Science, Religion, and Pop Culture -- A Surprisingly Healthy Mix

— A conference at the Vatican brings together a diverse group

by David Nash, MD, MBA, FACP, Contributing Writer, �鶹��ý May 18, 2018

David Nash is the Founding Dean Emeritus and Dr. Raymond C. and Doris N. Grandon Professor of Health Policy at the Jefferson College of Population Health. He is a board-certified internist. Follow

Late last month, I was photographed by English actor Orlando Bloom while sitting beside Katie Perry.

In the front row of the small gathering were renowned author Deepak Chopra, cardiac surgeon/television host Mehmet Oz, MD, neurosurgeon/medical reporter Sanjay Gupta, MD, and award-winning broadcast journalist Max Gomez.

The charismatic author/life coach Tony Robbins was scheduled to speak – and, even more amazing, we were to have an audience with Pope Francis.

Was I dreaming? Or had I accidentally ingested a hallucinogenic substance?

No! I – a nice Jewish boy from New York – was an invited guest in the Vatican to attend "," the fourth international conference sponsored jointly by the Vatican Pontifical Council for Culture, The Cura Foundation, the Stem for Life Foundation, and Science, Theology and the Ontological Quest (STOQ).

This all came about as a result of my long-time association with a world renowned thought leader and expert in cell therapy research, Robin Smith, MD, MBA. (See this �鶹��ý column for more on that.)

This unique biennial event – a veritable "Davos for healthcare" – brought together disparate stakeholders and decision-makers from around the globe to help advance breakthrough technologies and disseminate knowledge broadly with a laser focus on improving human health, preventing disease, protecting the environment.

An ambitious goal – especially in light of the fact that the proceedings were conducted with thoughtful consideration of a wide spectrum of cultural, religious, and societal implications.

Over the 3-day conference, I met countless scientists and physicians, ethicists and sociologists, and representatives of major religions, governments, businesses, and philanthropic organizations.

They, along with patients and families, were engaging in constructive dialogue about vital topics ranging from genetic testing and wellness, to patient advocacy and bone marrow donation, to advancements in treating rare diseases, to the rapidly accruing evidence that inflammation may be the link between all diseases.

Why devote a column to this event?

What distinguishes the Vatican Conference from other international meetings is not the science but rather the ingenious model for global dissemination of cutting-edge health information with a unified voice.

It smartly and deftly engages an unlikely mix of internationally respected genetic scientists, religious leaders, celebrity journalists to distill and present important information.
It packages and disseminates information intelligibly to a global audience via social media.

The power of the model is impressive; during and for several days following the previous conference (2016), more than a quarter of a million online "hits" elevated the conference to one of the top worldwide social media topics for several days.

I look forward to returning in 2020 for the next event – and perhaps sitting next to another celebrity who shares our common values.

David Nash, MD, MBA, is founding dean of the College of Population Health at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, and a board-certified internist renowned for his work in public accountability for outcomes, physician leadership development, and quality-of-care improvement.