History of the Student Section

Written by: Emma Pero (Student Section President 2021-2022)

Have you ever wondered what it would look like if both of your passions and worlds collide? 

This was the question I was asking myself as I entered into my second year of pharmacy school at UMD. My days were filled with so many lectures and guidelines that I knew were not right or ordered at all and they most definitely were against our beliefs as Catholics. And I figured that I couldn't be alone in thinking and knowing that this was wrong and that I wanted to practice medicine in a way that did not compromise my salvation but in fact helped myself achieve Heaven. 

Around October of 2020, I was introduced to the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) by Father Mike our Newman Chaplin. It was then that this question of could my two worlds ever collide came into reality. Upon learning about the CMA I was in complete shock that the two worlds that I knew I was called to and created for were coming together in this beautiful way.

I was excited to join the student section that Duluth must have for the CMA. Upon looking for this student section here in Duluth, the Lord was revealing a totally different plan than the one I had in mind. There was not a student section nor had there ever been one. My heart kind of sank at this point wondering how on earth I could manage school and start a student section if this is what this all meant. I soon realized through prayer this is what the Lord was calling me to do-start a student section for the health professional students in the Duluth area. 

In order to be a student section, you must first have a practicing physician in the area who is also a part of the CMA be your mentor. For the longest time, I had no idea that Duluth had a local guild. So there I was telling everyone I know to email me if they know any devout Catholic doctors in the area. 

However, one day I stumbled upon Saint Raphael's Local Guild website. I was floored when I saw that this local guild was in Duluth! It was truly a miracle. I found Gordy’s email and messaged him immediately. Gordy was delighted in the idea of having a student section under the leadership and mentorship of the local guild that he is the vice president of. We met after morning mass one morning and officially met. From there we decided to have a follow-up meeting with the president Dan, as well,  in order to get us all on the same page. On March 10, 2021, Dan, Gordy, Gordy’s dog (Josie), and myself walked to the lake walk to discuss the visions and goals of the student section. I will never forget that morning! It was quite hysterical (if you know how Dan and Gordy are together you know what I mean!) 

I knew that Katie Warner, a current 1st-year pharmacy student at the time, would be all for this newfound collision as well. And so for roughly the next year it was Katie and myself designing and brainstorming lists of names to reach out to, contact, and have one on one meetings with to explain this incredible organization to.   

It was slow-moving progress for many months after our initial lake walk meeting.  There was a lot of one-on-one recruiting meetings, praying for students' yes's, perseverance, and forming wonderful relationships with our mentors Gordy and Dan!

The Lord had a different timeline in mind. He revealed to us all the missing piece in forming our student section fall of 2021 at the start of a new school year. I have had many friends involved in the recruitment process with me as this is what I talk about the majority of the time. When a close friend told me about a friend she knew from attending young Catholic formation programs growing up who was starting medical school here in Duluth I knew this was another opportunity for a recruitment meeting. In September I reached out to Tony Ukkelberg thinking it would be the normal recruitment meeting where the student is very interested in CMA but does not have the time to help form the student section and serve in a leadership position. Well, that was not the case with Tony. This had been an answer to recent prayer as he too was struggling even within the first month of medical school with the moral and ethical issues that are placed on us. 

It was now, with 3 strong leaders on fire for God’s true call and hope in the CMA to help guide us to Heaven while serving in our little v vocation that we have been called to that we were able to officially form our student section. 

On September 28, 2021, we became the first Catholic Medical Association Student Section in Duluth MN. I (Emma Pero) serve as our President, Tony Ukkelberg serves as our Vice President, and Katie Warner serves as our Secretary and Treasurer. Gordy and Dan are our physician mentors. We would not be where we are today as a successful Christ-centered student section if it were not for the support and prayers from our local guild and our mentors Dan and Gordy. 

September 9, 2022: At the national educational meeting of the Catholic Medical Association, University of Minnesota Duluth CMA Student Section was awarded the Outstanding Student Chapter award! The award was presented by Emma Pero and Dr. Skorich to the current student section officers: Tony Ukkelberg (President), Katie Warner (Vice President), Abbi Boehmer (President Elect), and Allison Olsson (Vice President Elect). 
The CMA Pulse of Medicine journal had a very nice article recognizing our Students. Check out the link:  Student Section Honored