The Intersection of Faith and Healthcare

Truett Seminary’s new Master of Arts in Theology and Healthcare seeks to prepare students to think faithfully about the practice of medicine in light of the Gospel. 

Christians working at the intersection of faith and vocation often find themselves needing to think deeply about the commitments that shape their daily work. Acknowledging the need to train thoughtful and faithful leaders in diverse contexts, Baylor’s Truett Seminary has created new programs and degrees designed to equip those serving in a variety of areas in and alongside the Church. 

This commitment is embodied by leaders like Jason Whitt. Along with a number of others, his vision to offer theological training for healthcare providers led to the creation of the new Master of Arts (MA) in Theology and Healthcare at Truett Seminary.

“This program offers students the opportunity to spend one year in intentional, rigorous biblical, theological, and spiritual formation before beginning their medical educations,” says Whitt. “For students who desire to practice medicine faithfully, it is the chance to spend time asking questions about the aims of medicine. ‘What is health?’ ‘What is healing?’ ‘What do we believe about birth, death, suffering?’ ‘What does it mean to live a good life and how does medicine fit into that pursuit?’ And, most importantly, ‘How does our shared Christian faith help us answer all of these questions?’”

The MA in Theology and Healthcare was established because of a recognition that there is an acute need among Christian medical practitioners for formalized theological training so that they are prepared to draw upon the riches of the biblical and theological tradition in order to name and challenge the unexamined assumptions that orient the practice of medicine today. 

Bridging the Gap and Focusing on the Whole Person 

Set to launch in the summer of 2025, this degree is designed for students to complete in one year. This gap year program offers participants the opportunity to immerse themselves in robust theological training that prepares them to engage faithfully in the world of medicine. 

More than 70% of students entering medical school in 2023 took a gap year, spending this time in practical work, additional study, or experiences fostering personal growth. 

Recognizing there is an acknowledgment among these students that additional preparation is needed prior to beginning medical education, this degree offers both personal and intellectual formation that not only aids them in succeeding in the classroom but also as practitioners serving others in healthcare.

Following Truett’s seminar-style classes, this program is built on a cohort model to foster a learning community. Students will also engage in spiritual formation, where growth intertwines with shared experiences and enables participants to cultivate life-giving friendships that extend beyond the classroom. This journey nurtures union with God and fosters mutual encouragement and accountability among peers, enriching each student's holistic development.

“When we were in the process of imagining what this program could be, our conviction was that it needed to be oriented around a cohort model,” says Whitt. “We knew that in studying together, sharing meals together, and praying together, the friendships that developed would sustain the students well beyond their time at Truett.”

Gaining Expertise across Campus 

Through collaboration with renowned faculty at Baylor, a Carnegie R1 doctoral university, the new MA equips students to engage deeply with the biblical, theological, and ethical dimensions of contemporary medicine. The curriculum explores key topics such as illness, suffering, and the complexities of healthcare in the United States.

In addition to core courses in Scripture and theology, the degree offers specialized courses on subjects like the Christian tradition in healthcare, bioethics, pastoral care, vocation, and Christian witness. It also includes a practicum and frequent interactions with healthcare leaders, such as physicians, administrators, chaplains, and ethicists.

“Participants will have the opportunity to choose from a range of electives, connecting with faculty experts across various disciplines,” says Whitt. “These elective options cover areas such as philosophy, public health, ethics, end-of-life care, and disability, allowing each student to shape their learning according to their unique interests and future aspirations in healthcare.”

Future of Christian Healthcare Providers

While the program aims to provide future healthcare workers with the tools to think faithfully about practicing medicine in light of the Gospel, it is mindful of the balance of integrating personal beliefs into the practice of medicine. 

Through this degree, students will develop a foundation rooted in Christian principles as they are sent into the world to practice medicine as faithful healthcare providers. 

“The world needs Christian physicians who are first excellent in the practice of medicine. This is the starting point. From there, Christians earn the right to speak into the key questions of our day—regarding ethics, policy, and practice—from the riches of the Christian tradition,” said Whitt. “Yet, their convictions must always be accompanied by the witness of their lives and actions that mark them as a distinct people: those whose practice of medicine is oriented by the love of neighbor and a commitment to walking faithfully alongside every patient, whoever that person may be.”

To learn more about the new Master of Arts in Theology and Healthcare at Baylor’s Truett Seminary, visit our website.