5 minute read
JOAN FUDALA
IN MEDICINE AND MARRIAGE,
FAITH
IS INTEGRAL IN DOCTORS' LIVES
BY JOAN FUDALA
For two PPC couples, faith is at the center of their medical professional lives as well as their family time. As doctors married to doctors -- with all the inherent challenges and blessings that a shared healing profession bring -- Jacque Olmert and Brian Sidoti as well as Craig Rundbaken and Laura L'Heureux credit their faith as motivation, inspiration and salvation in serving their patients. Physicians Jacque Olmert and Brian Sidoti joined Pinnacle Presbyterian in 2004 as they were starting their family of three boys. They’ve been involved in PPC youth, mission and leadership programs; Jacque was an elder and Brian has provided counsel on ever-changing COVID trends and protocols. Jacque is a supervising physician at Dignity Health Medical Group Internal Medicine Resident Clinic and is also an assistant clinical professor at Creighton University School of Medicine’s Phoenix campus. Brian is Chief Medical Officer at HonorHealth’s Osborn Campus in Scottsdale. They both did their residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.
continued on page 12
“Given my role as a hospitalist, where I do not have the privilege of knowing my patients longitudinally,” Brian explained, “at times my faith has been a powerful connection to ease my patients and their families through one of the most difficult times of their lives. During this pandemic, I have seen incomprehensible loss of good people. At times I wonder where is God in all of this. At the same time, I have witnessed multiple occasions where faith has brought people at their darkest moments great strength and comfort. I have a deeper appreciation for how complex faith can be for some people, including myself. Praying for my patients gives me a deeper personal connection, and I’ve seen it give my patients comfort and peace.”
As the daughter of an oncologist/hematologist, Jacque saw how her father cared for and even prayed with his patients. She wanted to be just like him. “I’ll admit my Dad’s faith and my faith started me down the path to medical school, but it was the birth of my children that brought me back to church and a relationship with God. As I began practicing medicine, I saw numerous occasions where patients and patients’ families were drawing great courage and strength through their faiths. I have shared my faith with many of my patients, and have found this is sometimes a wonderful way to build trust and connection with them.”
Jacque recalled one particular patient with terminal cancer. “She was completely at peace every time I saw her. I asked her how she could be so upbeat and seemingly happy. She smiled and told me because she was grateful for the wonderful time she had had on earth and how she was looking forward to her time in heaven with her Lord and Savior. It caused me to re-examine my own relationship with God.”
Doctors Laura L'Heureux and Craig Rundbaken joined Pinnacle recently after attending for several years. Craig provided a moving testimonial to the PPC congregation January 2nd; they are both seeking ways to get involved
in PPC service areas. They met in Iowa while pursuing their doctorates in Osteopathic Medicine, married, and have one daughter. Laura initially specialized in obstetrics/ gynecology, but changed her focus to sleep medicine. She opened Womenzzz Sleep Health in Sun City West, where she currently practices. Craig is also in private practice in Sun City West where he has a special interest in sleep disorders and valley fever.
“I feel that faith in God is a large part of why I became a physician,” Craig said. “The amazing anatomic organization of the human body and the physiology is a sign of creation. I was curious to better understand this, and felt working with patients’ acute and chronic illnesses would give me a better understanding as well as be gratifying and add meaning
to my life. I have had to deal with critical illness, and at times families have asked me to pray with them, as they understand medical science and technology can only go so far. I have learned from my patients to take a deeper look into faith in God. This has helped me be more empathetic, at peace, to slow down and enjoy my life’s work.”
Laura agrees with Craig that faith influenced her career choice. “I wanted a meaningful career which would not just serve to benefit myself, but the lives of others. My faith has taught me to respect others, no matter their differences, which is very basic to rendering care to others. I believe all living creatures are beautiful gifts from God, and it’s a privilege to take care of them.”
“My experiences during medical training strengthened my faith,” Laura continued. “I remember the first time I scrubbed in for surgery and saw how incredibly intricate the inside of your body appears. There can only be one explanation for this quandary between randomness and planned organization: God!”
Both couples agree that combining medical careers and family has its challenges and blessings. Doctor Jacque
summed it up: “We feel it is a blessing that we can completely understand all the challenges of our profession, including the time commitments, mental drain and politics. It is also a blessing to be able to come home and express our frustrations and have our spouse not only be able to understand but commiserate.”
– Dr. Brian Sidoti
PHOTOS - Page 14, left column, Drs. Brian Sidoti and Jacque Olmert, right column, Drs. Craig Rundbaken and Laura L'Heureux.
JOAN FUDALA is an author and community historian. She’s been a member of Pinnacle since 2012, serving as a trustee on the Pinnacle Foundation board, and co-chair for Amigo’s group.
