FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MyCatholicDoctor selected as Semi-Finalist in the OSV Challenge
June 29, 2021 – MyCatholicDoctor is thrilled to have been selected as a semi-finalist in the OSV Challenge! What is the OSV Challenge? It’s Catholic Shark Tank!
The OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation announced the next phase of the 2021 OSV Challenge, a multi-round entrepreneurial competition designed to accelerate unique project ideas in any stage from Catholics whose faith has motivated them to make a difference. Out of 650+ applications, 182 innovators made it to round 2. And now, 25 challengers have been selected to advance to the Semi-Final Round, as they compete for one of three prizes of $100,000 each to advance their missions. The Semi-Final Round includes the six-week OSV Challenge Accelerator, which the University of St. Thomas in Houston (UST) is coordinating the curriculum and mentoring process for this year.
Kathleen Berchelmann, M.D., Co-founder of MyCatholicDoctor, shared her enthusiastic remarks regarding the advancement in this challenge: “MyCatholicDoctor makes Catholic healthcare accessible to everyone through telehealth and a national network of faithful healthcare professionals. We are building a virtual hospital that is pro-life and pro-eternal life. For more than 2000 years, the Catholic Church has led the world in healthcare, answering the call of Jesus Christ to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God is near (Luke 10:9). We are thrilled to be a part of the OSV community, and to share in our missions with other like minded ministries. Our greatest asset at MyCatholicDoctor is all of our faithful clinicians and staff, and I thank God we are able to use them to further our mission and opportunity with OSV Institute.”
The OSV Challenge Accelerator offers the next-level professional guidance, spiritual formation, and personal development needed for optimal impact on the Church and the world. This year’s Accelerator is sponsored by UST, located in Houston, Texas, the destination city for this year’s OSV Innovation Summit, the culminating finale for the 2021 OSV Challenge. The University plays a vital role by providing an 18-hour summer boot camp that includes in-person and online entrepreneurial education with content that enhances the spiritual development and business acumen of the Catholic innovators. Alongside OSV Institute, UST will also develop a success scorecard to evaluate the program and provide input to the judges determining the 12 finalists from the 24 semi-finalists.
This year’s pool of 25 semi-finalists consists of the following: Saint Joseph’s Home for Artisans, The Innovative Catholic Lab School, Tabella, MyCatholicDoctor, FemCatholic, Safe Passage Project, Quo Vadis Catholic, Simple Small Group, Red Bird Ministries, Faith Journeys Foundation, Perfect Love Casts Out Fear, Iskali Hispanic Ministry, Cycle Prep, Springs in the Desert, Visible Miracles for the Mass, Dragon Slayers, Bendecida, Fiat Project, Catholic in Recovery, Dropout, De Porres Project, The Hem of Christ Ministry, Connect, and Accepting the Gift.
Upon completion of the OSV Challenge Accelerator, 12 finalists will be announced on August 30 that have demonstrated their ability to blaze a trail, leave a legacy, and actualize their ideas, best representing the core values of the OSV Challenge. “These finalists, and all our challengers, have heard God’s call to create a better world. The Accelerator will facilitate them on their journey to enrich the Church,” said Dr. Matt Smith, Director of Strategic Alliances at OSV Institute for Catholic Innovation.
Through this relationship between the OSV Institute and MyCatholicDoctor, MyCatholicDoctor is hopeful to make access to Catholic healthcare easier, more convenient, and an affordable option for families across the nation. They want to share the love of Jesus Christ in health care, healing the body, mind, and spirit.
MyCatholicDoctor is beyond grateful to be a part of the OSV Challenge and bring our mission of making Catholic healthcare available to all a reality. For more information on the 24 semi-finalists, visit osvchallenge.com/press.
###
About MyCatholicDoctor: MyCatholicDoctor is a nationwide organization that brings a network of faithful medical professionals to patients through video visits, in-person care, and a referral network. As a telehealth provider, we can initiate your medical care virtually, order any necessary labs or imaging, and send prescriptions to the pharmacy of your choice. We provide evidence-based, holistic Catholic healthcare to all of God’s people. To find out more about the services we provide, meet our providers, and schedule an appointment, visit www.mycatholicdoctor.com.
CONTACT: Samantha Wright, Marketing Director, [email protected]