Albany Catholic Medical Guild wins prestigious award

Jan Patterson (c.), president of the Albany Catholic Medical Guild, is presented an award for the guild’s service to the Albany Diocese at the CMA’s 94th Annual Educational Conference. Those presenting the award included Mario R. Dickerson, M.T.S., executive director of the Catholic Medical Association, and Michelle K. Stanford, M.D., the president of the CMA. (Provided photo)

The Albany Catholic Medical Guild was proud to take home its first award from the National Catholic Medical Association Conference in Kansas City. 

Dr. Jan Patterson, president of the Albany Catholic Medical Guild, was presented a Pillars Certificate at the conference, an award that honors a guild’s service to their diocese in at least three out of five CMS pillars: education, spirituality, fellowship, growth and service.

The CMA’s 94th Annual Educational Conference, held on Sept. 4-6, drew 120 local guilds from across the country. Only seven of the guilds took home a Pillars Certificate. 

“This is the first time we won an award, so we’re all excited,” Patterson told The Evangelist.

Patterson, who operates Gianna of Albany Health and Fertility Center, compiled an application for the award over the summer, showcasing the work their local chapter has done. Since its inception in August 2022, the Albany guild has organized a handful of educational talks and spiritual retreats for members and the public to come together and discuss relevant issues and topics impacting the Catholic medical community.

“The mission is to support and uphold doctors so they can imitate Jesus Christ in their profession,” Patterson said of the guild. “That’s why we have those pillars because you need camaraderie and fellowship, and you need education and spiritual formation in order to imitate Christ as best as possible in your work life.”

Patterson says more talks and retreats hosted by the guild are coming this year, including a Health Care Professionals and Respect Life Month Mass and blessing on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 4 p.m. at St. Edward the Confessor Church. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger. All doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and health care professionals are invited to attend.