WEBVTT 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:10.640 Good morning. 00:00:10.640 --> 00:00:18.435 I'm Michelle from Divine Mercy University and alumni relations, and I have the joy of introducing you today to Patrick Wankanogo. 00:00:18.895 --> 00:00:19.375 Thank you. 00:00:19.375 --> 00:00:21.135 That's I almost got it pronounced right. 00:00:21.135 --> 00:00:30.900 He's a wonderful graduate who is currently in Indianapolis, Indiana working in the health system, and I'm gonna be talking to him and asking him some questions to share his journey to share with all of you. 00:00:31.360 --> 00:00:38.100 So father, tell us a little bit about what you're doing in your current role and how you're using your degree. 00:00:39.040 --> 00:00:40.100 That's a great start. 00:00:41.205 --> 00:00:45.545 So, thank you, Michelle, for the opportunity. 00:00:46.405 --> 00:00:51.145 And so, again, my name is father Patrick Mwoke Ogo. 00:00:51.685 --> 00:01:02.240 And currently, I am serving as a priest chaplain, with Indiana University Health. 00:01:02.860 --> 00:01:15.775 And, so we have three big hospitals in the downtown area of Indianapolis, Methodist Hospital, University Hospital, and Riley Hospital for Children. 00:01:16.395 --> 00:01:27.300 So I am primarily assigned to Methodist Hospital, but I also extend my service to university and Riley as needed. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:45.845 So like I said, my role is a Catholic priest, taking care of Catholic patients, but my role also extends to people from every walks of life, every faith background, or even no religious affiliation. 00:01:46.625 --> 00:01:51.925 So we take care of all all of that populate the hospital population. 00:01:52.750 --> 00:01:56.850 And, so you're asking me how I'm changing the world. 00:01:57.950 --> 00:02:08.585 So, I remember, Mahatma Gandhi that says, you must be the change you want to see in the world. 00:02:09.205 --> 00:02:13.145 So I am changing the world by, beginning with myself. 00:02:13.365 --> 00:02:13.845 You know? 00:02:13.845 --> 00:02:16.825 They say charity begins at home. 00:02:17.125 --> 00:02:32.810 So trying to change myself, improve myself, transform myself, and it was this goal that led me to DMU to further my education and to acquire skills, that will enable me to change the world around me. 00:02:32.810 --> 00:02:34.270 So I started with me. 00:02:34.985 --> 00:02:48.440 And since then, coming out of DMU, I've also gained some other trainings, like leadership training, which also, is an offshoot of what I got from DMU. 00:02:48.660 --> 00:02:52.360 So, like, they asked me, what kind of a leader would you like to be? 00:02:52.420 --> 00:02:56.040 And I said, I want to be a servant leader. 00:02:56.180 --> 00:03:02.125 Jesus says, whoever wants to be the head must be the servant of all. 00:03:02.125 --> 00:03:07.185 So that's my style of leadership, servant, leadership. 00:03:07.885 --> 00:03:10.225 So you cannot give what you don't have. 00:03:10.285 --> 00:03:13.665 So I have to, change myself. 00:03:14.365 --> 00:03:29.180 Then going out, I take it one person at a time, one patient at a time, one staff member at a time, one encounter at a time. 00:03:29.455 --> 00:03:38.115 And I am intentional when I am with anybody, with any patient because I want it to be a unique experience. 00:03:38.495 --> 00:03:48.020 I want, my patients or the staff that I'm attending to to have a test of goodness after the encounter. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:04:00.095 So that's how I'm changing the world starting from where I am and extending it to other people and one person, one patient, one encounter at a time. 00:04:00.095 --> 00:04:01.395 What a wonderful philosophy. 00:04:01.855 --> 00:04:07.135 And I know hospitals do practice that servant leadership role, and it it just catches on fire, doesn't it? 00:04:07.135 --> 00:04:07.295 Yes. 00:04:07.295 --> 00:04:08.115 It really does. 00:04:08.175 --> 00:04:08.675 Uh-huh. 00:04:08.735 --> 00:04:14.450 So I know you told me already that answered this question about what attracted you to Divine Mercy University. 00:04:14.990 --> 00:04:24.875 But when you talk to people and you think about your education there, what are kind of the three top takeaways that you share that have really helped you grow as a priest? 00:04:27.095 --> 00:04:40.900 Takeaways, Divine Mercy University, sort of empowered me and to trust Present like castle. 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:41.700 In me. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:44.660 Well Of course, trust in God. 00:04:46.160 --> 00:04:53.425 In the sense of letting me know that there is something I can bring to the world around me. 00:04:53.885 --> 00:05:05.360 So that's one of the focus of Divine Mercy University is to train people and equip people to bring their skills to our environment. 00:05:05.580 --> 00:05:07.440 So that's one of those things. 00:05:07.580 --> 00:05:22.845 But the major takeaway from DMU is the emphasis on the human person created in the image and likeness of God, created for flourishing. 00:05:23.705 --> 00:05:31.885 So, everything revolves around this basic theology of the dignity of the human person. 00:05:32.340 --> 00:05:45.460 So it has really impacted my ministry as a hospital chaplain that when I am with a patient, irrespective of whatever is going on, it's not a disease model. 00:05:45.460 --> 00:05:49.485 I'm looking at the person there, not the disease. 00:05:49.545 --> 00:05:51.885 I am attending to a human being. 00:05:52.505 --> 00:05:57.085 So that's the major takeaway from Divine Mercy University. 00:05:58.025 --> 00:05:58.505 Fantastic. 00:05:58.505 --> 00:06:03.640 Give me I'm gonna do a question that's not really on my script, and you were with a very unique cohort. 00:06:03.940 --> 00:06:08.440 The master's in psychology students don't really see one another until they physically graduate. 00:06:08.820 --> 00:06:16.115 Tell me what those ties were that kept you all so close and so many of you finished that entire degree together in the same cohort. 00:06:16.115 --> 00:06:17.235 Can you share that with us? 00:06:17.235 --> 00:06:18.055 Oh, sure. 00:06:18.595 --> 00:06:23.975 Like you said, I I am very grateful to my cohort. 00:06:24.915 --> 00:06:26.055 Let me say it. 00:06:26.275 --> 00:06:30.420 Without my cohort, I wouldn't have finished with the program. 00:06:31.120 --> 00:06:38.420 They were we formed a bond of unity, of support to one another. 00:06:39.440 --> 00:06:46.295 I remember many times I struggle with assignments, not knowing where to start, where how to begin, what is required. 00:06:47.315 --> 00:06:51.475 And we have this platform on WhatsApp where you can reach out. 00:06:51.475 --> 00:06:52.615 I say, hey, guys. 00:06:53.155 --> 00:06:54.055 I'm struggling. 00:06:54.355 --> 00:06:57.380 And now somebody will reach out immediately. 00:06:57.440 --> 00:06:58.260 Hey, father. 00:06:58.320 --> 00:07:01.120 Look at you know, this is how I approach it. 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:02.580 This is how I did it. 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:04.800 So we were our brother's keeper. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:05.840 We helped each other. 00:07:05.840 --> 00:07:10.165 We supported each other, and we have kept it going since then. 00:07:10.165 --> 00:07:15.205 So it's a very unique cohort, and I'm really grateful to be part of this group. 00:07:15.205 --> 00:07:16.725 What a great Thank you. 00:07:16.725 --> 00:07:21.445 I thank you so much of your gift of time today and sharing your journey with Divine Mercy University. 00:07:21.445 --> 00:07:24.560 Is anything else you'd like to say that I didn't ask? 00:07:26.700 --> 00:07:36.880 So well, it's to give a shout out to Divine Mercy University and, particularly to you because I remember that you recruited me. 00:07:37.385 --> 00:07:39.065 Immediately, I pressed that button. 00:07:39.065 --> 00:07:41.325 You reached out, like, in the next five minutes. 00:07:43.145 --> 00:07:47.225 And you were, like, you you talked me into it. 00:07:47.225 --> 00:07:49.725 You inspired me, you know? 00:07:50.090 --> 00:07:57.070 And and that quality extends to all the faculty, all the staff of Divine Mercy University. 00:07:57.290 --> 00:07:58.830 So I'm really grateful. 00:07:59.050 --> 00:08:02.270 I remember one of our professors, she was traveling. 00:08:02.410 --> 00:08:09.415 She was traveling in Europe, and and she was teaching us statistics. 00:08:09.635 --> 00:08:10.855 Do you remember her name? 00:08:10.915 --> 00:08:11.555 No problem. 00:08:11.555 --> 00:08:12.055 Julia. 00:08:12.275 --> 00:08:28.500 She's now the director of her So Julia was one of my major reasons, support to finish up the program because when it got to statistics, I nearly crashed out and she called me. 00:08:28.500 --> 00:08:31.540 It was middle of the night in Europe and she called me. 00:08:31.540 --> 00:08:33.725 I I told me, father Patrick, don't give up. 00:08:33.785 --> 00:08:34.425 What do you need? 00:08:34.425 --> 00:08:35.145 What do you want? 00:08:35.145 --> 00:08:36.365 How can I help you? 00:08:36.425 --> 00:08:38.285 And she guided me through statistics. 00:08:38.345 --> 00:08:44.205 So That story is so beautiful because most people coming in, the biggest thing they're afraid of are statistics. 00:08:44.265 --> 00:08:44.745 Correct. 00:08:44.745 --> 00:08:49.160 But somehow, doctor Julia turns it into a touchdown. 00:08:49.220 --> 00:08:51.380 She's just able to help people who struggle through it. 00:08:51.380 --> 00:08:53.300 So thanks for sharing that story. 00:08:53.300 --> 00:08:53.800 Sure. 00:08:53.940 --> 00:08:54.340 Sure. 00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:54.840 Sure. 00:08:54.980 --> 00:09:00.100 I'm here, and, again, we appreciate your gift of time and the lovely things you had to say, father. 00:09:00.100 --> 00:09:00.580 Thank you. 00:09:00.580 --> 00:09:01.033 Uh-huh. 00:09:01.113 --> 00:09:01.773 Thank you.