Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative

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Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative

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The TMC Initiative seeks the renewal of health care by forming clinicians for faithful practice and public witness.

10/06/2026

Meet Clayton Hicks, a medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine and an incoming TMC Fellow!

Born in Canada and raised in northern Indiana, Clayton joins the fellowship between his third and fourth years of medical school. During his training, he completed a master’s degree in bioethics and developed a deep interest in the ethical questions surrounding medicine.

At TMC, Clayton looks forward to exploring what the profession of medicine should look like from a Christian perspective and how physicians can faithfully walk with and minister to patients who are suffering. He is especially excited to engage deeply with a community exploring the intersection of theology and medicine.

Outside of school, Clayton loves to read and is continually growing his personal library. He is always looking for a good book recommendation!

We’re grateful for Clayton’s desire to keep Christ at the center of his life and future practice.

10/02/2026

We’re excited to introduce Christopher Wyrtzen, a recent Duke University graduate and one of this year’s TMC Fellows!

As a Duke undergrad he played rugby, served as an intern with Cru, and conducted research at the Duke Center for Hyperbaric Medicine, earning his bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering.

Born in Minnesota, Christopher grew up across Indonesia and Singapore, which motivated his desire to care for underserved communities. Christopher has served in Uganda, Madagascar, Indonesia, and Guatemala, focusing on building and repairing medical equipment.

At TMC, he hopes to explore how he can practice medicine in the way of Jesus and how spiritual health impacts physical health.

He is also looking forward to the fellowship’s food, conversations, and community. Outside of school, Christopher enjoys basketball, rugby, running, hiking, and exploring nature.
We’re grateful for Christopher’s compassion, technical creativity, and commitment to bringing care where it is most needed.

09/30/2026

Meet Audrey Wrede, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Washington and one of our TMC Fellows!

During medical school, Audrey volunteered at a local faith-based clinic serving underserved patients. There, she saw how attending to spiritual care can benefit both patients and clinicians. Her experience mentoring other medical students at the clinic has also drawn her toward a future in medical education.

At TMC, Audrey hopes to explore how faith can guide our understanding of suffering and grief. She is especially looking forward to learning from the other fellows and deepening her vision for whole-person care.

Outside of medicine, Audrey enjoys crafting and has recently taken up sewing.

We’re grateful for Audrey’s commitment to whole-person care, mentorship, and faithful service.

09/11/2026

We are off to an incredible start! We are thrilled to be back for Practice & Presence 2026. A huge debt of gratitude to Meek Squad and our first plenary speakers, Drs. Ellen Davis, Farr Curlin, Patrick Smith, and Brett McCarty. Welcome to the nearly 185 attendees joining us this weekend! Duke Divinity School

08/28/2026

We can’t believe immersive week has come and gone! We have been blessed by the presence of our hybrid students this week—we’ve laughed, cried, gotten our hands sticky with dough, played, prayed, and made lifelong friends (oh and we learned some things too). Wishing all safe travels to wherever you call home after this incredible week together! Duke Divinity School

08/26/2026

Join TMC Associate Director Brett McCarty in Cambridge this fall for the Christianity & Public Health Conference! Co-hosted by the Veritas Scholars Program and the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, this gathering will explore the vital intersections of Christianity and public health research and practice.

This 1-day conference will take place Saturday, October 24th from 9-5pm on Harvard's campus. Dr. McCarty will be discussing "Christian Reflections on Substance Use" with colleagues Tracy Balboni and Andi Clements.

Find the full program and register at the link in our bio!

Human Flourishing Harvard Duke Divinity School

08/20/2026

Book your stay in TMC's hotel room blocks for Practice & Presence by 5pm on August 21st!

Tomorrow is the final day to book your stay at the JB Duke Hotel or The Lodge at Duke Medical Center. We have just a few reserved rooms available! Visit the Practice & Presence website for lodging details. Link in bio.

08/14/2026

One week left to book your room through the Practice & Presence hotel block!

If you’re joining us in Durham this September, now is the time to secure your lodging and take advantage of our discounted group rates at:

• The Lodge at Duke Medical Center ($139/night) • JB Duke Hotel ($245/night)

Hotel block rates expire in one week.

Visit our website for booking details and links.

08/07/2026

It can be hard to live and move as an integrated whole, loving God "with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). In this plenary, "Practicing Coherence: Living as an Integrated Whole," a pianist and a physician—two friends whose collective work spans art, moral formation, and Christian practice—explore how the Trinitarian Godhead forms us toward coherence, and how the beauty of Christ crucified invites fuller integration of body, mind, soul, and spirit, especially where there's been rupture and wounds.

Join us for Practice & Presence: A Gathering for Christians in Health Care September 11-12 for this conversation with Mia Chung-Yee & Brewer Eberly.

Address

407 Chapel Drive
Durham, NC
27708

Website

https://linktr.ee/dukeTMC

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