Sean Daly, Joseph Mullally, and Michael Nicholls
Category: Medical Student/Resident Poster Winner
Love Thy Neighbor: The Church in Poland’s Response to the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis in Light of the Preferential Option for the Poor
Sean Daly, MS21, Joseph Mullally, OMS32 and Michael Nicholls, OMS23
1Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
2Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
3A.T. Still University of Osteopathic Medicine Arizona
Abstract: The Catholic Church in Poland is central in providing support to the nearly 14 million Ukrainian refugees that have crossed into Poland since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. The objectives of this case study are to identify the biblical and magisterial underpinnings for the Church's preferential option for the poor, to explain how the Church in Poland acted on these inclinations during their response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and how the choice to flee to Poland impacted the coping strategies of Ukrainian refugees. A literature search was conducted using PubMed for data relevant to the subject matter, and background information from different fields was compiled into a cohesive and explanatory narrative. Interviews with Ukrainians also provided anecdotal context through unique lived experiences in hope and faith. The Russo–Ukrainian War began in February 2014, and tensions gradually increased, culminating into a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia 8 years later. Of the Ukrainians that fled, 60% went to Poland, a country whose population is 85% Catholic, making it one of the most Catholic countries in the world. In both Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis’ first Apostolic Exhortation, and in his General Audience on August 19, 2020, he describes the preferential option for the poor as the core of the Gospel. Christ emptied Himself to serve the poor, named the poor as blessed in the Beatitudes, and reminds His followers in Matthew 25 that “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” From these truths of Scripture flow magisterial promptings of the faithful in the virtue of charity and the corporal works of mercy. The depth and breadth of the care provided by the Church in Poland well exceeds even generous expectations.
Results/Findings: Bishops requested that diocesan centers, parishes, and retreat homes be opened to house refugees, medical aid was offered at rail stations by the Polish Knights of Malta, Catholic universities provided educational, psychological, and spiritual support, and collections in Parishes to assist refugees exceeded 60 million USD in the first 3 weeks of the invasion. Several hundred Catholic charitable organizations in Poland mobilized when attacks began. Caritas Poland alone was able to organize 20,000 volunteers through its 210 diocesan centers in early 2022 and continues to help today. The choice to flee to Poland is motivated not only by proximity but also by Polish support for an independent Ukraine, an idea whose roots can be traced to Pope John Paul II's efforts in the 1980s. Ukrainians, who are mostly Eastern Orthodox Christians, found the Church's care in Poland to be one that promoted their own religious well-being, which has repeatedly been shown to be essential in healing during traumatic events and in maintaining social connections. The Catholic Church in Poland has truly loved its neighbor as itself, serving as a model for living out the Gospel as one body. We are called to do the same. Future research is warranted to better understand the significant impact of this incredible response.
References:
Assistance to Refugees from Ukraine by Catholic Parishes and Religious Orders in Poland | European Website on Integration. Aug. 30, 2023, https://ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/library-document/assistance-refugees-ukraine-catholic-parishes-and-religious-orders-poland_en. Dickinson, Peter. “Poland and Ukraine: The Emerging Alliance That Could Reshape Europe.” Atlantic Council, Apr. 13, 2023, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/poland-and-ukraine-the-emerging-alliance-that-could-reshape-europe/. Evangelii Gaudium: Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World (24 November 2013) | Francis. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium.html#Fidelity_to_the_Gospel,_lest_we_run_in_vain. Accessed Sep. 4, 2023. General Audience of 19 August 2020—Catechesis “Healing the World”: 3. The Preferential Option for the Poor and the Virtue of Charity | Francis. https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2020/documents/papa-francesco_20200819_udienza-generale.html. Accessed Sep. 4, 2023. Harmash, Olena. “Ukraine Suffers Biggest Economic Fall in Independent Era Due to War.” Reuters, Jan. 5, 2023. www.reuters.com, https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/ukraines-economy-falls-304-2022-minister-2023-01-05/. Mazurczak, Filip. St. Pope John Paul II and Ukraine. https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2022/04/14/st-pope-john-paul-ii-and-ukraine/. Accessed Sep. 4, 2023. Mróz, Franciszek. “Geographies of Care: The Catholic Church in Poland’s Assistance to Refugees from Ukraine During Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine.” Journal of Religion and Health, vol. 62, no. 1, Feb. 2023, pp. 444–64. Springer Link, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-022-01729-9. Nairn, Thomas A. “Roman Catholic Ethics and the Preferential Option for the Poor.” AMA Journal of Ethics, vol. 9, no. 5, May 2007, pp. 384–87. journalofethics.ama-assn.org, https://doi.org/10.1001/virtualmentor.2007.9.5.msoc2-0705. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable | USCCB. https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catholic-social-teaching/option-for-the-poor-and-vulnerable. Accessed Sep. 4, 2023. Oviedo, Lluis, et al. “Coping and Resilience Strategies among Ukraine War Refugees.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 20, Jan. 2022, p. 13094. www.mdpi.com, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013094. “Poland: Ukrainian Refugees Crossing the Polish Border 2023.” Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1293228/poland-ukrainian-refugees-crossing-the-polish-border/. Accessed Sep. 4, 2023.
Margaret M. McCann and Richard D. Dortch
Category: Research/Case Study
Leveraging Tissue Clearing to Validate Novel MRI Markers of Nerve Injury and Recovery
Margaret M. McCann, MD-PhD student1 and Richard D. Dortch, PhD2
1Creighton University School of Medicine and Barrow Neurological Institute Department of Translational Neuroscience
2Barrow Neurological Institute Department of Translational Neuroscience
Abstract: Peripheral nerve injury can cause devastating, lifelong disability and occurs in up to 5% of Level 1 trauma patients (Noble et al. 1998). Severe injuries require surgery, but up to 40% fail (Mafi et al. 2012). Early detection and correction of failed surgeries is crucial to long-term recovery. Current biomarkers (e.g., electrodiagnostics) are limited prior to end-organ reinnervation, impeding our ability to detect failed repairs. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) method that provides specific biomarkers that correlate with injury severity and de/regeneration (Takagi et al. 2009); however, novel MRI applications must be validated in preclinical models. Current standard use; conventional histology which creates a mismatch between 2D histology and 3D MRI images. The objective of this study is to develop novel 3D histology methods in peripheral nerves for the purpose of novel MRI biomarker validation. Healthy rat sciatic nerves (N = 20) were harvested for whole-mount immunolabeling. Multiple protocol parameters were investigated. For the final protocol, nerve structure was protected with intramolecular epoxide linkages (Park et al. 2019), cleared (Chung et al. 2013), and neurofilament was immunofluorescently labeled. Nerves were then whole mounted using a custom-built device and imaged on a confocal microscope (Nikon A1R). Images were obtained at multiple locations/depths and stitched together to form a 3D volume.
Results/Findings: Preliminary results show robust and consistent labeling in 120-micron sections with resolution sufficient for fiber tracking. These data are being correlated with ex-vivo DTI for validation purposes following sham, crush, and cut/repair procedures at three time points: acute (2 weeks), sub-acute (4 weeks), and chronic (12 weeks). We predict DTI biomarkers will identify sciatic nerve injury/recovery more specifically than behavioral measures, and that DTI acquired 4 weeks after injury will predict 12-week recovery outcomes, results which the immunolabeling will confirm.
References:
1. Chung, K., et al. 2013. “Structural and Molecular Interrogation of Intact Biological Systems.” Nature 497 (7449): 332–337.
2. Mafi, P., et al. 2012. “Advances of Peripheral Nerve Repair Techniques to Improve Hand Function: A Systematic Review of Literature.” The Open Orthopaedics Journal 6 (1): 60–68. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874325001206010060
3. Noble, J., et al. 1998. “Analysis of Upper and Lower Extremity Peripheral Nerve Injuries in a Population of Patients with Multiple Injuries.” Journal of Trauma 45 (1): 116–122.
4. Park, Y.-G., et al. 2019. “Protection of Tissue Physicochemical Properties Using Polyfunctional Crosslinkers.” Nature Biotechnology 37 (1): 73–83.
5. Takagi, T., et al. 2009. “Visualization of Peripheral Nerve Degeneration and Regeneration: Monitoring with Diffusion Tensor Tractography.” NeuroImage 44 (3): 884–892.
Charlie Peters
Category: Philosophy/Bioethics
Fatima, Faith, Trust, and Truth
Charlie Peters, MD
Abstract: During the Fatima apparitions, the Blessed Virgin Mary delivered a three-part message: (1) vision of hell, (2) WW II prophecy and that “Russia would spread her errors throughout the world,” (3) persecution of Christians and the need for penance. With the sexual revolution's advent came an upsurge in artificial contraception and abortion resulting in grave harm to marriage, family, and a right understanding of gender. Process/Composition: Faithful catechesis coupled with valid scientific truths is desperately needed. A six-topic education program characterized by courageous declarations of the God-given meaning of marriage, sexual relations, gender, family, and Eucharist is proposed: (1) Fatima Marian Apparitions and the Three Secrets. Resources: West, C. “Eclipse of the Body: How We Lost the Meaning of Sex, Gender, Marriage, & Family” Totus Tuus Press 2018; Gorny, G., Rosikon, J. “Fatima Mysteries: Mary's Message to the Modern Age” Ignatius Press 2017. (2) God's Plan for Marriage. Resources: West, C. “Theology of the Body Explained: A Commentary on John Paul II's Man and Woman He Created Them.” Rev. Ed. Pauline Books 2007; Altier, R. “God's Plan for Your Marriage: An Exploration of Holy Matrimony from Genesis to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.” Sophia Inst. Press 2022. (3) “Humanae Vitae,” Natural and Artificial Contraception. Resources: Pope Paul VI. Humanae Vitae, 1968 www.vatican.va; Human Life International www.hli.org. (4) The Christian Family and Responsibilities of Parents and Children. Resource: Bartel S., Grabowski, J. A Catechism For Family Life: Insights from Catholic Teaching on Love, Marriage, Sex, and Parenting” CUA Press 2018. (5) God Created Them Male and Female: Gender Dysphoria and Its Ungodly Treatments. Resource: Amer. Coll. of Pediatricians “Gender Dysphoria in Children” www.acpeds.org, Nov. 2018. (6) Holy Eucharist: True Presence, Catechesis and Evangelization. Resource: Barron, R. “This Is My Body: A Call to Eucharistic Revival” Word on Fire 2023. Events Held/Results: Study outlines and questions developed for each topic. Future Directions: To offer this program with religious education, parish-based discussion programs, bulletin inserts, days of reflection, podcasts, etc.
