Who We Are
The St. Basil Society is composed primarily of students at UT Southwestern Medical Center—including medical, graduate, and allied health students. Our membership also includes UTSW faculty and staff, as well as other healthcare professionals and friends from the community. Although our focus and background is Catholic-Christian, all are welcome to join the St. Basil Society, regardless of faith background. We are an approved UTSW student organization, as well as a chapter of the national Catholic Medical Association Student Section.
St. Basil Society was started in 2008 by a group of UT Southwestern students (now physicians) and faculty:
The Society was founded with 4 essential goals:
Our organization has been growing for more than a decade now. Leadership has changed hands, old members have graduated, new members have made their mark, events have evolved and come and gone, but the heart of the St. Basil Society has remained the same: to provide a home for Catholic UTSW students, faculty, staff where members can grow in relationship with Christ to become more of who God has called them to be.
*Disclaimer: Basilsociety.com is published by St. Basil the Great Society, a registered student organization. Basilsociety.com is not an official publication of UT Southwestern and does not represent the views of the university or its officers.
St. Basil Society was started in 2008 by a group of UT Southwestern students (now physicians) and faculty:
- John Mulvahill, MD
- April Taylor, MD
- Jamie Frediani, MD
- Trevor Turner, MD
- Dave Ronderos, PhD
- Tommy Heyne, MD
- Robert Collins, MD (faculty)
- Jim Brugarolas, MD, PhD (faculty)
The Society was founded with 4 essential goals:
- Sponsor academic forums covering topics of interest to Catholic clinicians and researchers.
- Encourage volunteer service activities for the local and global community.
- Sponsor the annual White Coat Mass and other opportunities for communal Mass, prayer, and study of the Bible or other spiritual texts.
- Encourage socializing and networking among its members.
Our organization has been growing for more than a decade now. Leadership has changed hands, old members have graduated, new members have made their mark, events have evolved and come and gone, but the heart of the St. Basil Society has remained the same: to provide a home for Catholic UTSW students, faculty, staff where members can grow in relationship with Christ to become more of who God has called them to be.
*Disclaimer: Basilsociety.com is published by St. Basil the Great Society, a registered student organization. Basilsociety.com is not an official publication of UT Southwestern and does not represent the views of the university or its officers.
Catholicism in Medicine
Catholic Christianity has played in the development of compassionate, effective medical care aimed particularly to the poor. We have established the St. Basil Society to attempt to continue that role. “For as you did unto these least brothers of mine, so you did unto me…”
Did you know about these examples of the deep connections between medicine and Catholicism?
- 70% of Jesus’ reported miracles were those of healing
- St. Luke was a doctor
- Some of the first physicians to practice medicine free of charge (called ‘Ανάργυροι’ in Greek) were Catholic-Christian saints, including the brothers Saints Cosmas and Damien.
- The world's first public hospital was founded by a Catholic saint (St. Basil).
- Most medieval hospitals, leprosaria, and scientific scriptoria were run by Catholic monks.
- Universities (and accompanying medical schools) were inventions of Catholic Europe.
- The Royal College of Physicians was founded by a Catholic, Thomas Linacre, who became a priest.
- Modern anatomy was discovered by a Catholic (Andreas Vesalius).
- Genetics was discovered by Gregor Mendel, a Catholic priest.
Did you know about these examples of the deep connections between medicine and Catholicism?
- 70% of Jesus’ reported miracles were those of healing
- St. Luke was a doctor
- Some of the first physicians to practice medicine free of charge (called ‘Ανάργυροι’ in Greek) were Catholic-Christian saints, including the brothers Saints Cosmas and Damien.
- The world's first public hospital was founded by a Catholic saint (St. Basil).
- Most medieval hospitals, leprosaria, and scientific scriptoria were run by Catholic monks.
- Universities (and accompanying medical schools) were inventions of Catholic Europe.
- The Royal College of Physicians was founded by a Catholic, Thomas Linacre, who became a priest.
- Modern anatomy was discovered by a Catholic (Andreas Vesalius).
- Genetics was discovered by Gregor Mendel, a Catholic priest.
St. Basil the Great
The St. Basil Society was named after St. Basil the Great, who lived from the years 330-379. He was born in Caesarea of Cappadocia, and as a young adult, practiced law and opened a school of oratory before deciding to become a monk. St. Basil the Great founded several monasteries, and eventually became bishop of Caesarea. While he is best known for his skills as an orator, which he used to spread the faith and denounce many heresies and immoral practices, he is also widely known for his care of the poor, sick, and disadvantaged. St. Basil built what might have been the world's first hospital (referred to as the Basiliead) while he himself was suffering many ailments! He is a Doctor of the Church, the patron saint of hospital administrators, and his feast day is celebrated on January 2.