FA I TH AT W O R K
Read more from our conversation with Dr. DeMarco at CatholicKey.org
FAITH at WORK By Ashlie Hand | Photo by Megan Marley
T
he vast majority of the more than 1.5 million people employed in the Kansas City and St. Joseph metropolitan areas work in secular
industries. How is faith expressed by devoted Catholics working in our area banks, law firms, doctors’ offices, restaurants, farms or auto plants? This is “faith at work.”
Vincent DeMarco, DO Dr. DeMarco is Board Certified in Family Medicine and is a physician at Family Medical Care Associates located on the St. Mary’s Medical Center campus in Blue Springs.
Q:
Tell us a little bit about your faith journey.
I was raised Catholic. I grew up going to Catholic school at St. James Parish in Liberty through fifth grade and then went to public school. I went to Truman State University, where I became involved in the Catholic Newman Center and met my wife. My wife and I have three children, Graziella (age 8), Octavia (4) and Pietro (9 months). At this point in time, part of our faith journey is raising them and teaching them about Jesus and what we believe as part of the Catholic Church.
A
Q:
Is your Catholic faith part of your professional identity, either publicly or privately?
I believe it is important to keep the Catholic faith as part of my entire identity, including my professional identity. My Catholic faith permeates how I practice medicine. I try to approach every patient with compassion and try to mimic Jesus and how he took care of people. God and Jesus are the ultimate physicians. I do not necessarily bring up God with every patient that I see; however, I try to take care of every patient equally and lead each patient in the best possible approach to their health.
A
Q:
Does your Catholic faith influence your interactions and decisions throughout the work day?
The hard part about medicine is there is not always a 100 percent correct way to manage patients and their health; that is why they call it the “art of medicine” or the “practice of medicine.” I think it is important to practice making the correct decision all the time, no matter
A
how small. This includes making sure patients come in for their follow-ups and get their labs done, as well as not prescribing meds that are not necessary nor consistent with my beliefs.
Q:
Is there a Bible verse, Scripture story, prayer, spiritual item or quote that you carry with you?
One of my favorite quotes is “pray as if everything depended on God, work as if everything depends on you.” Especially in medicine, I find this very appropriate. God gave us the intelligence and the ability to help others and heal others through interventions, including medicine, vaccines and surgery. Many times, I will run into a patient who has chronic illnesses who does not want to do anything to improve their health because they say “God will help them.” I mention this quote to them to point out that God gave us the ability to treat various diseases and the ability to take care of ourselves with his help. Medicine is not a replacement for God but an extension of his graces through his gifts to us of intelligence, research and healing in general. Additionally, I realize I also have to leave some aspects of their health to God.
A
Q:
What is your go-to Catholic/Christian/ faith-based podcast, app, radio program or station?
I enjoy the Catholic Sprouts podcast with my 8-year-old daughter. She loves it; it is a great conversation starter between the two of us. Many times, I am learning things about saints that I never knew or reconfirm what I already knew about the Catholic Faith.
A
Dr. DeMarco and his wife are parishioners at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
7
