Washington, DC – The Culture of Life Foundation is pleased to name Maria del Pilar Calva Mercado, M.D. as Senior Fellow in Science and Medicine. Dr. Calva will lead Culture of Life’s research and education in the areas of bioethics and medicine on both the national and international levels. Dr. Calva’s research will be offered by Culture of Life in both English and Spanish with a Spanish Edition of our site coming soon. We are most blessed to be able to promote Dr. Calva’s work to enhance public understanding of scientific and therapeutic moral issues and we look forward to the opportunity with her to reach Hispanic Americans, as well as to Spanish-speaking friends throughout the world.
Dr. Calva is a medical doctor specializing in Human Genetics with a Cytogenetics subspecialty from The University of Paris, France. In Paris, she was the under-study to the world-renowned Professor Jérôme Lejeune, who is considered by some to be the father of modern genetics. In 1958, Lejeune discovered that an extra 21st chromosome is responsible for Down syndrome, or Trisomy 21. Lejeune dedicated his life tirelessly and unfailingly to defend the unborn, especially those with Down syndrome, testifying before scientific conferences and lawmakers. He was appointed by Pope John Paul II as the first President of the Pontifical Academy for Life. In Dr. Calva’s own words available in an article authored by her, already on our site.
When I arrived in France, I lived a life divided between faith and reason. I thought that from Monday to Saturday, I put on my white coat for my scientific tasks, and Sunday was the day I took off the white coat, put on my crucifix and dedicated myself to my religious duties. Professor Lejeune truly converted me, making me see that one can wear the white coat and the cross, at the same time. That is, one can fly with the wing of faith and the wing of reason.
Inspired by the life and work of Prof. Lejeune, Dr. Calva went on to earn a Master’s in Bioethics from Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City, Mexico. She is a professor of genetics, bioethics and medical ethics at Universidad Anahuac Medical School, where she has taught since 1984. She previously taught courses on moral theology, bioethics, and human sexuality at The John Paul II Institute in Mexico City and at The University of Dallas, School of Ministry.
As a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life from 2002-2012, Dr. Calva assisted and advised the Vatican on issues including genetics, eugenics, bioethics and natural law, artificial reproduction, bioethics and the law, the human embryo in the pre-implantation stage, brain death and end-of-life issues, and post-abortion trauma.
In addition to her work at the university, Dr. Calva serves as the Chief Editor of Bioethics and Catholic Hispanics for Catholic.net. Dr. Calva has presented on medical and bioethical issues before legislative bodies numerous times in Mexico as well as on the international level. She is a member of the Bioethics Council of the Mexican Episcopal Commission for the Family, the Pan-American Society of Bioethics, the Mexican Academy of Bioethics, the Regional Observatory for Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Mexican Association of Human Genetics. Dr. Calva can often be followed on such programs as the televised EWTN Spanish program as well as numerous radio and syndicated columns. She is married and has four children and a grandchild.
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