CMA’s Boot Camp Gives Hope to Future Medical Students

By Grace Chaffins 

In the months leading up to the start of my first year of medical school, I felt fear creeping in. It wasn’t a fear of the hard work that lay ahead, or even a fear of failure. Rather, it was the fear that I would one day lose sight of my reason for going into medicine – that somewhere along the journey, it would become just another job reduced to checklists and mindless tasks. Much of this fear came from my experience working in environments where I witnessed burnout and cynicism among physicians, and where some of those doctors even discouraged me from pursuing a medical degree. I worried that the sense of purpose that first drew me toward medicine would slowly be worn down by the routine and pressure of everyday life.  

Those fears were dispelled at the 2026 Medical Student and Resident Boot Camp and my experience during that week showed me that fear does not have to define my path. I discovered that the practice of medicine, when viewed through the lens of faith, is not reduced to cynicism, nor shaped by conformity to societal views on medicine, but instead should truly be lived as a vocation. 

The CMA Boot Camp, which took place from June 14-21, 2026, provides a week-long intensive formation for medical students and residents at varying stages of their training. Covering a range of topics from prayer, to bioethical situations, to medical legal protections, it equips students with the foundations for living out the Catholic faith in medicine.  

The University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois provided the perfect atmosphere for this experience. Peaceful walking paths, the stone grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, and the chapel created a space that naturally invited prayer and reflection. In that setting, I felt the pace of life slow down in a way that is rare in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Sitting before the Divine Mercy shrine surrounded by the serenity and stillness of nature gave me the time and silence to sort through my thoughts and fears, and to more clearly recognize what I value most as I begin my formation in medicine. 

The first day of Boot Camp covered spiritual formation, including our own prayer lives as medical students and residents. The spiritual side of the week served to further expand my understanding of how to keep my faith central in my life. Starting each day with Mass, the Rosary, and the Divine Office gave me a model for how to structure my daily life in order to center myself in my faith.  

From there, we delved deeply into the main philosophical concepts that serve as the foundation for medical bioethical issues, analyzing each of the situations that were presented. From beginning of life to end of life issues (and everything in between), discussing the difficult ethical issues that I will face as a medical student and future physician gave me the confidence to approach them with clarity and peace rather than fear or uncertainty. 

I was also equipped with resources from a number of organizations and groups, such as the National Catholic Bioethics Center, that I can turn to in difficult situations. I have the reassurance that I can find help when encountering moral or ethical dilemmas that arise during my medical training. This has given me a sense of security as I prepare to navigate challenging situations. 

Additionally, I feel assured that I have a strong community of like-minded peers who are also on this journey with me. Meeting other students who are navigating the study of medicine through the lens of their Catholic faith was truly inspiring. I know that I will have this support system to lean on throughout my education and beyond.  

During Boot Camp, we also had the opportunity to receive mentorship from Catholic physicians in various specialties and regions. Hearing how they have been able to discover their own calling in medicine inspired me to continue trusting that I, too, will discover where I am specifically meant to serve. One of the biggest takeaways was seeing how the CMA physicians carried themselves. They seemed to approach their work with a deep sense of conviction and peace. In speaking about their work, they often reflected on how their faith helped them find meaning in their calling and sustain a sense of purpose in their daily practice.  

As I now look forward to beginning my medical training, the CMA Boot Camp was transformative in showing me the kind of doctor I aspire to be. It affirmed that medicine, when lived intentionally as a vocation, can remain rooted in purpose, faith, and service to others. As I begin medical school, I am determined to carry this formation with me not only as motivation through the hard days, but most importantly to see Christ in every patient I encounter and to serve with that vision in mind. 

To learn more about CMA’s outreach to medical students and young physicians visit Novus Medicus.

Grace Chaffins will be a first-year medical student at FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, the medical school of the Florida International University, this fall.

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