Mixing Faith and Science

Published in DukeMed, December 2005

(Sidebar to “Egg Hunters“)

Rarely do you see a physician wear his religion on his sleeve. But David Walmer, MD, PhD, wears his quite literally around his neck, in the form of a green, gold, and maroon tie patterned with crosses, fish, and the word “faith.” As chief of the Duke Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility division, Walmer knows his attire is not only a revelation of his character, but an outward symbol of what anyone–Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or agnostic–must possess to face the emotional and physical roller coaster of infertility treatment.

You have to believe, deeply, to go through these procedures–if not in God, then in science. Walmer happens to believe in both. For many of his patients, that’s a welcome fact. In fact, not only do more patients keep the dialogue on faith open with him through their medical journeys than not, many couples specifically come to Duke to see Walmer because of his Christian-focused practice. Many ask Walmer to pray with them before embryo transplants. Some just want the knowledge that they are cared for by a physician who unabashedly shares their faith. Others seek advice on reconciling the ethical issues that abound in assisted reproductive technology (ART) with their intense desire to begin a family.