People
Dominic O. Vachon, M.Div., Ph.D.
The John G. Sheedy, M.D., Director of the Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine
Dr. Vachon is the John G. Sheedy M.D. Director of the Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine in the College of Science at the University of Notre Dame. He is also a professor of practice in the Preprofessional Studies Department, where he teaches courses in compassionate care in medicine, medical counseling skills, and spiritualties of caring in the helping professions. Dr. Vachon does research on the internal mental and emotional process of the clinician compassion mental state in patient care, clinician communication skills, mental performance in high stress clinical specialties, and innovations in medical training applying the science of compassion. For over 10 years, he was on the faculty of the St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency Program as the Director of Behavioral Medicine and Caring Science Training. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1980 with bachelor degrees in Psychology and Philosophy. He received an M.Div. from Notre Dame in 1985. In 1993, he received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University of Chicago. He has been a practicing psychologist and has been involved with training physicians, nurses, psychologists, and other helping professions throughout his career. He is author of the book, How Doctors Care: The Science of Compassionate and Balanced Caring in Medicine recently published by Cognella Press and a co-author of The Power & Pain of Nursing: Self-Care Practices to Protect & Replenish Compassion (2021). Last year he was invited to do the foreword to the book, Visionary Leadership in Healthcare: Excellence in Practice, Policy, and Ethics (2022). Dr. Vachon is a Certified Compassion Cultivation Training (CCT) Teacher with the Compassion Institute. He is also an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine-South Bend. Dr. Vachon has devoted the last 30 years of his professional career to supporting and training physicians, nurses, residents, medical students, premedical students, and other clinicians in patient communication skills as well as dealing with burnout and the recovery of compassionate care in the inner lives of clinicians. He provides continuing education and organizational consulting on integrating the science of compassion into healthcare practice.
His recently published book, "How Doctors Care: The Science of Compassion and Balanced Caring in Medicine," is available through Cognella Academic Publishing.
Contact: Dominic Vachon
Father James K. Foster, C.S.C., M.D.
Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Director, Center for Health Sciences Advising
Fr. Foster directs the Center for Health Sciences Advising and serves as chair of the Department of Preprofessional Studies. He closely monitors developments within the health profession admissions process including new schools, course requirements, and curriculum developments. Fr. Foster joined the Department of Preprofessional Studies in 1997 and became chair of the department in 2005.
Fr. Foster earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Notre Dame in 1977 and earned his M.D. degree in 1981 from the University of Illinois Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine. He completed his training in Internal Medicine (1984) and Infectious Diseases (1986) at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, Ill. and was board certified in both areas. After several years in private practice, Fr. Foster entered the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1989 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1995. He also completed a Clinical Ethics Fellowship at the University of Chicago School of Medicine in 1997.
Contact: Fr. Foster
Kathleen Kolberg, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies
Kathleen Kolberg is responsible for advising preprofessional students in the Center for Health Sciences Advising. She not only advises them regarding preparations to apply for health profession schools, but also assists students experiencing medical, emotional or academic crises. Additionally, she teaches courses concurrently in the Department of Biological Sciences and Department of Psychology.
Kathleen earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Albion College in Albion, Michigan, and her doctorate from Notre Dame. Her professional interests include studying the impact of environmental stressors on prenatal and early postnatal development. She also studies the effects of stressors on function and medical conditions, and how these stressors affect adults being treated in medical facilities. Kathleen assists with National Newborn Developmental Care Recommended Standards and Recommended Standards for Newborn ICU Design.
Contact: Kathleen Kolberg
Abigail Battjes, D.O.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Battjes earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Hope College, Holland, MI. After receiving her Doctor of Osteopathy from A.T. Sill University, Kirskville College of Osteopathetic Medicine in Missouri, Dr. Battjes completed her postdoctoral training as a Family Medicine resident at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, IN where she served as Chief Resident responsible for management and care of patients in the acute care setting, obstetric setting, emergency room, as well as nursing home patients. Dr. Battjes was the recipient of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Teacher’s Award Resident Teacher Award which recognizes the resident who has best demonstrated interest in and commitment to family medicine education
Dr. Battjes provides family medical care through the Saint Joseph Physician Network in South Bend and currently serves on their executive and recruitment committees. Currently Dr. Battjes is a preceptor for Indiana University School of Medicine - South Bend and the SJRMC Family Medicine Residency. She is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians since 2010.
Katharine Callaghan, M.D., M.P.A.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Callaghan ‘12 is an Associate Director at Memorial Hospital’s Family Medicine Residency Program in South Bend. Since 2020, she has been an adjunct professor through the Hillebrand Center at Notre Dame.
After graduating from Notre Dame, Dr. Callaghan remained in South Bend for a year to work with two different non-profit organizations in the area. She then attended Vanderbilt University School of Medicine earning her Doctor of Medicine degree as well as a certificate in biomedical ethics in 2017. While a resident and fellow at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, she obtained her Master of Public Affairs degree at Indiana University. She is board certified in Family Medicine. Throughout her education, Dr. Callaghan received awards for academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement.
The ways in which healthcare practitioners’ spiritual beliefs intersect with the practice of medicine, specifically in encounters with the sickness and suffering within themselves and that experienced in the story of their patients has been a particular interest of Dr. Callaghan.
Lindsey Connolly, M.D., FAACOG
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Connolly '13 earned her BA with a double major in Music History and Theory and Preprofessional Studies at the University of Notre Dame. She attended medical school at Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine and then completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University at Buffalo, Sisters of Charity Hospital. Dr. Connolly achieved board certification in ob/gyn in 2023 and currently provides both inpatient and outpatient care through the Saint Joseph Health System in Mishawaka, IN. She has a special interest in research topics surrounding reproductive and fertility care from the Catholic perspective.
As an undergraduate student Dr. Connolly was enrolled in the Medical Counseling Skills course taught by Dr. Dominic Vachon. She has a deep appreciation for the the skills learned in this course, and feels they served both her and her patients well both throughout her training and in her current practice. She now joins Dr. Vachon as co-instructor in the same course, excited to help students learn the practical application of compassionate care in medicine.
Suzanne Courtney, Psy.D., HSPP, BSN.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Courtney earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology in 1999 after first having a career in Nursing and Nursing Education. As a published author in both fields, Dr. Courtney has remained active in both clinical work and education in her combined fields of training. Educated also in Mass Casualty and Disaster Response by faculty from the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. Dr. Courtney has served as both a commander and field consultant in state lead and national disaster responses including, but not limited to the Columbine shootings, 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and most recently, the COVID-19 Pandemic.
After leaving her position as the Director of Behavioral Science in a Family Medicine Residency Program, she re-entered private practice and joined the Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care Science in Medicine as an adjunct professor. Dr. Courtney embraces the opportunity to advance the role of Compassion Science in understanding the factors creating health, in and for, practitioners and patients.
Lynn A. Damitz, M.D., FACS
Adjunct Professor
Paul V. Detrisac, M.D.
Adjunct Professor
A board-certified physician in critical care and internal medicine, Dr. Detrisac received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1978 before completing a residency in internal medicine at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. As an undergraduate he studied electrical engineering at Michigan. In March 2020, Dr. Detrisac retired from his primary care and critical care practices. As director of the Lakeland Critical Care Unit in Niles, MI, from 1985-March 2020, his clinic responsibilities included keystone rounds in the ICU, coordinating multi-specialty care.
Since 1997, Dr. Detrisac has been involved in bilingual Spanish education and treatment for patients at the Sister Maura Brannick clinic in South Bend. He has trained family practice residents at Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph Medical Center, and currently serves as an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine for Indiana University School of Medicine - South Bend. Dr. Detrisac serves the community as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for neglected and abused children.
Marcus Engel, M.S.
Adjunct Professor
Marcus earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Missouri State University and a Master of Science degree in narrative medicine from Columbia University. Marcus is proud to inspire compassionate communication in healthcare by putting an unforgettable name and face to the patient experience movement. He is a Certified Speaking Professional through the National Speakers Association, and a designated Certified Patient Experience Professional who advocates for consistently positive experiences across the continuum of care.
The author of five books, Marcus has more than 20 years of experience as a public speaker. He began the I'M HERE MOVEMENT, a global effort to help health care professionals embrace their power to comfort patients by simply being present. The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine awarded Marcus an honorary doctorate for his contributions to the field of healthcare. Marcus lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Marvelyne, and his Seeing Eye dog, Winter, who is a graduate of The Seeing Eye, Inc. in Morristown, New Jersey. You can follow Winter @pawswithpresence and Marcus @marcusengelspeaker.
Contact: Marcus Engel
Gary Fromm, M.D.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Fromm earned a medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1972, followed by an internship, residencies and pulmonary fellowship at the University of Florida. He served as the Medical Director Pulmonary Services and the Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hospital in South Bend from 1977 -2016. Since 2010 he has been an adjunct professor in the Department of Preprofessional Studies. As instructor for Film and the Physician—Portrayals of Medicine in Film and the Arts, Dr. Fromm uses 'cinemeducation' to help students explore, discuss, and learn from film clips of medical encounters. Dr. Fromm is currently the Medical Director of the Memorial Hospital Sleep Disorder Center.
Kristian Lax-Walker, M.S., Ph.D. Candidate
Adjunct Professor
Kristian Lax-Walker advises preprofessional students in the Center for Health Sciences Advising. She guides students in their preparation to apply to the health professions, she also organizes programming to enhance students' science identity and to offer opportunities for mentorship. Kristian also serves as the faculty advisor for the Multicultural Pre-medical Society.
Kristian is a doctoral student at Kansas State University in the College of Education where she earned her M.S. in academic advising. Kristian is a graduate research assistant for CASTLE, which is housed in the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). Her research interests include issues in academic advising and higher education, the impact of advising on college student persistence, and advisor burnout and well-being.
Justin Macariola-Coad, M.D., M.S.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Justin Macariola-Coad is a physician-leader specializing in Emergency Medicine. With extensive training and experience in emergency medicine, trauma management, and acute patient care. Dr. Macariola-Coad provides expert clinical services to patients in emergency settings for patients. He is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, compassionate care during times of urgent medical need, employing both advanced medical knowledge and cutting-edge technologies. Dr. Macariola-Coad is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (’94). Upon completing his Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Pre-Prefessional studies, he participated in the inaugural class of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE 1). During his one year with ACE, he taught middle school Spanish, science and math in Marksville, LA.
After completing a year of service, Dr. Macariola-Coad moved to Chicago where he completed a Masters of Science in Biology while working for a pharmaceutical clinical research company and performing bench research at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In the fall of 1997, he enrolled in medical school at the University of Illinois at Chicago and graduated in 2021, followed by residency training in Emergency Medicine at Advocate Christ Medical Center, located on the southside of Chicago. He holds board certification in Emergency Medicine from the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM).
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Macariola-Coad is passionate about the formation of physicians and development of a compassionate care culture. He has worked extensively in community-based emergency medicine during his 21 years of clinical practice. After 11 years of practice at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Elmhurst, IL, Dr. Macariola-Coad changed clinical practice sites and in 2015 became assistant medical director of the Emergency Department at
Advocate Sherman Hospital. In 2016, he became the ED Medical Director at Sherman. In 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic, he was asked to assume the role as VP and Chief Medical Officer at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, IL. He currently serves in this role in hospital administration and continues to practice clinically.
Dr. Macariola-Coad is known for his collaborative approach to patient care, working closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure optimal outcomes for all patients. His commitment to excellence and passion in both patient care and pre-medical education, compliments the mission of the Hillenbrand Center.
Rachel Rose, MSN, RN-CPLC
Adjunct Associate Teaching Professor
Rachel Rose earned her BSN in 1996 and MSN-Education in 2019 at Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana. From 1998 to 2017 Ms Rose worked as a Labor and Delivery nurse providing individualized holistic care with a deep knowledge of the complexities in the patient experience of pregnancy, and parenthood. Building on that work experience, she now advocates for patients, especially those with cultural needs or perinatal loss as the Perinatal Outreach Coordinator at the Saint Joseph Health System. She is responsible for program coordination of support services in perinatal hospice, difficult diagnoses, and subsequent pregnancy after perinatal loss. Ms Rose has been a guest lecturer at the Hillebrand Center since 2012 and was appointed an adjunct professor in 2023.
In 2017, Ms. Rose completed her RNC-Perinatal Loss Care (PLC) certification through the Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association after serving as Perinatal Bereavement Coordinator for 16 years which included development of the first perinatal hospice program in the Michiana area. Her MSN research focused on 'The lived experience of Certified Nurse Midwives in perinatal death care'.
Antonio deVilla Salud II, M.D., M.A.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Salud is a Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine physician who is currently working as a pulmonologist for Madison Medical Affiliates, SC. He graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he received his Medical Degree in 1999 and a Master's Degree in the Philosophy of Biomedical Ethics in 2003. He finished his residency and fellowship at the University of Utah Affiliated Hospitals in Salt Lake City, UT. Dr. Salud’s interest is in high reliability, focusing on the areas of safety, quality, and performance improvement, where he completed a certification in Quality Improvement / Quality Assurance at the IHC (Intermountain Health Care) Institute for Health Care Delivery Research. He has presented at the HPI Safety Summit for several years, speaking on “Peer Review: Innovating Change.” He served on the faculty of the Institute for Healthcare Communication, specializing in training physicians and other clinicians on disclosure of unanticipated outcomes of care. This was in conjunction with the C.O.R.E. (Communicate Openly Resolve Early) program sponsored by Ascension Health. He has been a University of Notre Dame Adjunct Professor for the Department of Preprofessional Studies since 2020, where he co-founded and teaches a course on suffering titled The Pathos Project. In the past year, Dr. Salud has participated in panels and spoken at the Health Equity Data Forum and the Science of Compassion Workshop at the University of Notre Dame. He organized and facilitated a program with the Lake Forest Academy, Freight to Plate, and By The Hand called “Make Global Local: Health Equity, Food Insecurity, and Compassion”. Dr. Salud completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Pre-medicine in 1992.
Mark Sandock, M.D.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Sandock is a South Bend native who completed his medical education at the Indiana University School of Medicine after graduating from Miami University (Ohio). He started a solo practice of internal medicine in 1975, and was employed by Saint Joseph Physician Network in 1994 to establish their internal medicine practice. He worked there until his retirement in 2008.
After retiring from clinical practice, Dr. Sandock was hired as the first physician consultant to the administration of Elkhart General Hospital. Later, he worked as a physician consultant for Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka and helped restructure the Physician Assistance Committee for disruptive/impaired physicians across their health system. He was heavily involved in implementing a provider burnout and suicide prevention pilot program.
In 1986, Dr. Sandock helped establish the Sister Maura Brannick Health Center for indigent patients in South Bend and he served for five years as the first volunteer medical director. He remains an active volunteer physician for the health center. On behalf of the clinic, he and Sister Maura were honored with a "Point of Light Award" from President George H. W. Bush in 1991.
Dr. Sandock currently mentors students at the Indiana University School of Medicine in South Bend.
Contact: Mark Sandock
Cyndy Searfoss, M.A.
Adjunct Professor
Professor Searfoss is a graduate of the Indiana University and earned a Masters in Creative Writing from Notre Dame in 1995. She currently serves as the Director of Marketing, Communications & Education for the Hospice Foundation, located in Mishawaka, IN, after working in different administrative capacities for the Hospice Foundation since 2011. Ms. Searfoss also serves as instructor for online courses for Purdue University, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, and previously taught for Southwestern Michigan College. Additionally, she lectures for Purdue Polytech South Bend.
Some of Professor Searfoss’s past leadership roles include Director of Advancement for The Stanley Clark School, Director Alumni Affairs and Campus Ceremonies, Indiana University South Bend and Education Director for the Humane Society of St. Joseph County.
Ms. Searfoss has been instrumental as Course Co-Designer in developing a unique course for the Hillebrand Center, Introduction to Hospice and Palliative Care. She is passionate about normalizing end-of-life conversations. Building effective community access to palliative and hospice care in the US and low-resource settings.
Stephen Trzeciak, M.D., M.P.H.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Trzeciak '92 is a physician scientist, Chief of Medicine at Cooper University Health Care, and Professor and Chair of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Trzeciak is a specialist in intensive care medicine and a clinical researcher funded by the National Institutes of Health with more than 100 publications in the scientific literature, primarily in the field of resuscitation science. Dr. Trzeciak's publications have been featured in prominent medical journals, such as: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), Circulation, and The New England Journal of Medicine. His scientific program has been supported by research grants from the American Heart Association, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, with Dr. Trzeciak serving in the role of Principal Investigator.
Currently, Dr. Trzeciak’s research is focused on a new field called “Compassionomics”, in which he is studying the scientific effects of compassion on patients, patient care, and those who care for patients. He is an author of the best-selling book: Compassionomics: The Revolutionary Scientific Evidence that Caring Makes a Difference, which has been featured in numerous media outlets such as CNN, NPR, and The Washington Post. For this work, Dr. Trzeciak was awarded the 2019 Influencers of Healthcare Award by The Philadelphia Inquirer. Broadly, Dr. Trzeciak’s mission is to make healthcare more compassionate through science.
Brandon Zabukovic, M.D., M.P.A.
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Zabukovic ’97 is the managing partner of Primary Care Partners of South Bend. He also serves as medical director for the Northern Indiana Maternal and Child Health Network and as consulting physician for the residential substance abuse program at the YWCA of North Central IN. Since 2009, he has been an adjunct professor in preprofessional studies and the Hillebrand Center at Notre Dame.
After a gap year spent working with a community for disabled adults in Rolling Prairie, Ind., he attended New York Medical College, followed by residency at Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Program in South Bend. Additionally, he holds a Master of Public Administration from IUSB School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and is board certified in family medicine and addiction medicine. Additionally, he participated in the Primary Care Faculty Development Fellowship Program through Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
Dr. Zabukovic delivers highly personal and accessible primary care to a diverse socioeconomic patient base that includes a program specializing in the treatment of pregnant women and families struggling with addiction, mental health disorders, and psychosocial complications. Additionally, he serves on the Logan Center Protective Services Board as well as on the Michiana Opioid Task Force as chairperson for the secondary prevention and executive committees.
He has received numerous recognitions, including the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award. Other noteworthy awards include Family Medicine Preceptor of the Year 2008 & 2018 and the Dolly Donahue Award for Community Partnership in 2017.
Rose Carroll, MBA
Operations and Strategic Coordinator
Rose Carroll '82 joined the Hillebrand Center in 2018 as Operations and Strategic Coordinator. She graduated from Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in biology and in 2011 earned a Master of Business Administration from Clayton State University in Georgia.
Before returning to South Bend, Rose most recently served as the Executive Director of the Healing Bridge Clinic, a non-profit clinic providing free primary health care to the uninsured in Georgia. She has previously worked as a surgical technician at Touro Infirmary & Mercy Hospital, and as a research assistant at Louisiana State University Medical Center & Tulane University School of Medicine. Rose has held leadership roles with the Notre Dame Alumni Clubs of New Orleans, Atlanta, and St. Joseph Valley, and serves as 1982 Class President. She is currently Secretary for the Board of Trustees for her high school alma mater, Ursuline Academy in New Orleans.
Contact: Rose Carroll
Staff
Corianne Kellems, Department & Program Manager
Rose Marvin, Department & Program Coordinator
219 Jordan Hall of Science
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Phone: (574) 631-9536
