Living Your Best Life for Others with Mission & Meaning

Moderator:
Anne Thompson ‘79,
NBC News Correspondent

Anne Thompson ‘79 is currently NBC News’ chief environmental affairs correspondent, and notably has covered Pope Francis’ papal tour, the United States-China climate deal, and the BP oil spill. Her reports appear across all platforms of NBC News, including NBC Nightly News, TODAY, and MSNBC. Before being named an NBC News correspondent, Thompson had been an award-winning general assignment reporter for WDIV-TV, the NBC affiliate in Detroit, since 1986. In recognition of her contributions to the Notre Dame community and beyond, Thompson was presented with the 2019 Rev. Edward Frederick Sorin, C.S.C., Award, one of the University’s highest honors.

Panelist:
Dr. David Gaus ‘84,
Andean Health & Development

Dr. David Gaus ‘84, is the founder of Andean Health and Development and has served as its Chief Executive Officer since 1994. David grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and attended Notre Dame where he received an accounting degree in 1984. After a soul-searching conversation with then University President, Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, David traveled to Ecuador where he spent two years volunteering at an orphanage. There he witnessed the marginalization of a population of mostly women and children who lacked access to even basic health services.

Panelist:
Dr. Jim O’Connell ‘70,
Boston Health Care for the Homeless

Dr. Jim O’Connell ’70 graduated summa cum laude from the University of Notre Dame and received a master’s degree in theology from Cambridge University in 1972. He graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1982 and completed a residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 1985, he became the founding physician of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, serving over 11,000 individuals annually. He established the first medical respite program for homeless persons, which now operates the 104-bed Barbara McInnis House. Dr. O’Connell developed the first computerized medical record for a homeless program and served as National Program Director of the Homeless Families Program. He is the editor of a healthcare manual for the homeless and author of Stories from the Shadows. He has received numerous awards and is president of BHCHP and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School.

Panelist:
John Wagle,
Associate Athletics Director for Sports Performance

John Wagle joined the University of Notre Dame in 2022 as the Pat & Jana Eilers Associate Athletics Director, Sports Performance. He oversees Sports Medicine, Strength & Conditioning, Psychology, Nutrition, and the GLD Center, using contemporary technology and analytics to support student-athlete health and performance. Previously, he spent four years with the Kansas City Royals, reimagining player development and injury prevention, leading to six MiLB championships. Wagle earned a PhD in Sports Physiology & Performance and contributed to the Olympic Training Site’s success at the 2018 Winter Olympics. He holds multiple degrees, authored numerous scientific articles, and co-authored Strength & Conditioning in Sports: From Science to Practice. He lives in South Bend, IN, with his wife, Dr. Katy Demitruk.