To the Heights: MedCon 2026

By Talia Caridi

Imagine: The year is 2065. You are surrounded by your grandchildren at Christmastime when your young granddaughter reveals to everyone that she is pregnant. Her boyfriend is not supportive and encourages her to get an abortion (illegally at this point since abortion is rightfully outlawed in your state). She has her first prenatal appointment this coming week. What kind of physician do you want her seeing? What kind of care do you know that she needs and should receive? 

If you are a member of the CMA, you envision an upcoming generation of physicians practicing truly compassionate care in medicine grounded in Catholic principles and faith. That generation starts now. The CMA has educated hundreds, if not thousands, of medical students and residents through their annual Boot Camp, and frequently offers scholarships for these same young people to attend the Annual Education Conference. But what if we could ground, educate, and establish community amongst students before they begin medical school? The good news is that through MedCon, we can.

MedCon is a weekend of fellowship and formation for the next generation of health care professionals. It aims to inspire and equip premedical students by giving them a Catholic foundation to face the challenges of training in our modern era.

Our theme for MedCon 2026 is “To the Heights.” Recently canonized St. Pier Giorgio Frassati called those around him to journey in this way to the heights of holiness. This year, we invite students to summit the heights of holiness in healthcare after the example of the Divine Physician Himself.

The conference will be held on April 24-26 at The University of Notre Dame. Last year, we served about fifty premedical students, and our goal is to reach one hundred this year!

Matthew LaPorte, a past attendee and a small group leader for MedCon 2026 shared the following about his experience:

“Within minutes of arriving at MedCon 2025, I was struck by the strong sense of shared vision and solidarity among both attendees and hosts. There was a widespread recognition of the joy and purpose that our Catholic faith brings to the practice of medicine, alongside an honest acknowledgment of the challenges posed by certain aspects of the modern healthcare landscape. As a Catholic premedical student who hopes to practice medicine in a way that faithfully respects the teachings of the Church, I found the conference both encouraging and refreshingly candid about the real difficulties of doing so in today’s world.”

LaPorte found that through the talks, over meals, and in personal conversations with Catholic physicians, MedCon offered practical insight into how Catholic doctors across specialties navigate this changing field today—reflections he really appreciated.

“MedCon 2025 gave me greater clarity and confidence as I continue discerning my path in medicine, while also providing an enjoyable experience with others who share many of my values. I highly recommend it for anyone interested,” he added.

Do you know a premedical student to invite to register for this amazing event? Will you pause now and pray one Memorare for the success of MedCon 2026 and the future of Catholic healthcare?

Psalm 119:9 says,  “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to thy word.” Let us encourage the young people in our lives to live according to the Word who is the Way. Let us build upon the generations of courageous physicians who have paved the path of charity before us. Finally, let us discover anew our own story of transformation and live according to the Truth this Lent and always.

The post To the Heights: MedCon 2026 appeared first on Catholic Medical Association.

Categorised in: Uncategorized