The 2026 Newman Forum Summer Institute will be held Aug 5-9th, at Mundelein Seminary. 

In this 5-Day Summer Institute, high school students are introduced to college-level philosophy and theology by exploring together the rich theme of the journey in the Western and Catholic intellectual tradition. Our texts will be drawn from the Bible, Greek Mythology, and Christian literature, theology, and spirituality from the Medieval Era to the modern day. In our expedition together—alongside the likes of such adventurers as Odysseus, Augustine, Dante, Bonaventure, Teresa of Avila, and Don Quixote—we will consider what it means to set out as sojourners and pilgrims longing for a true homeland in which we’ve never lived, to act heroically in the face of a broken world, and finally to return home to God, accepting the call to be saints. 

Open to all high school students, including outgoing 8th graders and incoming college freshman.

Cost of attendance includes room, board, supplies, and excursion costs. Applications received prior to May 15 qualify for the Early Bird Attendance Fee: $250. Applications received after May 15 will qualify for the Regular Attendance Fee: $450. Scholarships are available. 

The Summer Institute is open to all rising high school students and college freshman. The Application Deadline is June 15, 2026. You can expect notification of your acceptance, or your placement on our waitlist, within two weeks of the submission deadline.   

Anselm House & Lumen Christi Institute present

"From Ancient Wisdom to Person-Centered Care: Historical, Philosophical, and Theological Foundations of Healthcare"

August 4-August 8, 2026 

At a time when many learners in the health sciences feel stretched thin, morally conflicted, or uncertain about who they are becoming, we have created a space for the hungry and the weary to slow down, ask deeper questions about the professions they are entering, and deepen their moral and spiritual perspectives as they seek purpose in the healing arts.

From Ancient Wisdom to Person-Centered Care is a 4.5-day immersive experience for graduate-level health sciences learners—especially medical and nursing students—who want time and space to reflect on the deeper meaning of medicine, faith, and vocation amid the realities of modern healthcare.

During the first 2.5 days, participants will gather around shared meals, interactive lectures, seminar-style discussions, and unhurried conversations with faculty to explore foundational texts from the Judeo-Christian tradition and its philosophical partners. Readings range from ancient Greek and Hebrew sources through figures such as Galen, Hildegard of Bingen, and Maimonides. Together, we will wrestle with enduring questions that continue to shape clinical practice today: What does it mean to care for the whole person? What is the clinician–patient relationship really for? How do calling, character, and conscience matter in healthcare? These questions will be explored in conversation with ancient wisdom and carried forward into contemporary contexts.

As the seminar unfolds, learners will also be introduced to modern philosophical and theological accounts of personhood, attending carefully to how the promise and pressure of contemporary medicine—especially where efficiency, technology, and institutional demands collide with deeply held values—can be navigated with integrity and hope.

The experience culminates in a day-and-a-half symposium with the noted physician and philosopher Daniel P. Sulmasy. His work on spirituality in healthcare will enliven participants’ imaginations as they engage him in an intimate setting with one of the leading voices at the intersection of medicine, ethics, and faith.

Hosted at the University of Minnesota, the program also includes time to explore local art and culture, participate in worship at congregations or parishes of one’s choosing, and build community with peers who seek to become clinicians formed not only by competence, but by wisdom.

If you are a graduate-level health sciences student who has ever wondered:

• What is medicine and healthcare ultimately for?
• How can I live my faith and values with integrity in healthcare?
• How do I navigate moral conflict, burnout, or disillusionment as a clinician in training?
• Who am I becoming through this work—and who do I hope to be?

—this experience may be for you.

The seminar will be led by Professors Jon C. Tilburt, M.D. (Mayo Clinic), Evan Beacom (University of Minnesota Twin Cities) & Daniel Sulmasey (Georgetown University) 

LOCATION AND FORMAT

• This is a fully in-person experience; no virtual option is available. Attendance for the full program is required. Learners interested in attending only the final 1.5-day symposium may find more information at www.Anselmhouse.org.
• The seminar will be held at Anselm House at the University of Minnesota between Tuesday August 4th and Saturday August 8th. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION

The seminar is an opportunity to meet  15 promising scholars training in the medical fields at the graduate or resident level. There are no seminar fees and reading materials are provided. 

Accommodations and most meals will be provided.

Additionally, participants will be reimbursed travel expenses up to $350. 

Application Information: 

Applicants will be required to submit a completed online application, including:  

• An updated CV/resume.
• A brief statement of research interest related to seminar theme no longer than 750 words.
• An academic letter of recommendation that speaks to the applicants academic qualifications and ability to participate in a collaborative learning seminar format. 
• All application materials can be submitted via the online application. Fifteen participants will be admitted to this seminar. 
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the seminar is filled. For fullest consideration, apply by April 6, 2026. 

This seminar is made possible by Anselm House and the support of the Lumen Christi Institutes grant, In Lumine Tuo: Expanding and Sustaining the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Nationwide (grant #63614) from the John Templeton Foundation, and the generous support of donors.

Learners interested in attending only the final 1.5-day symposium may find more information at www.Anselmhouse.org.

Contact us with any questions at seminars@lumenchristi.org.