Theology, Medicine, and Culture Initiative

We are kicking off our “Out of Office” summer series, showcasing TMC faculty and staff enjoying hobbies and talents you might not know they had.

Today, we’re featuring Dr. Wylin Wilson, who not only dons fabulous fashion, she makes it!

When we asked what she enjoys doing in her spare time during summer, she shared: One of the things that brings me great joy are my sewing classes at Sew Joyful Teaching in Durham! I consider my sewing classes to be my “Playground”—I get to be creative, try new things, and I’m given room to make mistakes—and did I mention how much fun it is?! My classes are all about “Taking the old and making it new”, so I take old clothes and make new creations from them—it is just delightful. These classes are so much fun and bring me so much joy! Another wonderful aspect of my sewing classes is that I spend so much of my time teaching that it is just wonderful being the student. Being in the role of a student helps me to appreciate how my own students may struggle sometimes.

Where lifelong learning meets creativity!

The Duke University Office of the Provost recently awarded Intellectual Community Planning Grants to 10 new faculty collaborations. One of the grants has been awarded to our very own Patrick T. Smith for a project called “Developing a Jazz-Shaped Pedagogy for Professional Education and Formation” with faculty from the Duke Schools of Law and Nursing.

Congratulations, Dr. Smith!

Meet Lisa Vickers! Lisa, a mental health track student in our hybrid Certificate in Theology and Health Care, serves as a chaplain, bringing the good news of Christ to elderly patients and those living with dementia.

During her year with TMC, she developed a more nuanced, faith-rooted approach to care—one that honors the dignity of every person she encounters.

Her favorite moment? “Our January spiritual retreat, which was so filled with
peace, wisdom, and community that I often find myself wishing I could transport myself
back there to live it all over again!”

Learn more about our programs at divinity.duke.edu/initiatives/tmc

Meet Mark Landon, a mental health track student in our Certificate in Theology and Health Care program!

Mark works alongside immigrant and refugee families, helping them find the resources and relationships that support life and belonging in their communities. Through the hybrid CTHC, his vocational vision is continuing to take shape: “I work at a community clinic, and TMC has been transformational in how I see and do things there.”

His favorite aspect of the hybrid CTHC? “It’s the depth of conversations we have had, and also the abundant laughter we’ve shared.”

Meet Sam Pullen, MD!

Sam (pictured on the left) is a hybrid student in the mental health track. Sam works in behavioral health, helping ensure the fair and equitable distribution of state resources for people navigating mental health and substance use challenges.

Reflecting on his time in the hybrid CTHC program, Sam shares: “It's really helped to give me a Christian framework through which to see my role in managing populations and state resources.”

When asked about the highlight of this year, his answer was immediate:
“By far and away our immersive weeks, especially when we’ve gathered at someone’s home and had fellowship with classmates and faculty.”

Learn more about our programs at divinity.duke.edu/initiatives/tmc

Meet Kimberly Stephens, Th.M., a hybrid student in our Certificate in Theology & Health Care program!

Kimberly walks alongside Veterans navigating mental illness and substance abuse — wounds so often tied to the weight of their military service.

Like many who study with TMC, she found that the relationships formed in the program were just as formative as the coursework itself. Connecting with a cohort of fellow practitioners who share her hunger to do God's will in health care was a highlight she didn't anticipate.

As for the impact of her time with TMC, she writes: "Studying with TMC has enhanced my knowledge of God, strengthened my confidence in my work, and affirmed how God has called me to serve in the world."

We're grateful to have walked alongside Kimberly this academic year!

Learn more about our programs at divinity.duke.edu/initiatives/tmc

"The question was never whether he would survive. The real question was: how did this man have to die? Why was he required to endure the full weight of medical intervention before anyone helped his family face what was already evident? Why do we wait to bring palliative care to the bedside until all interventions have been exhausted—until patients are dying not just from their
illness, but from the very burdens of care we impose?"

TMC alumna, Bindu Thota, is a surgical resident in the Department of Surgery at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Her experience during residency illuminated a counterintuitive reality—that cardiac surgeons were taking on aspects of palliative care. Read more in her essay, "The End of the Line: The Role of Cardiac Surgery in Palliative Care," published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

🔗 Read at the link in our bio

What does it look like to bring your whole self — your faith, your values, your vocation — into medicine? 🩺✨

Dr. Giang Ha, a TMC Fellowship alumna, shares how Duke Divinity's Theology, Medicine, and Culture program transformed her sense of belonging, deepened her calling as a physician, and changed the way she shows up for her patients.

If you're a clinician, student, or healthcare leader longing to integrate faith and vocation into your practice—this community is for you.

🔗 Learn more on the TMC website. Link in bio.