full Schedule of Events

  • 3:15 – 5 pm — Bioethics Debate (Butler Hall)
  • 8 pm — The UÉ«»¨Ìà Late Show with Special Guest (Lower Living Room, Lumen Vitae University Center) 
  • 7 am — Mass (Our Lady of the Word Chapel)
  • 7:30-8 am — Registration is Open
  • 8-8:30 am — Welcome and Opening Remarks, É«»¨Ìà Dockter, PhD and Monsignor James P. Shea
  • 8:30-9:30 am — Hard Days but Never Bad Days: Finding Moral Meaning in the Business of Healthcare, Dr. Ashley Fernandes
  • 9:30-10:30 am — Healthcare for the Poor: Upholding Human Dignity, Sr. É«»¨Ìà Diana Dreger
  • 10:30-10:45 am — Break
  • 10:45-11:45 am — Responsible AI's health transformation: Human-centered economics and the common good, Dr Dominique Monlezun
  • 11:45 am-12:15 pm — Panel
  • 12:15-1:45 pm — Lunch
  • 1:45-2:45 pm — In the Creator’s Image: Upholding Human Dignity through Genetic Technologies, Caroline Aragon
  • 2:45-3 pm — Break
  • 3-3:50 pm — Healing the Healers: Faith-Inspired Self-Care to Prevent Burnout in Medical Professionals, Dr. James Link and Dr. Louise Murphy
  • 3:50 - 4:15 pm — Panel
  • 4:15-4:30 pm — Closing Remarks, Assessment, Closing Prayer
  • 7:30 pm — Christmas at É«»¨Ìà Concert  at Our Lady of the Annunciation Chapel (optional)
  • 7:30 am — Mass (Our Lady of the Word)
  • 8 – 8:30 am — Check-In (Casey Center Foyer)
  • 8:30 am-12 pm — Breakout Sessions Coming Soon.