From establishing the very first hospitals to founding many of the world’s great universities, the Catholic Church has been at the forefront of healthcare for centuries, recognizing that caring for the sick is an act of mercy and a work of justice.
The earliest Catholic hospitals, such as those founded by the Benedictines, were more than places for physical healing—they were sanctuaries where body, mind, and soul were cared for as one. Likewise, Catholic universities such as the University of Bologna and the University of Paris pioneered the integration of rigorous scholarship with moral formation, creating a foundation for modern medical education.
Faith and Science: Partners in Healing
Catholic moral teaching has long supported scientific and technological innovation that is committed to sound bioethics and a respect for the dignity of the human person. True progress in medicine never sacrifices moral clarity for the sake of innovation; instead, it harnesses innovation to serve the person as God created them.
This is why the Catholic tradition has historically championed new methods of care, from aseptic surgery and anesthesia, to modern imaging and lifesaving medications, always balancing advancement with ethical responsibility. For example, Gregor Johann Mendel, a Catholic Augustinian monk and priest, is considered the father of modern genetics. His groundbreaking work on heredity laid the foundation for the genetic and molecular insights that power today’s precision medicine.
The Next Chapter: Precision Medicine
The future of medicine lies in precision technologies and approaches that allow us to work with the way God designed our bodies rather than against them. Instead of applying a “one-size-fits-all” treatment, precision medicine evaluates the unique genetic, metabolic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that may be preventing the body from functioning at its best.
What makes this approach so powerful is that it provides a root-cause analysis. Rather than managing symptoms, precision medicine tries to identify the specific reason why the body is unwell, and uses that insight to design targeted strategies that treat the cause, not just the condition.
Through advanced diagnostic tools, AI-driven multiomics, and comprehensive lab analysis, precision medicine allows us to:
- Understand each patient’s unique biology.
- Identify the underlying causes of illness or dysfunction.
- Deliver targeted interventions designed for that individual.
Why Precision Medicine Belongs in Catholic Healthcare
In my previous Solidarity blog posts, Revolutionizing Orthopedic Care, When One Size Fits All Doesn’t Cut It, and In a World of Generalized Medicine, Personalized Healthcare is Difficult to Secure, I’ve shown how personalized care improves outcomes, reduces costs, and honors the dignity of each person. Precision medicine is the most advanced form of this personalization.
It allows healthcare to:
- Respect individuality by treating each patient as an unrepeatable creation of God.
- Avoid unnecessary harm by preventing ineffective or overly aggressive treatments.
- Treat the cause, not just the symptom by addressing the root problem for lasting healing.
- Steward resources wisely by directing care where it will make the most impact.
Preserving Access Through Ethical Innovation
Medical technology is advancing faster than the healthcare system can adapt. We now have the ability to analyze genetics, leverage AI-driven diagnostics, and perform advanced lab testing to understand the body in extraordinary detail. Yet outdated systems, especially the insurance coding structure built on a procedural framework, often prevent patients from receiving these breakthrough tests and treatments. As I noted in my Blaze Media op-ed, rigid coding systems can severely limit access to individualized care, even when precision medicine would be the most effective approach.
One of the blessings of being part of a health sharing ministry is flexibility. At Solidarity, we are not bound by restrictive insurance templates, so we can support members in accessing advanced diagnostics and therapies that might otherwise be out of reach, always in harmony with our moral commitments.
Looking Forward
Just as the Catholic Church once led the world in creating hospitals and universities, we are called now to lead in creating the next generation of care, care that is both faithful and forward-looking. Precision medicine embodies that call.
By combining the timeless wisdom of Catholic moral teaching with the best technology available, we can build a healthcare model that honors God’s design, seeks the root cause of illness, restores health more effectively, and treats every person with the dignity they deserve.
In Solidarity,
