Practitioner Instructor Application Packet

User Manual: Practitioner-Instructor Application Packet

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6901 Mercy Road
Omaha, Nebraska 68106
Phone: 402.390.6600
Fax: 402.390.9851
www.popepaulvi.com

An Authentic Language of a
Woman’s Health and Fertility

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Practitioners
Instructors
Educators
Supervisors
Medical Consultants
Nurse Practitioners
Physician Assistants
Nurse Midwives
Pharmacists

Certificate Programs for
Creighton Model

April 5-12, 2008

Education Phase II

October 6-13, 2007

Education Phase I

Education Program Offerings

Comments from Participants

“It was a phenomenal class. I am deeply grateful to have
been instructed by the people who actually developed
the system and wrote the books! Thank you everyone
and God bless you all.”

“The dedication and approachability of the faculty
members was inspiring and it was great to hear the
personal stories behind their life’s work with Creighton
Model. The fact that they have all dedicated such large
portions of their lives to this added enormous weight to
each presentation, as it was clear that therein lay a true
belief of heart and soul.”

All graduates of these programs must be affiliated with FertilityCare
Centers of America in order to obtain Creighton Model FertilityCare
System client teaching materials.

The Practitioner, Instructor, Educator,
Supervisor and Medical Consultant Programs
are accredited by The American Academy
of FertilityCare Professionals

Omaha, Nebraska
USA

Creighton University School of Medicine
Division of Continuing Medical Education

and

Pope Paul VI Institute
for the
Study of Human Reproduction

Certificate Programs
Outlined in this
Program Offering
are Jointly Sponsored by:

CONTENTS
PAGE

Application, Deposit and Deadlines ........................................ 16

Financial Aid ............................................................................ 15

Room, Board,
and Hotel Classroom Fees ...................................................... 14

Location ................................................................................... 14

Textbook Fees .......................................................................... 13

Tuition ...................................................................................... 13

Faculty ...................................................................................... 12

Joint Sponsorship and Certificates ........................................... 11

Supervisor Program ................................................................. 11

Educator Program .................................................................... 11

Applicant Eligibility ................................................................. 10

Final Certificate Examination .................................................. 10

Continuing Education Credits .................................................. 9

International Students .............................................................. 8

Auditor Program ...................................................................... 7

Medical Consultant/Practitioner Program
Physician, Nurse Practitioner, Physician Assistant,
Nurse Midwife and Pharmacist Programs ............................... 7

Medical Consultant Program ................................................... 5

Instructor Program ................................................................... 5

Practitioner Program ................................................................ 2

FertilityCare Centers of America .............................................. 1

Introduction .............................................................................. 1

Comment from
Participant

“The Creighton Model sells itself
- no bias, just the facts.”

Faculty realizes no financial gain from their involvement in the
education programs.

This is the 30th consecutive year in which Creighton Model
Education Programs have been offered. Two organizations designed
to unite Creighton Model FertilityCare Centers nationally
and internationally are FertilityCare Centers of America and
FertilityCare Centers International.

The Creighton Model FertilityCare System provides comprehensive,
professional services through individualized follow-up, standardized
teaching tools and ongoing research. The Creighton Model is
a medically standardized modification of the Billings Ovulation
Method. It is the only education program in this field that meets the
education demands of a newly emerging allied health profession
and provides a case management approach to teaching.

The Creighton Model FertilityCare System and the new women’s
health science of NaProTechnology have been developed through a
research and education effort coordinated and directed by Thomas
W, Hilgers, MD, director of Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of
Human Reproduction and clinical professor in the Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Creighton University Medical Center.

The Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction
is the leading education and research center in the United States
in the area of the natural regulation of human fertility and the
development of morally and professionally acceptable reproductive
health services. Dedicated to Pope Paul VI’s challenge to “physicians
and health care professionals” and to “men of science,” it is a living
memorial to the challenges placed before us by Pope Paul VI in his
encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (Of Human Life).

> INTRODUCTION

October 6-13, 2007

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History of Natural Family Planning
Anatomy of the Male and Female Reproductive System
The Menstrual Cycle; Statistical Parameters
The Mechanism of Anovulation and Oligoovulation
The Physiology of the Cervix
The Physiology of Breast Feeding and Menopause
Psychodynamics of Contraception, NFP and Human Sexuality
Humanae Vitae
Philosophical Attitudes on Family Life, Family Planning and Unplanned
Pregnancy
Human Sexuality, Married Love and the Use of Natural Methods
of Family Planning
The Beginnings of Human Life
The Methods of Contraception
Physical and Psychological Aspects of Induced Abortion
Teaching Fertility Appreciation and Utilization of Good Judgment
The Natural Methods of Family Planning and their Comparative
Evaluation
Use Effectiveness of Natural and Artificial Methods of Family Planning
The Creighton Model FertilityCare System
The Importance of Standardized Teaching
Basic Chart Reading and Chart Correcting
Special System Instructions
The Scientific Foundations of the Creighton Model
Basic Principles of Follow-up
The Organization and Flow of the First and Subsequent Follow-ups
How to Conduct an Introductory Session and Follow-up
The Creighton Model Follow-up Form and Techniques of Follow-up
Critical Evaluation of the Health Benefits of Contraception
Basic Problem Solving
An Introduction to Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTechnology)
An Introduction to a Case Management Approach to Teaching

The first education phase is an eight day total immersion course.
At the conclusion of these eight days, participants should be able to
demonstrate knowledge of the following:

EDUCATION PHASE I

> CURRICULUM CONTENT

The 13 month program is the primary program for teachers. There
are two education phases, two supervised practica and an On-Site
Visit, providing education in both the basic as well as advanced
aspects of this System. Only the education phases are done on campus;
all other educational services are provided through an innovative
system of long distance supervision and On-Site Visitation.

> THE CREIGHTON MODEL FERTILITYCARE SYSTEM
PRACTITIONER PROGRAM

The Principles of Case Management
Case Management Laboratory
Basic Business Aspects and Marketing of FertilityCare Services
Utilization of Forms for Record Keeping and Standardized Teaching
Qualities of Being a Professional

Presentation of the Introductory Session
How to do a Follow-up
The Techniques of Follow-up
Use of Basic Organizational Tools
Evaluation of Case Reports
Presentation of the Picture Dictionary
Teaching Observations
Basic Case Management
Case Management Evaluation

April 7-12, 2008

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The Basic Presentation of Cases
Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTechnology)
Advanced Case Management I - Infertility
Advanced Case Management II - Unusual Bleeding
Advanced Case Management III - Management of Continuous
Mucus Discharge
Advanced Case Management IV - The Use of Yellow Stamps
The Principles of Pregnancy Evaluation
How to Conduct a Pregnancy Evaluation
Basic Communication Skills
How to Manage the Human Resources of a Creighton Model
FertilityCare Center
Basic Ethical Principles
Management of Advanced Issues
Advanced Case Management V - Difficult Cases
Advanced Organizational Aspects
Comprehensive Case Review

This education phase is a six day total immersion format, consisting
of lecture, clinical group discussion and hands-on problem solving of
the advanced aspects of teaching the Creighton Model FertilityCare
System. Participants should be able to demonstrate knowledge and
ability of the following:

EDUCATION PHASE II

> PRACTITIONER INTERNS ONLY

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The program involves a faculty supervised experience, which is six
months in duration and is to be completed at the new student’s own
home location. This structured experience develops basic teaching
skills of the program:

> SUPERVISED PRACTICUM I

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Advanced Chart Reading and Correcting
Advanced Case Management
Case Management Evaluation
Conducting Pregnancy Evaluations
Writing Goals and Objectives
Writing Job Descriptions
Completing Assignments on Advanced Case Management

SPANISH FERTILITYCARE SYSTEM
TEACHING MATERIALS

Introductory Session Critique and Review
Follow-up Critique and Review
Tour of Facilities
Comprehensive Case Review

Comment from
Participant

“Interaction with the other students
was so special. Hearing people’s
stories, sharing their sorrows and
joys made this a deeply moving
experience.”

The Creighton Model FertilityCare System client teaching
materials are available in Spanish. However, only a Practitioner
Intern who is bilingual and fluent in Spanish will be permitted to
teach in Spanish and use those materials. The bilingual student
must have successfully completed Education Phase I and
Supervised Practicum I in English prior to obtaining the
Spanish materials and teaching in Spanish. Certain Spanish
teaching materials are available to non-bilingual students during
SPII who have an opportunity to teach Spanish speaking couples
if one spouse is bilingual.

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In addition, this practicum includes an On-Site Visit by a member of
the Creighton Model faculty and/or an Educator/Supervisor Intern. At
the On-Site Visit the following will be reviewed:

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This education experience is seven months in duration and is a
supervised clinical experience at the Intern’s home location. The
clinical aspects of this supervised practicum are devoted to learning
advanced teaching skills in:

PRACTITIONER INTERNS ONLY

> SUPERVISED PRACTICUM II

Comment from
Participant

“Extra-ordinary experience! This
was an outstanding experience
of total immersion!”

If a physician is interested in the Medical Consultant Program but
Education Phase I dates pose a scheduling conflict, the physician
may attend Education Phase I in another location, but must attend
Education Phase II in Omaha. The Pope Paul VI Institute Allied
Health Education Department may be contacted for details.

Physicians enrolled in the Medical Consultant Program should
understand that the medical applications they will learn are related
specifically to the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. Therefore,
they should plan to have a FertilityCare Practitioner available
in their area. It is possible for a physician to enroll in a combined
Medical Consultant/Practitioner Program; however, this course is
demanding, and one must have sufficient time to complete it.

This is a six month program, designed to assist physicians to
incorporate into their medical practices the newly emerging science
of Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTechnology). It also assists
the physician to work in a supportive or administrative role with
FertilityCare Programs. This program involves two education phases
and one supervised practicum.

> THE CREIGHTON MODEL FERTILITYCARE SYSTEM
MEDICAL CONSULTANT PROGRAM

This is a seven month program, open to persons with less than two
years of post high school education. It is designed to provide only
basic education in the Creighton Model FertilityCare System. These
teachers may teach only under the supervision of a FertilityCare
Practitioner. The training program includes one education phase
and one supervised practicum. Only those curriculum items that are
previously outlined for Education Phase I and Supervised Praticum
I make up the Instructor Program. There is no Education Phase II or
On-Site Visit.

> THE CREIGHTON MODEL FERTILITYCARE SYSTEM
INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM

Comment from
Participant

“This course had great scientific
content and provided avenues for
great spiritual growth.”

During the supervised practicum period, those involved in the Medical
Consultant Program will be asked to give a total of three hours of
in-service lecture time on the Creighton Model FertilityCare System
to medical professionals in their area. These could include medical
students, nursing students, nurses, physicians, colleagues, etc. In
addition, there are three open book assignments. The Medical
Consultant may choose to complete either an honors project or an
honors thesis for an honors program. The honors project involves
completion of a use effectiveness evaluation using pre-designed
worksheets; the honors thesis consists of a research paper on a
topic of one’s choice related to the field of natural family planning.
Special recognition will be given to those students who satisfactorily
complete assignments for the honors program.

MEDICAL CONSULTANTS ONLY

> SUPERVISED PRACTICUM

• Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTechnology): The New Gynecologic
and Reproductive Science
• The Important Role of Medical Consultants in the Future of FertilityCare
• The Creighton Model FertilityCare System Core Curriculum
• Chronic Discharges and the Use of Criteria
• Targeted Endocrine Evaluation of the Menstrual Cycle
• Cooperative Progesterone Replacement Therapy and Medical Support of the
Luteal Phase
• The Effects of Stress
• The Evaluation and Treatment of Ovarian Cysts
• The Evaluation and Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome
• The Dating of the Beginning of Pregnancy
• The Prevention of Premature Birth
• Ovulation and its Anatomic and Functional Disorders
• Types I, II, III, IV and V Luteal Phase Deficiencies and Follicular Phase
Deficiency
• Progesterone as a Therapeutic Hormone: Human Identical Progesterone vs.
Artimones (Isomolecular vs. Herteromolecular)

In addition to those topics presented in the Creighton Model
FertilityCare System Practitioner Core Curriculum for Education
Phase I and Education Phase II (listed previously), Medical
Consultants have these additional core components:

CURRICULUM ITEMS

> MEDICAL CONSULTANT SPECIFIC

April 6-12, 2008

NURSE PRACTITIONER, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT,
NURSE MIDWIFE, & PHARMACIST PROGRAMS

The course is available for individuals who do not meet the
applicant eligibility requirements but wish to audit the program.
A physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner may audit
for CME credit; a nurse may audit for CEU credit. For credit
requires satisfactory completion of examinations offered during
the Education Phases.

> AUDITORS

A FertilityCare Practitioner who is a Nurse Practitioner, Physician
Assistant, Nurse Midwife or Pharmacist may return to Education
Phase II and complete the Medical Consultant portion of the
program. All Education Phase II dates would need to be attended:
April 5-22, 2008.

Creighton Model programs are also offered to Nurse Practitioners,
Physician Assistants, Nurse Midwives and Pharmacists. For
these programs, see applicant eligibility (page 10). These certificate
programs include a combination of the Creighton Model FertilityCare
Practitioner and Medical Consultant Programs. Both certificates
- Medical Consultant and Practitioner - will be presented upon
satisfactory completion of the Practitioner Program and all Medical
Consultant assignments and examinations.

> THE

• Research Principles in Natural Family Planning
• How to Conduct a Use Effectiveness Evaluation of Natural Methods
of Family Planning
• The Evaluation and Management of the Infertile Couple
• The Evaluation and Management of Irregular Cycles and Unusual Bleeding
• The Presentation of Actual Cases
• Surgical NaProTechnology

In addition to those topics listed for the FertilityCare Practitioner
Program, the Medical Consultant will also be exposed to the
following:

EDUCATION PHASE II

> MEDICAL CONSULTANTS ONLY

Comments from
Participants

“I met such a variety of people from all over the USA
and abroad. As I spoke to many of these people, I am
encouraged for the future and for families.”

“Professional, enthusiastic, and
convicted are the words I would use
to describe this outstanding group
of people. I am motivated to be like
them.”

Students will be invited to tour the
Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction,
6901 Mercy Road, Omaha, NE 68106.
Transportation to and from the hotel is provided.
This is an excellent opportunity to see the unique research and
education facilities of Pope Paul VI Institute for the
Study of Human Reproduction.

TOUR OF POPE PAUL VI INSTITUTE

A short period of study will also generally be available in St. Louis, and
the student will conclude study with attendance at the annual meeting
of the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals. Physicians
enrolled in the Medical Consultant Program may attend the two
Education Phases and do the remaining work at home (unless enrolled
in the Practitioner Program). These programs are dedicated Creighton
Model programs.

For students who come from countries without communication
technology (fax, phone, email, timely mail service), the program for
Practitioners must be completed over a nine month period of study at
the Pope Paul VI Institute. The student must be able to speak English
fluently. The student will be responsible for Room and Board during
this study period of nine months, although the staff of the Pope Paul VI
Institute will assist in making arrangements.

> INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

AND

Nurses
Iowa (CEU) Nebraska (hours)
72.44
724.4

Others
(hours)
724.4

Iowa Western Community College
Continuing Education Credits

Continuing education credit for nurses, social workers and allied
health professionals is provided by Iowa Western Community
College, Iowa Board of Nursing Provider #6, and Iowa Board of
Social Workers Provider #59.

These activities have been planned and implemented in accordance
with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council
for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of
Creighton University School of Medicine and Pope Paul VI Institute.
The Creighton University School of Medicine is accredited by the
ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

• The Creighton University School of Medicine designates this
educational activity for a maximum of 69 AMA PRA Category 1
Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with
the extent of their participation in this activity.
• The American Medical Association has determined that physicians not
licensed in the US who participate in this CME activity are eligible for
AMA PRA category 1 credit.
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
cognate hours have been applied for and are pending.
• Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy
of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.

EDUCATION PHASE II April 5-12, 2008

• The Creighton University School of Medicine designates this
educational activity for a maximum of 62 AMA PRA Category 1
Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with
the extent of their participation in this activity.
• The American Medical Association has determined that physicians not
licensed in the US who participate in this CME activity are eligible for
AMA PRA category 1 credit.
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
cognate hours have been applied for and are pending.
• Application for CME credit has been filed with the American Academy
of Family Physicians. Determination of credit is pending.

October 6-13, 2007

FOR DOCTORS, NURSES,
NURSE PRACTITIONERS

EDUCATION PHASE I

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS,

> CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

Further eligibility criterion requires that the applicant(s) do not
prescribe or refer for contraceptives, do not perform or refer for
sterilization or abortion, practice (use) natural family planning
or, if single and celibate, monitor their natural fertility and be a
philosophical acceptor of natural family planning. This program
recognizes that human sexuality is a function of the whole person
and not just a function of its parts. It further recognizes the
scriptural notation that we are “created in the image and likeness
of God” and that such a philosophical principle ultimately
dictates the approach to the human person that will come under
the care of a FertilityCare professional.

1. Medical physician with current license
2. Nurse Practitioner, Physicians Assistant, or Nurse Midwife
with current license and able to legally prescribe medications
and order tests (with or without proctoring) in the state of
practice.
3. Pharmacist with current license

MEDICAL CONSULTANTS:

1. Registered nurse with current license
2. Allied health professional with a BA or BS degree in:
a. Health or basic sciences
b. Behavioral sciences
c. Social sciences
d. Education
e. Other non-health fields are individually recognized
3. Associate degree/diploma such as:
a. Licensed Practical Nurse
b. Human Services Practitioner
c. Or, the equivalent of two years of college study

PRACTITIONERS:

The Pope Paul VI Institute Allied Health Education Department
welcomes applications from individuals or couples with strong
motivation and commitment to the very highest quality educational
services in natural family planning.

> APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY

All students enrolled in the Practitioner, Instructor and Medical
Consultant Programs are required to take a criterion referenced,
professionally administered final certificate examination. The
Practitioner certificate examination is given in November, the
Instructor exam is given in May, and the Medical Consultant
examination is given on the last day of the second education phase
in April.

> FINAL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

AND

CERTIFICATES

Pope Paul VI Institute FertilityCare Allied Health Education
Programs are jointly sponsored by the Creighton University School
of Medicine, Division of Continuing Medical Education and the
Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction.
Upon satisfactory completion of course requirements, a certificate
will be issued and signed by the President of Creighton
University, the Vice President for Health Sciences and the
Director of the Pope Paul VI Institute.

> JOINT SPONSORSHIP

This program is 13 months in duration and is available only to
FertilityCare Practitioners with at least one year of teaching experience
and who are certified as a Practitioner (or in the process of being
certified) by the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals
(AAFCP). Some focus areas of this program include: becoming
involved as a clinical faculty member, a supervisor or an on-site
coordinator for a Creighton Model Education Program. This
program has two education phases, two supervised practica, and
an On-Site Visit. Contact the Pope Paul VI Institute Allied Health
Education Department for more details on the curriculum content of
this program.

EDUCATION PHASE I October 6-13, 2007
EDUCATION PHASE II April 5-12, 2008

> THE FERTILITYCARE SUPERVISOR PROGRAM

This 13 month program is the most advanced program available in
fertility care. It is available only to FertilityCare Practitioners with
at least one year of teaching experience and who are certified as a
Practitioner (or in the process of being certified) by the American
Academy of FertilityCare Professionals (AAFCP). The individual
must have a Bachelor’s Degree or be a Registered Nurse. Some
focus areas of this program include: developing and implementing
a Creighton Model Education Program that meets the standards
of the AAFCP; and serving as faculty on an established education
program. This program has two education phases, two supervised
practica and an On-Site Visit. Contact the Pope Paul VI Institute Allied
Health Education Department for more details on the curriculum
content of this program.

EDUCATION PHASE I October 6-13, 2007
EDUCATION PHASE II April 3-12, 2008

> THE FERTILITYCARE EDUCATOR PROGRAM

Phyllis White, CFCE: Director, FertilityCare Center of Kansas City,
Blue Springs, Missouri.

Jeanice Vinduska, CFCE: Co-Director Pope Paul VI Institute FertilityCare
Center of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska.

Rev. Edward J. Richárd, D. Th. M., J. D.: Vice-Rector, Dean of Students,
Associate Professor of Moral Theology, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary; Director, Paul
VI Pontifical Institute for Catechetical and Pastoral Studies, St. Louis, Missouri.

Kathy Rivet, BS, CFCE: Director, FertilityCare Services St. Joseph Hospital;
Coordinator, NaProEducation Program, St. Joseph Hospital, Nashua, New
Hampshire.

Ann M. Prebil, RN, BSN, CFCE: Co-Director, St. John’s Mercy Medical Center
Department of FertilityCare Services, St. Louis, Missouri.

Kelly Morrow, Ph.D.: Clinical Psychologist, Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of
Human Reproduction, Omaha, Nebraska.

Teresa Kenney, MSN, ARNP, CNFPNP, FCP: Nurse Practitioner, Pope Paul VI
Institutefor the Study of Human Reproduction, Omaha, Nebraska.

Sr. Renée Mirkes, OSF, Ph.D.: Director, Center for NaProEthics, Pope Paul VI
Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction, Omaha, Nebraska.

Margaret P. Howard, MAM, CFCE: Director, FertilityCare Education Unlimited,
Omaha, Nebraska.

Susan K. Hilgers, BA, CFCE: Faculty Member, Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of
Human Reproduction, Omaha, Nebraska.

K. Diane Daly, RN, CFCE: Co-Director, St. John’s Mercy Medical Center Department
of FertilityCare Services; Coordinator, Department of NFP, Archdiocese of St. Louis, St.
Louis, Missouri.

Kathy Cherovsky, LPN, CFCS: Co-Director Pope Paul VI Institute FertilityCare
Center of Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska.

Thomas W. Hilgers, M.D., CFCE, CFCMC: Director, Pope Paul VI Institute for
the Study of Human Reproduction, Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics and
Gynecology, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska.

> FACULTY

Pope Paul VI Institute FertilityCare Allied Health Education
Programs are accredited by the American Academy of FertilityCare
Professionals (AAFCP). The education programs provide students
the appropriate education background to become eligible for the
certification procedures of the AAFCP.

> AMERICAN ACADEMY OF FERTILTYCARE
PROFESSIONALS ACCREDITATION

> TUITION

$2,775
$2,390
$1,925
$1,900

$2,475
$1,895
$2,060

FertilityCare Practitioner .................................................
FertilityCare Instructor ....................................................
Natural Family Planning Medical Consultant ................
Medical Consultant /Practitioner Combined ..................
FertilityCare Educator ......................................................
FertilityCare Supervisor ...................................................
Medical Consultant Auditor .............................................

$450u
$360u
$700
$850u
$745
$600
$675

u These programs require the purchase of client teaching materials.
Cost of client teaching materials varies depending upon whether or
not the student is providing Creighton Model FertilityCare Services
within the confines of an existing center that is affiliated with
FertilityCare Centers of America. If beginning an independent
center, the approximate cost of client materials, in order to meet
the requirements necessary for program completion, is $450.50.
It should be noted that initial outlay of expenses for these
supplies may be reimbursable from client fees.

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All programs require Anatomy and Physiology: A Primer for the
FertilityCare Professional. The Medical Consultant, Educator and
Supervisor programs require The Medical and Surgical Practice
of NaProTechnology. If these are already owned, a reduction in
Publications fees may be requested.

Required textbooks and client teaching supplies are purchased from
Pope Paul VI Institute Publications and are subject to shipping charges
and/or Nebraska sales tax. Fees for required textbooks vary depending
upon the education program.

> TEXTBOOK FEES

FertilityCare Practitioner .................................................
FertilityCare Instructor ....................................................
Natural Family Planning Medical Consultant ................
Natural Family Planning Medical Consultant/
FertilityCare Practitioner Combined Course .................
• FertilityCare Educator ......................................................
• FertilityCare Supervisor ...................................................
• Medical Consultant Auditors ............................................

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All tuition costs must be paid upon entry into the program or
according to the tuition payment schedule provided by the program.
The following tuition has been established for each program:

The hotel offers complimentary parking and shuttle service to
and from Eppley Airfield. In addition, based on availability, the
shuttle service is available for transport within a one mile radius
of the hotel.

This fee includes sleeping room, breakfast and lunch (all days),
dinner (EPI=4, EPII=3), breaks, reception, meeting rooms and
classroom set up fees. All sleeping rooms are suites. A $75 per day
facility use fee is charged for those attending the conference but not
wishing meals or lodging; additional arrangements may be made for
meals. All room, board, and hotel classroom fee expenses must
be paid upon entry into each education phase.

Room and Board - $175 for a double room/2 persons - 2 beds
$205 for a single room/1 person
$242 for a suite (Jacuzzi/Family/Kids)
$223.50 for a suite with 2 students

> ROOM, BOARD AND HOTEL CLASSROOM FEES
Education Phases I and II room, board, program and hotel classroom
fees will be charged per person at the following rates:

Comment from Participant

“Each of the delicate considerations of our
needs were greatly appreciated such as
the student lounge, facility, meals, etc.”

The course is held at the Omaha Comfort Inn and Suites.
Accommodations are arranged through the Pope Paul VI Institute
Education office, but travel arrangements are the responsibility of the
participating students.

> LOCATION

The room, board, and round trip transportation for the Practitioner
On-Site Visit will be the responsibility of the student. These same
expenses will be the responsibility of the Educator/Supervisor
Intern for his/her initial On-Site Visit.

Current materials distribution procedures take into account the
need to provide the most cost effective means possible to minimize
the additional costs of shipping and/or sales tax for students.
International students should expect to pay higher shipping costs.

Comment from Participant

“A worthwhile investment in my
future and the future of all those
whose lives will be forever
changed physically, emotionally,
mentally and spiritually by this
incredible work.”

Nancy Botkin Memorial Scholarship
These are tuition scholarships only and are restricted to students in
the FertilityCare Educator program.

Pope Paul VI Institute Scholarship Fund
These are tuition scholarships only and do not apply to the materials
fee, room and board expenses or On-Site Visit expenses. These can
assist students with tuition reduction in variable amounts and are not
restricted by geography.

Archbishop Daniel E. Sheehan Scholarship Fund
Named for the late archbishop of Omaha, these are tuition scholarships
only and do not apply to the materials fee, room and board or On-Site
Visit expenses. This scholarship fund can assist some students with up
to 50% tuition reduction. For the most part, these scholarship funds are
restricted to the State of Nebraska.

Medical Military applicants may qualify for funding through the
Military. Contact your Military’s Education Service Office.

The Pope Paul VI Institute has limited ability to provide financial
assistance. A resource guide for funding suggestions has been
developed for students.

> FINANCIAL AID

Comment from Participant

“Despite the hours, I felt I had (almost) a week-long retreat.
Institute tour was awe-inspiring and inspirational (and
motivational); as well as a concrete example of how God
‘follows-up’ on acts of faith. The faculty were all very caring,
helpful, knowledgeable, patient - excellent role models!”
AND

DEADLINES

EMAIL: education@popepaulvi.com

INTERNET: www.popepaulvi.com

FAX: (402) 390-9851

PHONE: (402) 390-9168

6901 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE 68106

Pope Paul VI Institute
FertilityCare Allied Health
Education Office

WRITE, CALL, FAX OR EMAIL FOR COURSE APPLICATION

Upon acceptance into the program, a $225 tuition deposit is required
to secure your enrollment in the class. An advance packet of books and
materials may be sent only after the tuition deposit is received.

Class size is limited. Early submission of an application is strongly
recommended. Timely acceptance into the program will allow
adequate study time of the advance books and materials. Applications
received after September 10, 2007 will be assessed a $100 late fee;
no application will be accepted after September 30, 2007.

If interested in one of the programs, request an application from the
Pope Paul VI Institute FertilityCare Allied Health Education Office.

> APPLICATION, DEPOSIT,

Your Year with the Pope Paul VI Institute
CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System
PRACTITIONER PROGRAM
Your participation as a Creighton Model FertilityCare
System Practitioner Intern in the Pope Paul VI
Institute’s Education program will prove to be a very
rewarding experience. To assist you in your
preparation, please read the following overview of this
program.

COURSE SUMMARY

ADVANCE COURSE PREPARATIONS

It is important that you allow yourself time to
adequately prepare for EPI by reading the textbooks that
are sent in advance. Also, prior to EPI, you should
identify a facility for use in providing services. During
EPI, you will learn to present the Introductory Session,
which may be conducted in group or individual settings.
$OO FOLHQWFRXSOH IROORZX
and require confidentiality.

The one year educational program to become a
Practitioner is a professional program developed
according to the basic educational principles utilized in
Advance preparation will allow your supervised
allied health courses. The program is divided into two
practicum to run much more smoothly, better assuring
education phases (EPI and EPII) held in the fall and
your ability to obtain the required minimum of six (6)
spring. In addition, there are two supervised practica.
new clients prior to EPII.
The first supervised practicum (SPI) begins at the end
of EPI and continues until the beginning of EPII. The
Although there are a minimum number of Introductory
second supervised practicum (SPII) begins after EPII
Session presentations required, more may be presented.
and concludes at the time of the final examination in
,QGLYLGXDOL]HG IROORZXS
are
November of the following year. During the second
conducted with each client/couple at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12
supervised practicum, an On6LWH9LVLWLV
conducted by
weeks and also at 6, 9, and 12 months after the initial
your assigned faculty supervisor, for whom the student
Introductory Session. You can anticipate that each
is responsible for costs of lodging and round trip
IROORZXS
will last an average of one hour and that time
transportation.
for preparation and concluding paperwork for a IROORZ
up may involve up to an additional hour.
The two education phases are designed to be total
immersion learning experiences in order to receive an
appropriate foundation of fundamental theoretical
COURSE TIME, CENTER
knowledge, preparing the student to undertake the
AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS
clinical component of the course, which is the actual
teaching of the Creighton Model FertilityCare System.
A practical time schedule for which you can anticipate
The clinical phases of the course occur during the
should include:
supervised practica at the student’s home location.
• studying
During the entire year, the student will be working
• presenting Introductory Sessions
under the direct supervision of either a FertilityCare
• FRQGXFWLQJIROORZXSV
Educator or Supervisor (or Intern) who is specially
• preparing and completing office work
trained to provide the type of supervision that a
Practitioner Intern requires.
• developing program and outreach
• completing assignments
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
You can expect that you will be involved for a minimum
of ten and a maximum of twenty hours per week during
During the supervised practica you will have a number
the supervised practica. However, you will be closer to
of assignments to submit to your assigned supervisor
the minimum amount of time if you come from an
for input, evaluation and grading.
For these
established program where client development will not
assignments, you will need access to photocopying
be so difficult.
facilities in order to send copies to your supervisor. In
addition, there are specific client quota requirements for
the two supervised practica.

Otherwise, you should anticipate the use of the
maximum amount of time if you need to initiate your
own program development and outreach.

NETWORKING WITH A
MEDICAL CONSULTANT

It is recommended that an established FertilityCare
In order to conduct the Introductory Sessions, you will
Center of America affiliate or a newly developed
need the following:
program that provides the Creighton Model
• slide or LCD projector (and laptop) and screen
FertilityCare System collaborate with a Creighton
• room large enough to hold three to six couples
0RGHO 0HGLFDO &RQVXOWDQW
• printed materials that will be provided to you at EPI
nology services. This collaboration will be discussed
for distribution to only those couples who decide to
during the course of the program. If a Medical
make an appointmeQW IRU IROORZXS
learn the
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Consultant
is not currently available in your community
Creighton Model FertilityCare System
and you are aware of a local physician who may
consider the Medical Consultant program, our office
The individualized IROORZXSVHVVLRQVFDQEHKHOGLQD
will assist you in the recruitment process.
smaller room with a desk or table and a few chairs; no
slide projector is necessary IRU IROORZXS
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This
program is designed to
develop your professional
printed materials will be made available for you to
skills and ability to deliver the highest quality
conduct Introductory 6HVVLRQV DQG IROORZXS
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FertilityCare services
possible. If you give attention to
In addition, phone accessibility will need to be arranged
the preliminary aspects of preparation, you will find
for clients to contact you.
your year to be more productive.

YOUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE
CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System
INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM
Your participation as a CREIGHTON MODEL
FertilityCare™ System Instructor Intern will prove
to be a very rewarding experience. To assist you
in your preparation, please read the following
overview of this program.

COURSE SUMMARY
The seven month educational program to
become an instructor is a professional program
developed according to the basic educational
principles utilized in allied health courses. The
Instructor Program is designed to provide only
basic education in the CREIGHTON MODEL
FertilityCare™ System. A FertilityCare Instructor
may teach only under the supervision of a
designated FertilityCare Practitioner. The
program includes one education phase (EPI)
and one supervised practicum, which begins at
the end of EPI and concludes at the time of the
final examination in May of the following year.
The education phase is designed to be total
immersion learning experiences in order to
receive
an
appropriate
foundation
of
fundamental theoretical knowledge, preparing
the student to undertake the clinical component
of the course, which is the actual teaching of the
CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System. The
clinical phase of the course occurs during the
supervised practicum at the student’s home
location.
During the internship period, the
student will be working under the direct
supervision of either a FertilityCare Educator or
Supervisor who is a Practitioner with at least one
additional year of teaching experience and is
specially trained to provide the type of
supervision that an Instructor Intern requires.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
As a FertilityCare Instructor, it is required that a
local FertilityCare Practitioner be willing to
collaborate in the providing of services to clients
who would be considered as advanced. During
the supervised practicum, a number of
assignments are required to be submitted to the
assigned supervisor for input, evaluation and
grading. For these assignments, access to
photocopying facilities is needed in order to send
copies to the supervisor. In addition, there are
specific client quota requirements for the
supervised practicum.
The following requirements exist for a student
enrolled in the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™
System Instructor Program:
• 12 new clients
• 6 Introductory Sessions

ADVANCE COURSE PREPARATIONS
During EPI, you will learn to present the
Introductory Session, which is a one hour slide
presentation.
Since new clients register to
participate in your program at that time, we
suggest that you schedule your first
Introductory Session for an evening time slot
two weeks following the end of EPI. In
addition, you should schedule three more
Introductory Sessions at one month intervals
following your first presentation. You may
schedule as many additional Introductory
Sessions as you wish to fulfill your client
requirements. It is strongly recommended that
scheduling and advance publicity for Introductory

• CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™

Sessions be developed prior to EPI. Advance
preparation will allow your supervised practicum
to run much more smoothly, better assuring your
ability to obtain the required minimum of 12
new clients.
In addition to the Introductory Sessions,
individualized follow-up teaching sessions are
conducted with each couple at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12
weeks and also at 6, 9, and 12 months after the
initial Introductory Session. You can anticipate
that each follow-up will last an average of one to
one and a half hours and that time for
preparation and concluding paperwork for a
follow-up may involve up to an additional hour.

COURSE TIME, CENTER
AND EQUIPMENT NEEDS
A practical time schedule for which you can
anticipate includes:
• studying
• presenting Introductory Sessions
• conducting follow-ups
• preparing and completing office work
• developing program and outreach
• completing assignments
You can expect that you will be involved for a
minimum of ten and a maximum of twenty hours
per week during these supervised practica.
However, you will be closer to the minimum
amount of time if you come from an established
program where client development will not be so
difficult. However, you should anticipate the use
of the maximum amount of time if you need to
assist in program development and outreach.

System printed materials for couples who
decide to make an appointment for followup and learn the system.
The individualized follow-up sessions can be
held in a smaller room with a desk or table and a
two to three chairs; no slide projector is
necessary for follow-up sessions. In addition,
phone accessibility will need to be arranged for
clients to contact you.

NETWORKING WITH A
MEDICAL CONSULTANT
It

recommended that an established
FertilityCare™ Affiliate center or a newly
developed
program
that
provides
the
CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System network with a NFP Medical Consultant to
provide NaProTECHNOLOGY services. This
collaboration will be discussed during the course
of the program. If a Medical Consultant is not
currently available in your community and you
are in contact with a local physician who may
consider the Medical Consultant program, the
Pope Paul VI Institute’s FertilityCare™ Allied
Health Education Program will assist you in the
recruitment process.
We wish to remind you again that this program is
designed to develop your professional skills and
ability to deliver the highest quality FertilityCare™
services possible. If you give attention to these
preliminary aspects of preparation, you will find
your involvement in the Instructor Education
Program to be more productive.

In order to conduct the Introductory Sessions,
you will need the following:
• Slide projector and screen
• Room large enough to hold three to six
couples

FertilityCare Instructor Fact Sheet

APPLICATION
CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System

FERTILITYCARE PRACTITIONER/INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM

Please indicate the program for which you are applying:
Practitioner

Instructor

Auditor (Practitioner)

Directions: Fill out application completely. See the last page for mailing instructions and application fees.

Date

SS#

1. Name (Print)
Last

First

2. Date of Birth

Middle

Age

Sex

3. Home Address
Number and Street (P.O. Box)
City

State

Zip/Postal Code

Country

4. Mailing Address
(If different from home address)

Number and Street (P.O. Box)

City

State

Zip/Postal Code

5. Telephone Home

Country

Work
(If outside the USA, please indicate country code and city code.)

Home Fax

Work Fax
(If outside the USA, please indicate country code and city code.)

6. Email
7. Religion

8. Citizen of

9. Ethnic Origin

10. Your primary language is

11. Do you speak a second language?

Yes

If yes, please identify language

12. Spouse’s Name (Print)
Last

13. Number of Children

First

Ages

Middle

14. EDUCATION HISTORY: Directions: Give a complete list of all educational institutions which you have attended
and are currently attending.
NAME OF INSTITUTION

High School:

DATES
ATTENDED
From – To

Trade or Vocational Schools:

From - To

College or University:

From - To

Graduate or Professional:

From - To

Post Graduate or Professional:

From - To

LOCATION

CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System

DIPLOMA/
DEGREE

Omaha, Nebraska

DEGREE
INITIALS

15. OCCUPATIONAL HISTORY: Directions: Give a complete list of occupations beginning with your most recent.
(If never employed outside the home, go directly to question 16).
OCCUPATION/TITLE
a)

LOCATION

DATES EMPLOYED

Responsibilities:

Full time

Part Time

OCCUPATION/TITLE
b)

Reason for leaving

LOCATION

DATES EMPLOYED

Responsibilities:

Full time

Part Time

OCCUPATION/TITLE
c)

Reason for leaving

LOCATION

DATES EMPLOYED

Responsibilities:

Full time

Part Time

OCCUPATION/TITLE
d)

Reason for leaving

LOCATION

DATES EMPLOYED

Responsibilities:

Full time

Part Time

Reason for leaving

16. Have you ever been a Homemaker? Yes
If yes, number of years:

No
Full time

17. Have you ever done volunteer work? Yes
Specify:

CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System

Part Time

Omaha, Nebraska

FAMILY PLANNING INVOLVEMENT
18. Have you worked in any of the following capacities in a Natural Family Planning (NFP) Program?
TITLE

YES

FULL OR PART TIME

DATES
From - To

Medical Advisor
Nurse Practitioner
Program Director
Teacher Coordinator
Secretary/Bookkeeper
Consultant
Other
Primarily “paid” or
“volunteer”?

NOTE: If you answered “No” to all portions of #18, skip #19 – 31.
19. Where have the NFP Services been provided?
LOCATION

TITLE

SPACE RENTED OR DONATED

Private Home
Public Building
Church Premises
Social Agency
Hospital
Independent NFP Center
Public Health Clinic
Public Family Planning Clinic
Other
20. In what method(s) of Natural Family Planning do (did) you commonly provide instruction?

21. What other method(s) of family planning do you (did) you recommend to clients?

CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System

Omaha, Nebraska

22. Which of the following educational formats do (did) you commonly use?
Introductory Lectures
Group
Individual
Follow-up Interviews
Group
Individual
Phone Advising/Counseling
Correspondence Counseling
23. Which of the following practices do/did you encourage?
Client continuing with same teacher
Attendance at session(s) by Spouse/partner/fiancé
Conference with other teachers to discuss difficult cases
Referral for medical and/or counseling services when necessary
24. Have you had a physician working with you (at all) in your NFP work?
If yes, explain the physician’s role.

Yes

25. If a physician has worked with you, give name and address of physician.

26. What form of training have you received up to now?
Self-training
Informal training
Semi-formal training
Formal training
27. If informal, semi-formal or formal training received, where and by whom were you trained?

28. What was the duration (in hours or days) of your training?

29. If previously certified, give name(s) of certifying individuals/organization.

CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System

Omaha, Nebraska

30. How useful has your training been?
Extremely useful

Useful

Not Sure

Little use

No Use at All

31. In what areas do you feel your training has fallen short of your needs?

Scientific basis of the method(s)
Psychodynamics of use of the method(s)
Human sexuality
Teaching methodology
In-service training and supervision
Study of use of method(s) in various circumstances (e.g. breast-feeding, off birth control pill)
Study of difficult cases
Other (Please specify):

NOTE: Complete the following sections - even if you have not previously been involved in NFP.
32. How important do you consider the following provider attributes on a scale of 1-4?
1 = Absolutely Not Important
2 = Not Important
3 = Important
4 = Very Important
Female
Female in reproductive years
A Natural Family Planning user-acceptor
A user-acceptor of the NFP method being taught
Married
Married with children
Well educated
Well trained in NFP
Confident in NFP
Confident in NFP method being taught
Willing to refer for psycho-social counseling (e.g. marriage, family)
Willing to refer for medical problems
Willing to refer for artificial contraceptive methods
Willing to refer for induced abortion
Similar social class background to that of client
Similar age to that of client
Socially acquainted with clients (e.g. same church, same
community)
A medical orientation
A family orientation
Stable in particular vocation
Open to criticism, failure
Non-judgmental/supportive
Friendly/cheerful
Copyright 2006

CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System

Omaha, Nebraska

33. Please indicate methods of family planning you have used and the length of use of each. (Indicate if combinations of
methods used. If used for purposes of monitoring fertility only, please indicate as such.)
Length of Use

Current
nd

Length of Use

2 Most Recent
3 Most Recent
4 Most Recent
34. Satisfaction with use of current method.
1 = Very Unsatisfied
2 = Unsatisfied

3 = Unsure

4 = Satisfied

5 = Very Satisfied

3 = Unsure

4 = Confident

5 = Very Confident

Your own evaluation (one number)
Your spouse’s evaluation (one
number)
35. Confidence with use of current method.
1 = Very Unconfident
2 = Unconfident
Your own evaluation (one number)
Your spouse’s evaluation (one
number)
36. Receptivity to an unplanned pregnancy.
1 = Very Unreceptive
2 = Unreceptive

3 = Unsure

4 = Receptive

5 = Very Receptive

Your own evaluation (one number)
Your spouse’s evaluation (one
number)
37. Reason for use of current method.
To Achieve Pregnancy
To Space Pregnancy
To Avoid (Limit) Pregnancy
To Monitor Fertility
CONFIDENTIAL/PERSONAL INFORMATION
38. Do you have any physical or mental health condition, with or without
accommodation, which in any way impairs you capability to practice or in
any way poses a risk of harm to your patients/clients?

Yes

39. In the past five years, have you used any illegal drugs?

Yes

If you answered “Yes” to questions 38 – 39, please explain completely on a separate sheet of paper and attach to application.

40. Are you currently free of any illegal drug use? If no, please explain.

Yes

If you answered “No” to question 40, please explain completely on a separate sheet of paper and attach to application.

41. Two new organizations, FertilityCare Centers of America and FertilityCare Centers International, have been
introduced. These new organizations are designed to unite CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare Centers nationwide
and worldwide. Please note: any Practitioner or Center must become an affiliate or participate in an affiliated
program to order CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System teaching materials for client instruction.
It is important for your understanding of this program that you read, sign and date the following:
I understand upon completion of the Pope Paul VI Institute CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ Allied
Health Practitioner Education Program, in order to purchase CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System
teaching materials, I will need to become an affiliate or participate in an affiliated program with
FertilityCare Centers of America or FertilityCare Centers International.
Copyright 2006

CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System

Omaha, Nebraska

Signature

Date

Indicate if you will be teaching with an existing FertilityCare Center or establishing a new center once you
complete the program.
I will be teaching with an existing FertilityCare Center:
Name of Center

I will be establishing a new FertilityCare Center
42. ESSAY: Answer the following essay question in approximately 500 words, using a separate sheet of paper:
“Why is teaching the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System and providing professional FertilityCare
services important to me?” (Discuss your motivation for seeking to become a FertilityCare Provider, why you
have chosen professional training in this system, and the goals you have set for yourself.)
43. Please attach a recent snapshot of yourself to the front of this application.
44. Have one letter of reference sent under separate cover directly to the Program Director.

Your application will be reviewed when all of the following items have been received.
___1. Completed application and essay
___2. Recent photograph
___3. Application fee - $25.00 (U.S. Funds only)
Mail to:

___4.

Pope Paul VI Institute
Education Department
6901 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE 68106
USA

Arrange for letter of reference, addressed to Thomas W. Hilgers, MD, Program Director.
Mail to:

Thomas W. Hilgers, MD, Program Director
Attn: Education Department
Pope Paul VI Institute
6901 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE 68106

USA

There will be an additional $100 late fee assessed for applications received after August 15, 2007. It is
important to submit your application by this date in order to receive the advance information packet in a
timely fashion.

No applications will be accepted after September 15, 2007.

Application information will be used for evaluating applicant acceptance, not for treatment purposes. The application
will be kept as part of the Education Program’s academic or continuing education’s records.

CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System

Omaha, Nebraska

CREIGHTON MODEL

Tools of

With faculty supervision, each individual will be asked
to prepare and deliver an original homily (or
presentation), which brings the content of the
conference to life.

Bringing the Teaching to Life: Summary & Discussion

NaPro
NaProTECHNOLOGY

FertilityCareTM System and the New Science of

The Scientific Foundations of the

Introductory Session

CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCareTM System:

Standardization

stem:
CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCareTM Sy
System:

Artificial Methods of Contraception

Human Person

Living Proof in 3D: Putting a face on the Unborn

Male & Female Anatomy

Becoming Part of the FertilityCare Team

Priests

A Shared Apostolate: Medical Consultants & Catholic

The Catholic Priest & Celibacy

Expanding Your Sexual Horizons
CITY _____________________STATE/PROVINCE ________ZIP CODE___________
__________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS__________________________________________________________

NAME _____________________________________________________________
(Print Name and Title/Initials for Nametag)

Evangelium Vitae: Building a Civilization of Love

COUNTRY________________________ E-MAIL ___________________________________

An Introduction to the Theology of the Body

DATES REQUESTED TO ATTEND:
April 3 – 7, 2006
October 2 - 6, 2006
April 16 - 20, 2007
October 8 - 12, 2007
April 7 - 11, 2008
October 6-10, 2008
DAYTIME PHONE _________________________FAX________________________

Of Pillars & Spores: The Genius of Woman

Mail or fax completed registration form to:
ORGANIZATION YOU REPRESENT _______________________________________

Sapientia & Scientia: Who will see to their marriage?

TITLE/POSITION ____________________________________________________

Donum Vitae: Companion Piece to Humanae Vitae

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS PROGRAM?______________________________

Humanae Vitae: Exploring Its Landscape

Pope Paul VI Institute
Education Department
6901 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE. 68106

_____________________________________

Personalist View of Human Sexuality

Telephone: (402) 390-9168
Fax: (402) 390-9851

FEES
Registration & Materials Fee........... $825

Email: education@popepaulvi.com
Web Site: www.popepaulvi.com

For room, board and hotel fees, please contact the
Pope Paul VI Institute Education Office

Program Contents
Registration information
can also be taken by phone.

www.popepaulvi.com

L L
U C

the Catholic vision of
Reproductive Health Care

Ponder
Promote &
Pr oclaim

A conference where we...

Building a
Culture of Life in
Women's
Health Care

Love & Life
Unlimited
Conference

Experience the . . .

. . . pr
oclaim this vision to family,
proclaim
friends, fellow-parishioners and
colleagues.

Proclaim the Vision

. . . promote the integrated,
Catholic vision of the Pope Paul
VI Institute: a dynamic vision of
reproductive health and health
care services.

Promote the Vision

. . . ponder the truth and beauty
of the Catholic vision of marriage,
family and sexuality.

Ponder the Vision

The Love & Life Unlimited
Conference
will encourage you to . . .

To make your reservation, please complete and submit
the attached registration form or give us a call. We can
guarantee available space at the conference only by
pre-registration.

Registration

DoubleTree Suites - Omaha, Nebraska

Location

Monday morning, October 6, 2008 through
Friday morning, October 10, 2008

Monday morning, April 7, 2008 through
Friday morning, April 7, 2008

Monday morning, October 8, 2007 through
Friday morning, October 12, 2007

Monday morning, April 16, 2007 through
Friday morning, April 20, 2007

Monday morning, October 2, 2006 through
Friday morning, October 6, 2006

Monday morning, April 3, 2006 through
Friday morning, April 7, 2006

Dates

Priests and Religious
Deacons
Physicians
Family Life Directors
RCIA Team Members
Marriage Preparation Instructors
NFP Coordinators
Pro-life Directors
Other Interested Lay and Religious Educators

This Conference is
Perfect for...

Upon satisfactory completion of course requirements, a
Cer
tificate of P
ar
ticipation will be issued to the
Certificate
Par
articipation
participant.

Members of the teaching staff of the Pope Paul VI
Institute Education Programs

enée M
ir
kes, P
h.D.
Sr. R
Renée
Mir
irkes,
Ph.D.
h.D.: Director, Center
for NaProEthics, Pope Paul VI Institute,
Omaha, Nebraska

Rev
dwar
d J. Richár
d, D. Th. M., J.D.
ev.. E
Edwar
dward
Richárd,
J.D.:
Academic Dean, Associate Professor of Moral
Theology, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary; Director, Paul
VI Pontifical Institute for Catechetical and
Pastoral Studies, St. Louis, Missouri

Ter
esa M
cK
enna, M.D., CFCP
eresa
McK
cKenna,
CFCP,, CNFPMC
CNFPMC:
Moderator, Member Board of Directors,
Marguerite Bourgeouys Family Services,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Thomas W. H
ilgers, M.D.
Hilgers,
M.D.: Director, Pope Paul VI
Institute for the study of Human Reproduction,
Omaha, Nebraska

Faculty

FertilityCareTM System

The Institute is home to the CREIGHTON MODEL
education technologies, the
National Center for Women's Health, the National
Hormone Laboratory, the newly emerging science of
NaProTECHNOLOGY® (the orderly and systematic
evaluation of the events that occur during the course of
the menstrual and ovulation cycles), and the
Center for NaProEthics.

The Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human
Reproduction is the leading research center in Catholic
reproductive services in the United States. Directed by
Thomas W. Hilgers, M.D., the Institute has attained
national and international recognition for its
achievements in developing a natural method of birth
regulation as well as research in reproductive medicine
and surgery.

Pope Paul VI Institute

A GUIDE TO IDENTIFICATION AND INVESTIGATION
OF FUNDING SOURCES
This paper is to serve as a guide to the identification and investigation of funding sources that may provide
financial support for your involvement in the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare Education Programs offered
by Pope Paul VI Institute. It reviews general categories of resources and avenues of approach to take in
requesting assistance from these sources; especially those successfully utilized by previous students of this
program.
GENERAL CATEGORIES
Institutional Support
It is important to understand that your education through the Pope Paul VI Institute CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare
Allied Health Education Program is an investment on the part of any institutional funding source that may support you in
your endeavor to deliver quality FertilityCare services in your community.
Church
Considering the nature of your request, the institutional Church is a logical place to start. Your locale and the extent of
your present involvement in FertilityCare will determine where and with whom you begin your search for support.
Couples/Individuals Receiving Church Support
Couples/Individuals already receiving Church support, whether it be financial or just approval to operate in a specific area
or place, may desire to go first to that individual directly responsible for the support. This might be a Family Life
Director, a Coordinator of Natural Family Planning Services, or the local Ordinary (Archbishop /Bishop or in the case of
non-Catholic churches the President, etc.). In all cases it is important to seek a personal interview and at that time to
discuss the upgrading of services by receiving the highest quality of education now available. Education and Certification
is important not only to you as a teacher, but also to your funding source, as it reflects their commitment to quality
FertilityCare services.
Couples/Individuals Not Presently Receiving Church Support
Couples/Individuals not presently receiving Church support may wish to begin by investigating assistance on the local
church or parish level first. Again, personal interviews should be sought in order to build understanding and gain valuable
assistance in reaching the people who can support you financially.
Whether or not you are already receiving institutional Church support, investigate support on the organizational level as
well. Almost all church bodies have organizations that are not dependent upon the local Ordinary for operation or
decision making, and they can be approached for assistance. These are usually organizations of the laity (e.g. Council of
the Laity, Council of Catholic Women, Knights of Columbus, Ladies Alter Society, the Deanery of local parishes, Serra
Club, etc.), which would be sympathetic and understand how the local community would realize a valuable return on their
investment. If you know people personally who are active in such organizations (either at a parish, chapter, diocesan or
state levels), seek their active assistance in gaining organizational support.
Health and/or Social Agency
Health Center or Social Agency support is probably most viable for those individuals already associated with such
institutions. Those individuals who are investigating a support base for FertilityCare Services in their community should
not overlook this area. Such institutions should be able to recognize that a center cannot operate without trained teachers
and that quality education is essential to providing a professional service that meets the needs of the community and
reflects positively upon the institution. Whether or not you are presently attached to such an institution, seek an interview
with the decision-making person(s) who handles community service projects. This would generally be the Health
Center’s Administrator, Director of Community Services, or the social agency’s Executive Director or Director of
Professional Services. If you are or plan to charge a fee for services, calculate the rate at which you would be able to

Guide for funding 01/23/06

return the institution’s investment in your education. You may find that a large portion of the investment will be returned
within the year that you are in the education process. In this light, education grants are much easier for the institution to
justify in terms of budget considerations.
Foundation Support
Foundations exist for the purpose of supporting financially those projects and/or persons that the foundations deem
worthy of support and meet their stated goals as philanthropic/charitable organizations.
The fact that most foundations receive numerous requests each year should not deter you from investigating them as
funding sources. For your purpose of obtaining a training or educational grant or scholarship, those foundations that are
most likely to help include:
•
•
•

Those known to consider requests for individual assistance
Those known to fund principally in your geographic area
Those moderate in size.

In any case, the person to be approached for a personal interview is the Executive Director or Chairman of the Board of
Trustees. Many foundations, even some with very large expenditures, have only a few members with the decision making
power, and these usually follow the inclinations of the Chairman. Also, the Chairman of the Board is usually very
approachable and interested in new requests, as it is part of his personal dedication to be a caring and concerned
individual.
Because the foundation board may meet only monthly, quarterly, or even semi-annually, it is important that you move
promptly and seek an interview with the individual who may be able to act on certain matters outside of the stated and/or
scheduled process.
Foundation names and addresses, names of the chairman and members of the board, size, interests, and geographic areas
in which funding is principally given can be found in various directories. Foundation source books should be available in
most metropolitan and university libraries.
Military Support
In some cases, a spouse of a military person might receive some financial assistance through the Military Archdiocese.
The active duty military person applying for the CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare System Allied Health Education
Program should contact Military’s Education Service Office prior to submitting any monies on their own behalf and
apply for the continuing education funding. If approved the military will pay 75% of the tuition only, no books or
materials, or room and board are included in this. The first place to check is with the Education Office on the military
base where you are stationed. If that is not available contact Navy Campus Education Center, Great Lakes, IL 847-6885339, Army Education Center, Ft. Riley, KS 785-239-4836 or 5306, or Marine Education Branch MCCDC, Quantico,
VA 703-784-5761, Air Force Education Office at Offutt Air Force Base, 402-294-5716.
Personal Support
Couples/Individuals who find themselves unavailable due to funding sources mentioned above may have to rely on more
personal sources of support such as a gift or loan.
Employer
Many employees have a credit union to which they can turn for signature loans requiring no collateral. Such a loan may
be easily repaid from fees generated through teaching. Banks loans are also possible.

201/23/06 Pope Paul VI Institute Education Department

Physician
Couples/Individuals may wish to investigate support from a physician or group of physicians who could offer financial
assistance in return for having a reliable person(s) to refer patients for FertilityCare Services. If direct financial assistance
is not possible, request their support in approaching institutions (especially Health Centers or Hospitals), foundations,
community groups, or influential citizens who may provide direct assistance when they recognize medical interest and
support. Such a professional relationship, whether based on direct assistance or indirect support, can be extremely
valuable in the development and growth of a program, and it can exist in a variety of locales. ***Be willing to look
beyond physicians of your own religion if necessary to find someone sympathetic to the need for professional
FertilityCare.
Family
Family members and relatives may be able to provide support in the form of a gift or loan. As a professional provider you
will be delivering a service which should involve a fee. It is therefore possible that any personal loan could be guaranteed
by payment received for services provided by you after your training.
FURTHER SUGGESTIONS
Previous students of the Pope Paul VI Institute Education Program have successfully utilized every resource stated above.
The greatest sources of support have, however, been institutional, Church, Hospital – Health Center or Social Agency
support.
Those who have presented themselves and their case directly to the decision-makers have fared better in raising necessary
funds than those who just left it to others to make the requests. Having others go with you (e.g. physician, community
leader, direct supervisor) or write letters of support is better than having them do all the requesting on your behalf.
Those who had alternative suggestions in hand when approaching a funding source also had an advantage. For example,
several previous students approached funding sources for outright expenses but were put off by statements like “the
budget is already complete” or “there isn’t any remaining miscellaneous training or education funds available.” They
didn’t stop with that. Instead, they explored such possibilities as borrowing money out of certain budgetary projects that
could be repaid out of patient fees or borrowing from the next budget year since the program extended into the next
budget year. Having such alternative suggestions accomplishes two things:
• Indicates the seriousness of the intention and motivation of the person requesting funding.
• Encourages discussion of alternatives to obtain the needed support.
If you have funding prospects but feel that you need assistance in developing some alternative ideas in order to gain a
listening posture from decision-makers, please call our office at 402-390-9168 and we will provide any help that we can.

Prepared by
Pope Paul VI Institute
CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare
Education Program
6901 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE 68106
Telephone: 402-390-9168

301/23/06 Pope Paul VI Institute Education Department

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SPECIAL REPORT

AGENTS OF
CHANGE
A

SMALL BUT DEDICATED

AND GROWING CADRE
OF

CATHOLIC

HEALTH-

CARE PROFESSIONALS

By Chuck Weber

IS INTRODUCING AN
EXCITING NEW APPROACH

—

WHICH IS BOTH

MORALLY ACCEPTABLE AND
REMARKABLY SUCCESSFUL—
TO THE TREATMENT OF

he firestorm ignited in 1968
when Pope Paul VI issued the
encyclical Humanae Vitae, reaffirming the Catholic Church’s support
of “responsible parenthood” and her
condemnation of contraception, still
burns brightly today. Now as then the
Holy Father’s teaching is widely
denounced as out of step with modern
science and out of touch with Catholics
in the pews.
Cultural and political clashes centering on the dignity of human life continue to intensify, as emerging medical
technologies bring a dizzying array of
new products and services to the marketplace. Frozen storage of human ova,
embryonic stem-cell research, surrogate motherhood, and the question of
human cloning make up just part of the
growing list of medically acceptable
but morally objectionable techniques
and practices.
In light of recent developments, the
words of Humanae Vitae are nothing
less than visionary—as if Pope Paul VI
saw it all coming. He acknowledged
the “stupendous progress” of scientific
research while issuing a grave warning
that their new “domination” of the

THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT, April 2005

Dr. Thomas Hilgers stands in front his “Miracle Baby Bulletin
Board,” a display of babies born using the NaPro Technology.

“forces of nature” was beginning to
degrade the dignity of the very “transmission of life.”
Viewed through the lens of secular
news coverage, public opinion of
Humanae Vitae and other Catholic
thought on issues related to science,
medicine, and morality is overwhelmingly hostile—if, in fact, the Catholic
viewpoint is considered at all. Yet
largely hidden from the mainstream
media there are new signs pointing to a
steady growth in the appreciation of
Catholic teaching. More importantly,
there is a growing record of success in
the application of Catholic thinking to
real-life problems.
This is precisely what Pope Paul VI

envisioned when, in a little-noticed
section of his life-giving encyclical, he
urged doctors, researchers, and other
medical specialists to “consider as
their proper professional duty the task
of acquiring all the knowledge needed
in this delicate sector, so as to be able
to give to those married persons who
consult them wise counsel and
healthy direction, such as they have a
right to expect.”
Nearly four decades after his controversial encyclical appeared, the
wisdom of Pope Paul’s words and the
fruits of his legacy are on full display,
embodied in a new science of health
care for women that is gaining converts in the United States and around

COURTESY OF THE POPE PAUL VI INSTITUTE

FERTILITY PROBLEMS.

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the feast of the Transfiguration, in
1978—the date of the death of Pope
Paul VI—he vowed to open the
Institute. Drawing on the insights and

the world. NaPro Technology—
Natural Procreative Technology—represents today’s definitive Catholic
answer to mainstream human reproductive medical procedures, practices,
and paradigms.

approaches to health care that could
eventually boil over: a mounting dissatisfaction at the grassroots level with
the way doctors do business—particu-

The recently released 1,300-page
medical textbook The Medical &
Surgical Practice of NaPro Technology
(Pope Paul VI Press, 2004) culminates
more than 30 years of research by Dr.
Thomas W. Hilgers, an OB/GYN
physician and founder of the Pope
Paul VI Institute for the Study of
Human Reproduction in Omaha,
Nebraska. Dr. Hilgers is also co-creator of the Creighton Model
FertilityCare System, a popular method
of natural family planning, fully in
keeping with the teachings of the
Church, which is used by thousands of
couples to achieve or avoid pregnancy;
this system is closely linked to NaPro
Technology.
NaPro Technology applications—
already in use today—extend far
beyond the effective spacing of children. Medical and surgical practices of
NaPro Technology effectively treat a
wide range of women’s health issues
including, but not limited to, infertility,
repetitive miscarriages, pre-menstrual
syndrome (PMS), post-partum depression, and more. Not only are NaPro
Technology approaches morally
acceptable to Catholics, they are at
least as effective, if not more so, than
currently accepted mainstream medical practices.
Inspiration for Hilgers’s groundbreaking work comes from that relatively obscure section of Humanae Vitae
in which the Pontiff concedes that
many Catholics will find it “difficult, if
not impossible” to abide by the
Church’s teaching regarding artificial
birth control and responsible parenthood. His appeal for more scientific
study of the woman’s natural cycle of
fertility and a search for ways to make
Church teaching easier to embrace was
assuredly dismissed by many scientists. But to others, it carried both the
challenge and the encouragement that
suggested divine inspiration.
“From the moment I read the Pope’s
words as a 4th-year med-school student, I knew he was speaking directly
to me,” says Dr. Hilgers. On August 6,

COURTESY OF THE POPE PAUL VI INSTITUTE

A LIFE’S MISSION

Stephanie and Anthony Epolite, with their daughter
Claire Marie, speak at a NaPro Technology conference.

discoveries of human fertility pioneers
like Drs. John and Lyn Billings (cofounders of the Billings Ovulation
Method), Dr. Hilgers embraced the scientific study of human reproduction as
a personal, professional, and spiritual
challenge.
During the ensuing years and up to
the present day, Hilgers has continued
to lead a counter-cultural medical
movement, with his work standing in
sharp contrast to the widespread
acceptance of license, abortion, sterilization, the Pill, test-tube babies, and
other trends that the Church can only
deplore. These same attitudes and
practices, described and condemned
by Pope John Paul II as the “culture of
death,” fueled the startling rise of a
powerful marketplace within the
multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical
and medical industries. Given the
colossal financial stake that powerful
players exert in maintaining the status
quo, widespread acceptance of alternatives seems unlikely.
Yet at a level just beneath the collective consciousness of consumers, there
are signs of a frustration with current

Not only are
NaPro Technology
approaches morally
acceptable to
Catholics, they are
at least as effective,
if not more so, than
current accepted
mainstream
medical practices.
■ ■ ■

larly in the area of reproduction.
Working alongside a growing number of health-care professionals and
some members of the clergy, Hilgers is
convinced that NaPro Technology is a
new, Catholic-centric health science—
fundamentally different from the
accepted norms, yet highly effective,
and at the same time compassionate in
its approach to women. Today the
inherent innovations of NaPro
Technology may well be sparking a

THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT, April 2005

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global revolution in health care. If so, it
will be a revolution incited and carried
out most notably by the women and
married couples whose authentic happiness depends upon it.

couldn’t conceive. “He kept bringing
up my age (nearly 39 at the time) and
said there was really only one option
for us,” Stephanie recalled of the doctor. “That was basically the consult: no

■ Dr. Hilger’s textbook, The Medical & Surgical Practice of NaPro Technology.
■ Women Healed: In Their Own Words, edited by Jean Blair Packard.
■ Physicians Healed, edited by Cleta Hartman.

THE HEARTBREAK OF IVF

“I never dreamed we would be
walking this road to hell.”
That harsh realization struck
Stephanie Epolite and her husband
Anthony like a blow to the head as
they waited uneasily for a child—their
child—to take shape inside the laboratory of a Sacramento, California, fertility clinic in the fall of 1999.
In their late 30s but recently married,
the Epolites had failed repeatedly in
their attempts at conceiving a child in
the months following their wedding
day. Desperate and frustrated, they
sought the advice of a doctor, who
referred them to a local fertility clinic.
Assured by their parish priest that it
was morally acceptable to “do whatever you are comfortable with,” the
Epolites concluded that the Assisted
Reproductive Technology (ART)
industry practice—commonly known
as in vitro fertilization (IVF)—represented their last, best chance for starting a family.
As practicing attorneys, the Epolites
were familiar with professional consultations. Even so, the initial meeting
at the fertility clinic seemed more
businesslike than what they had anticipated, especially considering the
stakes. There was no talk of diagnosing the causes behind why the couple

THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT, April 2005

According to the
latest statistics
available from the
CDC, the success
rates for ART
procedures range
from 21 percent to
34.8 percent.
■ ■ ■

blood samples, diagnostic tests, or
anything else.”
An in-house financial planner discussed the various “packages” available for purchase—one cycle of treatment versus two or three. “It was a little like buying a car: very structured,”
says Stephanie. She recalls:
Anthony is the numbers guy and dug
into that more. I was just awestruck.
They saw the desperation in my face,
I’m sure they see it all the time. I
guess they figured, “We’ve got two
easy people here,” and they were
right. We were willing to go through
with it.

Their hope rested in a procedure
called IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection
or ICSI-IVF, considered one of the most
radical and invasive of all ART practices. A lab technician peering through
a microscope injected a single sperm
cell taken from a cup of semen produced by Anthony into a number of
ova (human eggs) that had been surgically removed from Stephanie.
Now the couple awaited word to see
if fertilization in the Petri dish would
occur. If signs of life were detected,
they would be summoned back to the
clinic for the final phase of the process,
the transfer of the embryo into
Stephanie’s womb. A steep price had
been paid to get this far—nearly
$25,000 for two cycles of services and
drugs.
The clinical regimen over the previous two months had been tedious and
emotionally draining. Part of the protocol involved Anthony injecting his wife
with multiple, daily doses of drugs at
various points of her body; the injections were designed to control her fertility cycle. Throughout the process
they kept telling themselves it would
all be worth it if the end result produced the child of their dreams. And so
they waited expectantly for “the call.”
Like most of the millions of women
and couples in the United States who
have endured ART treatments, the
Epolites found that the call they were
hoping for never came. Doctors from
the clinic were matter-of-fact in assessing the failure. “Basically it was, ‘We’ve
done as much as we can, we can go no
further, so basically, live with it,’ “
remembers Stephanie about being
informed that fertilization failed.
“There was no hope. In fact it was said
that ‘you will probably never have a
family.’ In essence, ‘deal with it.’”
“I felt like it wasn’t meant to be,”
said Stephanie recalling those dark
days. “It was like my body had failed
me, and that I couldn’t do what I was
meant to do. There was an emptiness
inside myself and my heart that could
never be filled.”
BEHIND THE ART CURTAIN

The Epolites experienced firsthand
what most other couples turning to
ART discover sooner or later. Behind
the glowing media reports and the
marketing blitzes that feature satisfied
parents cuddling smiling babies is a

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deeper, darker truth: assisted reproductive technologies are hardly the
panacea to infertility they are made out
to be.
IVF procedures invariably require
the so-called “selective reduction” of
human embryos—that is, the destruction of tiny unborn babies—that are
typically produced in clusters, numbering as many as six or more at a time.
Because the couples are dealing with

the New England Journal of Medicine
found that babies conceived through
IVF or ICSI were more than twice as
likely as naturally conceived infants to
have major birth defects (9 percent vs.
4.2 percent), such as problems with the
heart and urinary or genital tracts. A
number of other studies published in
professional medical journals implicate
IVF for significantly higher incidences
of low birth weights, cancer, birth

Dr. Hilgers signing copies of his new textbook.

Loome

multiple embryos and heavy fertility
treatments, the approach can also yield
unexpected results of another sort; a
startling 35.4 percent of all ART pregnancies result in twins, triplets, or
more, according to the latest data published by the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC).
Success rates for ART procedures as
defined by the CDC are measured in a
variety of ways, including “pregnancies per cycle” of treatment as well as
“live births” per cycle and other measures. According to the latest statistics
available from the CDC, the success
rates for ART procedures range from 21
percent to 34.8 percent. But even among
those instances in which ART procedures result in a pregnancy and birth,
there is growing cause for concern.
One large-scale study published in

“From the moment
I read the Pope’s
words as a 4th-year
med-school student,
I knew he was
speaking directly
to me.”
■ ■ ■

defects, and other conditions that can
cause developmental problems like
speech impairment.
The response from the ART advocates to these findings, as reflected in
secular media reports, ranges from
mild concern to dismissal. Kathy
Hudson is the director of the Genetics
and Public Policy Center at Johns
Hopkins University in Baltimore and
former assistant director of the
National Human Genome Research

THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT, April 2005

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Institute. In a feature article examining
concerns about ART and its impact on
the health of infants published by
MSNBC.com (the online partner of
Newsweek
magazine),
Hudson
responds to the troubling studies by
saying: “The risks that do exist, if they
do exist, are rare.”
To date, some 300 studies on the
effects of ART on children have been
completed. A panel that includes members from the American Society for
Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), considered by some to be the leading
advocate of ART in the United States,
and the American Academy of
Pediatrics is now analyzing the available research.
A SECOND CHANCE

But now, back to the case of
Stephanie and Anthony.
Although unwilling to tolerate
another round of ICSI IVF, the
Epolites were not yet ready to give up
their dream of having a child. In May
of 2001, Stephanie decided to call an
old friend, Nancy Mattieoli, a veteran
instructor of the Creighton Model
FertilityCare system and a Certified
FertilityCare practitioner with an
expertise in NaPro Technology. The
two women had first met a few years
earlier during Stephanie’s engagement when the bride-to-be inquired
about natural family planning methods as a way to avoid pregnancy. The
focus of their discussion now was
quite different.
Stephanie remembers:
Nancy was someone I felt comfortable
talking with about all we’d been
through. I laid it all out on the line for
her, and I mean everything. I told her
I felt like I’d violated my body, my
religion, and that I felt like a sinner.
She just heard me out and said,
“Okay Stephanie, let’s get back on
track and start charting.” So that’s
what we did.
“Charting” is the foundation of the
Creighton Model FertilityCare system
and the key diagnostic tool of NaPro
Technology. Prospective practitioners
undergo a rigorous training curriculum that, once completed, certifies
them to teach women how to look for
and record changes in their cervical
mucus. These changes, also known as

THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT, April 2005

biomarkers, appear throughout the
course of every woman’s menstrual
cycle. Research shows that changes in
mucus correspond with changing levels of estrogen and progesterone in the

“It was a little like
buying a car: very
structured.”
■ ■ ■

It is one and-a-half
to three times more
successful than
in vitro fertilization
at helping infertile
couples have
children—at a
fraction of the cost.
■ ■ ■

The per capita rate
of hysterectomies
in the United States
is three to four
times as high as in
European countries.
■ ■ ■

body that cause a woman to ovulate
and menstruate.
Dr. Hilgers refers to the charting of
these biomarkers as a way of reading
“the language of the woman’s body.”
Properly understood and used, this
unique vernacular helps unlock the
secrets of underlying health problems
and points to appropriate treatments.
“This is perhaps the most striking
distinction between mainstream medicine and NaPro Technology,” explains
Hilgers. “Most medical approaches
today bypass the woman’s problem or
simply override her natural processes
altogether. With NaPro, we find out
why the body isn’t functioning correctly, then apply treatments that work
cooperatively with the body.”

Once basic problems are diagnosed,
NaPro physicians can utilize a range of
cutting-edge medical and surgical
practices, which are described in
Hilgers’ new medical textbook, to
restore the natural process of the
woman’s body to its proper function.
Thanks to this almost obsessive focus
on diagnosing and curing underlying
health concerns, Dr. Hilgers has documented important advances in treating
endometriosis, polycystic ovarian disease, blocked fallopian tubes and hormonal disorders—all common conditions that can contribute to infertility
and other problems.
“WE’RE IN GOD’S PLACE”

Couples like Stephanie and Anthony
Epolite include another element when
they describe the NaPro Technology
approach to health care: compassion.
Stephanie remembers:
When we walked through the doors
of the Pope Paul VI Institute and met
that first staff person, I told myself,
“We’re in God’s place.” Everyone
treated us with respect, kindness,
compassion, and love. When I finally
met Dr. Hilgers in person, I told him
we were in the right place and he was
one of God’s messengers.
It was July of 2001, and the Epolites
were in Omaha, daring once again to
believe that their dream of having a
child might be within reach. Under the
direction and encouragement of Nancy
Mattieoli and a Sacramento physician,
Dr. John Gisla, the couple had faithfully charted Stephanie’s cycle for months
before sending the data to Dr. Hilgers
along with a letter asking if he would
consider taking their case.
Dr. Hilgers’s reply in January of that
year outlined the protocol that would
be involved if they wanted to move
forward, and the couple readily
agreed. Based on a reading of the
charts, Stephanie’s blood was drawn
on targeted days and shipped to the
Institute’s hormone lab for analysis.
After multiple long-distance phone
discussions—and a word of caution
from Dr. Hilgers that there are no guarantees for success—he agreed to take
their case and the Epolites flew to
Omaha.
In Nebraska, Dr. Hilgers immediately conducted diagnostic procedures on

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Stephanie and Anthony. Those tests
confirmed that she suffered from
endometriosis and blocked fallopian
tubes, while his sperm count was unacceptably low. (Unlike typical practitioners of assisted reproduction, the
Pope Paul VI Institute has developed a
technique for collecting semen during
natural intercourse, so that the process
does not violate the chastity of the man
or the integrity of the marital act.)
During a two-week stay in Omaha,
NaPro surgical procedures were performed on Stephanie, and a highpotency nutritional supplement was
prescribed for Anthony. As they boarded the flight home, the couple’s hopes
were high that they would be able to
conceive. They also sensed a new inner
peace, knowing they had done all they
could. Now, they decided, it was time
for prayer and trust.

“faith, endurance, heartbreak, and
love” culminated on October 31, 2002
at 9:17 pm with the birth of their
daughter, Claire Marie Epolite.
INTRODUCING A NEW
TECHNOLOGY TO THE WORLD

NaPro Technology’s application to
the problem of infertility is perhaps the
most captivating use of the emerging
new approach to women’s health

and the wife of an FBI agent,
Debra Brock of Liberty Township,
Ohio, spoke of her bouts with
severe depression (including
thoughts of suicide) while
struggling with premenstrual
syndrome (PMS). Brock had been
successfully treated previously at
the Institute for recurrent miscarriages, and during an otherwise
routine follow-up phone conversa-

The weeks that followed were more
difficult than the Epolites had imagined. Dr. Hilgers had repeatedly cautioned them not to expect instant
results, but with each passing month,
as they saw no visible results, the couple grew more discouraged.
“At one point I think I had convinced myself that I was experiencing
symptoms of being pregnant,” recalls
Stephanie. “Then when my period
came, I just threw myself down on the
floor and shouted out, ‘God, I can’t do
this any longer! You’ve taken a strong
woman and you broke her down.’”
Anthony consoled his wife as best he
could, and reminded her that they had
agreed to make a leap of faith. “We said
we were going to rely on God,” he said.
“Let’s trust him.”
That trust was put to the test when
the Epolites were asked to share their
IVF experiences with representatives
attending the annual meeting of the
California Natural Family Planning
Conference in March of 2002. They
reluctantly agreed.
Conference attendees got more than
they bargained for when, at the end of
their prepared 30-minute presentation,
Stephanie and Anthony made a dramatic announcement: she was seven
weeks pregnant. Tears flowed freely
during the extended standing ovation
that followed. The journey to parenthood that Anthony describes as one of

JAMES CONNOLLY/GREENGRAPH

A LEAP OF FAITH—
AND A SURPRISE

Denys and Gabrielle Tims and 3-day-old Baby Dionne, at Sligo General hospital,
County Sligo, Ireland. The Tims received NaPro care in Ireland.

undertaken by Catholic practitioners,
but it is hardly the only one.
During a landmark conference in
July of 2004 in Dr. Hilgers’ home town
of Omaha, Nebraska, more than 400
physicians, pharmacists, practitioners,
and patients from the United States
and around the world gathered to
learn more about NaPro Technology’s
many breakthroughs, and to share
their stories.
The conference theme: “Introducing
NaPro Technology to the World,” featured a series of emotional, first-person
testimonials from women and couples—including
Stephanie
and
Anthony Epolite—who described how
their various conditions were diagnosed and successfully treated using
NaPro Technology. For example:
• A home-schooling mother of eight

tion mentioned her depression. At
the request of a nurse, she sent in
a blood sample and it was quickly
determined that her hormones
were at one-third the normal level.
After receiving treatment she was
“given her life back.”
• Abby Bredemeyer was a 19-yearold college student whose severe

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Three “miracle babies” from the same family.
(From left) Steffan, Rile, and Johannes Sales.

lowed, Dr. Hilgers has re-doubled his
efforts to spread the NaPro Technology
message. Publication of the medical
textbook marked a significant turning
point. Now he was able to offer scientific documentation to support the personal testimonies and anecdotal evidence that had been quietly circulating
for years.
Among NaPro Technology’s many
breakthroughs, described in the textbook, are:

pelvic pain and cramps
during menstruation
forced her to spend
several days a month
curled up in pain. She
had been offered two
options: painkillers and
the birth-control pill,
which only slightly
relieved the symptoms.
Her parents recalled a
presentation Dr.
Hilgers’s wife Sue had
given years earlier and
decided to call the
Institute. After the first
appointment Abby
ceased taking the Pill
and started charting.
That led to Dr. Hilgers’
diagnosis of
endometriosis: the core
cause of monthly agonies. She had surgery,
and her problems all
but ended.

• It is one and-a-half to three times
more successful than in vitro
fertilization at helping infertile
couples have children—at a
fraction of the cost.
• It is 79 percent effective at helping
women have a successful pregnancy after they have suffered
repeated miscarriages.
• It can help women learn they are
at risk for a miscarriage even
before one has occurred.

• “Women do not have to
Dr. Hilgers presenting his new medical
accept post-partum
textbook to Pope John Paul.
depression as a part of
pregnancy,” declared
and Debbie Lutgen of Beloit,
Estelle Nigro, the mother of three
Kansas, had all but accepted their
boys. For the first time ever, she
fate as a childless couple. Even
publicly shared the impact of her
when they were convinced to call
own post-partum depression
the Pope Paul VI Institute and set
before the hushed audience: her
an appointment with Dr. Hilgers,
feelings of shame, embarrassment
they were philosophical about
and perhaps worst of all, the hortheir chances. “At our initial conrific feeling that motherhood was
sultation I told Dr. Hilgers that I
a colossal mistake. This was anydidn’t know if we needed to be
thing but the normal “baby
talking to him,” recalls Debbie,
blues.” Doctors prescribed anticontinuing:
depressants and assured her the
feelings were “common”—a
We believed so strongly that if God
patronizing diagnosis that made
wants you to have children, he will
give them to you. Dr. Hilgers just
her feel even worse. Fortunately
looked at me and said, “If you have a
she sought the help of Dr.
clogged sink, are you just going to
Hilgers—who, far from dismisspray about it—or are you going to call
ing or trivializing her concerns,
a plumber?” He explained that he is
recognized the totality of the situnot playing God, he’s just being used
ation and its impact upon her perto bring about God’s plan.
sonal emotional health, her children, and her marriage. Her
The Lutgens then introduced little
NaPro Technology treatment proDavid
and Amy to the delighted gathtocol included regular doses of
ering:
two more NaPro Technology
progesterone that led to the
“miracle babies.”
resumption of a normal, happy
life as wife and mother.
NAPRO BREAKTHROUGHS

• After six painful, emotionally
traumatic miscarriages, Dennis

THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT, April 2005

During the Omaha conference and in
a series of medical conferences across
the country in the months that fol-

• It is 95 percent effective at treating pre-menstrual syndrome
(PMS), a condition that plagues
millions of American women
each month.
• It is also 95 percent effective at
treating post-partum depression,
often achieving results within
hours to ease a condition that
afflicts as many as one in five
new mothers.
• It cuts the rate of premature birth
nearly in half—thus helping to
reduce the incidence
of birth-related injury.
• It allows for the accurate dating
of the beginning of pregnancy,
thus helping to avoid some endof-pregnancy complications.
• It effectively treats chronic pelvic
pain, and it reduces the hysterectomy rate by a remarkable 75
percent.
Not only is the NaPro Technology
approach more effective at getting
desired results, it has many important,
beneficial “side effects” as well:
• By helping patients conceive naturally, the pitfalls of IVF like multiple births and the high incidences of birth defects are avoid-

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ed. The multiple-pregnancy rate
of NaPro Technology is just 3.2
percent, far lower than IVF/ART
pregnancies.
• NaPro Technology helps avoid
unnecessary surgeries. To cite just
one example, rather than treating
a woman’s underlying problems,
many doctors today will order a
hysterectomy, preferring simply
to remove the woman’s reproductive organs. The per capita rate of
hysterectomies in the United
States is three to four times as
high as in European countries.
Although studies show that the
complication rate for hysterectomy is very low, research has
linked the surgery to other subsequent problems, such as depression, sexual dysfunction, weight
gain, high blood pressure, and
premature menopause.

avoiding pregnancy are more than
twice as likely to discontinue that
approach as women who use the
Creighton Model FertilityCare system. And Creighton Model users
report higher levels of self-esteem,
spiritual well being, and sexual
intimacy than do users of the
birth-control pill.

Dr. Philip Boyle, an Irish practitioner of NaPro Technology, Dr. Hilgers,
and the Epolites at a panel discussion of the health care process.

• The habit of daily observation by
the woman—a practice that takes
only half a minute, several times
a day—helps her catch the early
signs of other potential health
problems, including some cancers, assuring her a higher rate
of recovery.
• As a means of avoiding pregnancy,
the Creighton Model FertilityCare
System is highly effective. A study
published in the June 1998 issue of
the Journal of Reproductive Medicine
found its perfect-use effectiveness
to be 99.5 percent and its method
effectiveness to be an impressive
96.8 percent. This compares favorably to the success rates of the
birth-control pill, of which Planned
Parenthood’s web site states: “Of
100 women who use the Pill, only
eight will become pregnant during
the first year of typical use.”
It is well worth noting that the natural solutions advocated by Dr.
Hilgers are what people really
want. Several anecdotal bits of
information point to that reality.
According to a study conducted by
City University, London, couples
who conceive through IVF are far
less likely to tell their children of
their true origin than parents who
adopt—perhaps an indication that
the parents are not proud of the
IVF procedure. Women who use
the birth-control pill as a means of

with readily available research papers,
news headlines, and other resources.
Sponsorship for a single event like the
“Gala Reception” at the group’s annual meeting carries a $225,000 price tag.
In contrast, marketing and publicity
resources for the 165 FertilityCare
Centers that serve as the primary

TECHNOLOGY AT
A CROSSROADS

The ability to transform NaPro
Technology from a closely held,
“niche market” approach to women’s
health care into a widespread, commercially viable alternative to conventional medical approaches depends on
many factors.
The various beneficiaries of NaPro
Technology, no matter what their
medical conditions may have been,
share one sentiment that crops up so
frequently that it is almost eerie. They
all say, in virtually the same words:
“Why didn’t anyone tell me about this
before?”
Like many new products or services,
NaPro Technology competes against
well-financed options that are already
firmly entrenched in the marketplace
and in the political arena. The
American Society for Reproductive
Medicine maintains a fully staffed
Office of Public Affairs in Washington,
DC, and an elaborate web site stocked

Conference
attendees got more
than they bargained
for when, at the end
of their prepared
30-minute
presentation,
Stephanie and
Anthony made
a dramatic
announcement.
■ ■ ■

source of NaPro Technology services in
the United States and around the
world are far more modest. The
American Academy of FertilityCare
Professionals, the education and certification group that supports NaPro
Technology and sponsors an annual
conference like the one in Omaha last
July, is grateful that individual donors
step up to provide a morning coffee bar
for attendees.
By its very nature, the NaPro
Technology approach to medicine and

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reproductive health is unlikely ever to
generate the kind of massive support
infrastructure currently enjoyed by the
ART industry. But NaPro Technology
advocates are far from discouraged;
they are simply seeking out more creative, cost-effective ways of spreading
their message.
Last summer, Dr. Hilgers commissioned a new Catholic non-profit communications group composed of former secular news professionals to produce a Video News Release (VNR) to
coincide with the annual conference
and publication of the medical textbook. The VNR featured the story of
the Epolites journey from failed IVF to
parenthood with NaPro Technology.
An audience tracking service confirmed that the story had aired on
newscasts in more than a dozen major
markets, reaching an estimated 3 million households, generating new calls
and email messages to local NaPro
Technology providers.
That same group is now developing
a series of education and marketing
videos explaining NaPro Technology,
as told through the personal experiences of women and couples who have
benefited. A feature-length documentary about the history and work of the
Pope Paul VI Institute is also under
development.
The Institute received hundreds of
email messages and phone calls after
Dr. Hilgers appeared on “The World
Over” with Raymond Arroyo on
Eternal Word Television Network
(EWTN) last August. “We always
know when they replay that show,”
says Dr. Hilgers of his EWTN appearance. “The next morning our email box
is overflowing.”
Support for the Pope Paul VI
Institute and NaPro Technology within
the Catholic Church is apparent on a
number of levels. For several years
now, the Institute has received a
$50,000 annual contribution from the
Vatican—“my check from the Pope,”
says Dr. Hilgers with a smile. He presented the Holy Father with an
advance copy of his new medical textbook last year.
Beyond monetary support, Pope
John Paul II has continued to support
the work of the Institute in other ways.
Cardinal John Francis Stafford, former
president of the Pontifical Council of
the Laity (and currently director of the

THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT, April 2005

Baby Kenneth with Anne Marie and
Gabriel Downes. Kenneth was the
first NaPro baby in Ireland, Born on
July 29, 1997, in County Mayo.

Can the secular
reproductive-medicine community be
persuaded to
embrace—or at the
very least to
acknowledge—this
new approach?
■ ■ ■

Apostolic Penitentiary in Vatican City)
repeatedly reminded attendees of the
conference in Omaha he had come “at
the explicit request” of the Holy Father
to recognize the efforts of Dr. Hilgers
and reaffirm the message of Humanae
Vitae. The cardinal also stunned his
audience with a stinging rebuke of contemporary sexual norms, mocking the
kind of language heard all too often at
the local mall or on MTV. His voice rising, Cardinal Stafford said:
Humanae Vitae involves a radical critique of the misuses of technology.
Such abuses ravage the creative tiny
sparks of life and contaminate the
springs of love in communion—life,
contaminated, and also, by the misuse
of technology, love, and communion,
violated. Studies and attitudes toward
dating today report on the growing
trends toward “hook ups.” Railroad
cars “hook up.” Ships and planes
sometimes “hook up” for re-fueling
purposes. Now, in a technologically
dominated culture, “hook ups” are
perceived as human relationships,
inspired by a mutual, and seemingly
unromantic desire to take care of sexual urges without the complications
of love or romance.

In bringing forth NaPro Technology,
the Pope Paul VI Institute has reaffirmed the original meaning of technology. It is to be life-giving, in the
Greek sense. It is to be creative and
life-enhancing. This creative use of
technology is in service to human
subject, in service—not exploiting it,
and is a direct response to the appeal
of the Pope. It represents a turning
point in the century.
LINGERING QUESTIONS

History will judge whether or not
Cardinal Stafford went overboard with
his glowing endorsement of NaPro
Technology. But for all its benefits,
numerous questions about the
approach still remain. Can the secular
reproductive-medicine community be
persuaded to embrace—or at the very
least to acknowledge—this new
approach as a legitimate alternative to
current practices? To date the answer
to that question has been No. A
spokesman from the American Society
of Reproductive Medicine declined
comment on the topic, saying, “We
tend to just ignore these people.”
Requests for comment from another
ART advocacy group, RESOLVE, were
similarly met with silence.
There are other challenges, including
the recruitment and training of properly certified physicians. A fellowship
program at the Institute, in which doctors come to Omaha to live and train
under Dr. Hilgers, has a rocky history.
“It’s a sacrifice for them,” admits Dr.
Hilgers when asked about doctors who
consider the fellowship program. He
explains the difficulties:
Many of them are sympathetic to
what we’re doing, but they’ve got
thriving practices back home and
families to support. It’s a tough call.
There’s also a lot of pressure from
their peers to view NaPro
Technology as some sort of oddball
kind of medicine because they didn’t
learn about it in med school.
Surprisingly enough, some of the
most successful NaPro Technology
physicians practicing today live and
work outside the United States. Dr.
Philip Boyle is a certified FertilityCare educator and practitioner in
Galway, Ireland, who began using
NaProTechnology in 1998. Since then

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he has founded more than 30
FertilityCare centers in Ireland and has
helped 95 couples achieve 123 conceptions. NaPro Technology practitioners
can be found in 13 countries besides
the United States, with a total of 165
FertilityCare Centers worldwide located in hospitals, diocesan natural family-planning offices, and stand-alone
clinics.
Some members of the Catholic clergy are also playing an increasingly
active role in learning about and promoting NaPro Technology. The “Love
& Life Unlimited” conferences sponsored by the Pope Paul VI Institute are
designed to give priests, deacons, and
lay religious leaders an opportunity to
“ponder, promote, and proclaim” the
Catholic vision of marriage and sexuality.
Father Edward J. Richard is the aca-

demic dean at Kendrick Glennon
Seminary in St. Louis, who serves as a
member of the Love & Life Unlimited
faculty. “Once the priests come and
find out what this is all about, they can
return to their parishes with a real
grasp of what the Church teaches
about sexuality,” he says. “It also
affirms and enforces the beauty and
meaning of their own calling and commitment to celibacy.”
As NaPro Technology advocates
work to bring this new reproductive
science into the lives of mainstream
Catholics, the most crucial unknown is
whether women and couples will actually take the time to explore all the
options available to them—including
NaPro Technology—as they address
their own reproductive-health issues.
Ultimately, answers to these and
other questions about the long-term

success of NaPro Technology depend
upon the merits of this new women’s
health science. Does it work? Is it better? If NaPro Technology is in fact a
superior health care alternative, grassroots demand for it from both Catholic
and non-Catholic consumers, and in
the marketplace of scientific and medical ideas will be the driving force.
Only then, as an aging but visionary
Pontiff said so many years ago, would
couples enjoy the “wise and healthy
direction, such as they have a right to
expect.” ■

CHUCK WEBER is the executive
director of SaintMax Worldwide
(www.saintmaxworldwide.org),
a Catholic non-profit communications
company. Peter McFadden also
contributed to this article.

THE CATHOLIC WORLD REPORT, April 2005

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