When studying to become a physician, medical students may pledge to practice medicine with honesty, integrity, and compassion in order to best meet the needs of their patients. With this in mind, mastering both academics and compassion for others has made Christine (Reeve) Renner the doctor she is today.
Moving with his family to the Dayton area when he was 12, Renner attended Incarnation School in Centerville from grades 6 to 8, then Alter High School. “The science curriculum I took in school, especially some of the more advanced biology classes offered at Alter, helped develop my interest in how the human body works,” he said. Renner said.
After attending advanced science classes and extracurricular activities, including helping students in sports medicine and being a member of the Science Olympiad, she was excited to see what her future held. I got my bachelor’s degree from a state university and then four more years of medical school.
“I was interested in science and medicine from an early age, but I didn’t make the final decision to apply to medical school until I was in college,” Dr. Renner said. “But my science-educated background and faith-building experience in Catholic school made it an easy decision…and I don’t regret it.”
After graduating from medical school, Dr. Renner trained in both OB/GYN and maternal-fetal medicine (high-risk obstetrics) and earned a master’s degree. She now resides in Louisville, Kentucky, where she practices maternal-fetal medicine and cares for pregnant women and their babies when either suffers high-risk complications.
Dr. Renner said: “If you get frustrated and things don’t go the way you’ve planned, take a step back and remember that God has a perfect plan. This perspective helps me with everything from minor inconveniences like being late for work in traffic to caring for a critically ill patient in the ICU who won’t recover despite my best efforts.”
“On the other side of the coin, my work also helps strengthen my faith,” Dr. Renner said. “The more I learn about the human body and all the ways things can go wrong, the more I appreciate the miracles when things go right.
She said that while some people might not associate the medical profession with faith-based thinking, the combination is indeed possible. I was terrified at first, realizing that it is probably one of the most ethically challenging medical specialties for Catholics. So my vocation has become very fulfilling.”
This article was published in the January 2023 edition. Catholic Telegraph MagazineFor a free subscription please click here.
