Joseph C. Moravec, DMin
Professor, Philosophy and Religious Studies 
(515) 643-6643
Joseph.Moravec@MCHS.edu

Office Location
ACE - 227

Office Hours

Varies each semester

Mailing Address

Mercy College of Health Sciences
928 6th Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309-1239

Year Started at Mercy College: 2004

  • Department: Liberal Arts and Sciences

Education

  • DMin, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1993), summa cum laude
  • MDiv, Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (1983), summa cum laude
  • MA, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (1980), summa cum laude
  • BA, Taylor University (1975), summa cum laude

Courses Regularly Taught

  • PHI 110 Critical Thinking in a Diverse World
  • PHI 280 Caring in a Diverse Health Care Environment
  • PHI 301 Critical Thinking
  • PHI 302 Applied Critical Thinking
  • REL 301 Comparative Christian Traditions
  • REL 320 New Testament Analysis
  • REL 334 Comparative World Religions
  • SPE 105 Small Group Communication
  • SVL 285 Servant Leadership

Clinical/Field Experience

Academic and Professional Experience: • Mercy College of Health Sciences (MCHS), Des Moines, IA, Professor, 2008 – Present; Associate Professor, 2004 – 2008. • Center for Church Based Training, Richardson, TX; Leadership Consultant Ministry Representative, 2003 – Present. • Grace University, Omaha, NE; Adjunct Professor/Academic, Iowa Extension Program Coordinator, 1993 – 2003. • First Federated Church, Des Moines, IA; Senior Associate Pastor, 1983 – 1987; 1992-2003 (Led and taught in all adult ministries of the 3000 member church including Sunday Adult Bible Fellowships (600+ adults), Wednesday Adult Education classes (300+ adults), support group ministries, and organized special community-wide seminars, workshops, and conferences; initiated and implemented strategic, church-wide discipleship and leadership development ministries such as F.E.D. (Federated’s Equipping for Disciple-making) Groups (consisting of 35 groups with 360 participants), local evangelism outreach programs, leadership/teacher training classes, ministry team building and in-house counseling programs/services. • William Penn University, Oskaloosa, IA; Adjunct Instructor, 2000 – 2002. • Trinity College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL; Dean of Extension and Continuing Education/Instructor, 1987 – 1991; President, Trinity Institute of Practical/Biblical Studies, 1988 – 1991; Corporation Management Consultant, 1988 – 1991. • Christ Church of Oak Brook, Oak Brook, IL; Director of Youth Ministries, 1979 – 1983 (Led and administered all of the children, junior high and senior high ministries as Youth Director of the 5,000 member church with a primary focus on high school ministries (350 high school students). • Continental Ministries, Denver, CO; Director of Discipleship, 1976 – 1981 (Developed and administered the discipleship program for Continental Ministries with all tour directors and with musicians each summer (500 musicians) on a part-time, consultant basis as a result of touring with a group in 1975). • East Columbus United Methodist Church, Columbus, IN; Associate Pastor, 1975 – 1977 (Administered the entire educational, visitation and youth ministries for the 1,000 member congregation). Significant Teaching Experience/Curricular Development: • Taught Bible (Pentateuch, Wisdom Literature, Historical Books, Major and Minor Prophets, Gospels, Acts, Prison Epistles, Pastoral Epistles, General Epistles, Revelation), Theology (Hermeneutics, Progress of Redemption, Issues in Theology), Ministry (The Church) and Communication and Leadership courses for 3 separate, 15-month EXCEL program cohorts for Grace University in their Des Moines extension program (1993-2003). • Taught Comparative Religions courses for William Penn University in their Des Moines extension (2000 – 2002). • Guest lecturer on leadership and small group ministries at Pastor’s Conference held at Sunbury Baptist Church, Melbourne Australia (2000). • Guest lecturer on Christian life and service at the Evangelical Christian Seminary, Moscow, Russia (1994). • Taught Bible (Pentateuch, Wisdom Literature, Historical Books, Major and Minor Prophets, Gospels, Acts, Prison Epistles, Pastoral Epistles, General Epistles, Revelation), Theology (Hermeneutics, Progress of Redemption, Issues in Theology), Ministry (The Church) and Communication and Leadership courses for 3 separate, 15-month REACH program cohorts for Trinity College in their Milwaukee, WI and Deerfield, IL extension programs (1987-1991). • Developed/taught over 100 different church-based adult education courses in Bible theology, leadership, discipleship, church history, education, ministry and service since 1975. • Course developer of/instructor for 5 online courses (MCHS) (2010-present): NSG/PHI 280 Caring in a Diverse Healthcare Environment, PHI 301 Critical Thinking, SPE 105 Small Group Communication, REL 334 Comparative World Religions, SVL 285 Servant Leadership. • Developed the online version of the Busy Persons Retreat at MCHS (2012). • Assisted MCHS School of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty in developing the Bachelor of Health Science degree (2008), Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree (2014), Associate of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree (2014) and the Bachelor of Health and Human Services (2015) programs. • Assisted MCHS Core Curriculum faculty study team in developing the SVL 285 Servant Leadership course (2013-14). • Championed the development/implementation of the MCHS LAS Critical Thinking and Cultural Competency Pre and Post-Test Assessment process/tools involving over 1,000 students (2008 -2012). • Administered all off-campus extension programs (18 sites) involving 300 students worldwide for Trinity College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School on a college, graduate, and professional level; developed strategic marketing plans and programs that increased student enrollment from 1,000 to 3,000 (1987-1991).

Research Interests and Professional Projects

I have a passion for developing people and furthering the healing ministry of Jesus Christ in and through my life and those I teach for the glory of God. I consider it a privilege and honor to serve God and others here at Mercy College of Health Sciences. I have done extensive research on the healing ministry of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Gospel accounts in the New Testament. As such, I have created and use an analytical tool in order to help my students analyze the four types of healing in all of the 64 healing incidents of Jesus Christ that are documented in the New Testament. I have a keen interest in promoting and pursuing holistic (physical, psychological, spiritual) health and healing. Furthermore, to help promote real-life learning in the religion classes I teach, I have created and use schematics for developing critical thinking understandings in my students both transreligiously (for the major world religions) and transtraditionally (for the various Christian traditions). In addition, in order to help make my religion courses come alive for students, I had established the “Chapels on Tuesday” series from 2005-15) where local leaders from various Christian traditions were invited to campus to lead mini-chapels in order to give students a “taste” of their worship experience typical of their unique tradition. Moreover, since 2016, I have planned/led excursions to local churches where leaders from various Christian traditions give tours and share the what’s and why’s of their unique traditions. Also, since 2005, I have led educational excursions for students whereby we visit/experience the various major world religious centers in central Iowa and learn, first-hand, from their leaders about their beliefs/practices and how we can best provide caring and competent service as healthcare practitioners to their followers. Also, since being at Mercy College of Health Sciences, I have revised/rewrote the only critical thinking course that was offered at that time; as well as, I have written and developed two new courses in critical thinking that have been a part of the core curricula of the nursing and allied health programs. In 2008-9, I have helped develop and launch the Bachelor of Science in Health Science (pre-med) degree program. Since 2010, I have redesigned four of the courses I teach in order for them to be offered completely online in a web-based format. With respect to community outreach and development, I have pioneered college partnerships with over 30 community organizations and planned/facilitated excursions and service learning project experiences for Mercy College of Health Sciences students each semester with the underserved and homeless in the River Bend and Des Moines area involving over 1,800 students/faculty/staff with community partners since 2010.

Recent Publications/Presentations

  • Author/Producer of MCHSJCM YouTube Channel containing over 120 training and educational video/webcasts dealing with critical thinking, caring, communication and holistic healing (since 2013)
  • Guest Lecturer/Presenter of 6 webcast programs on Religion and Healthcare including a “Holistic Healing” Series (4-part series) for Webcast One Live televised network (2014-2015)
  • Co-Researcher/Collaborator with local medical/psychological professionals focused on pneumasomatic illness and holistic healing theory/practice in modern medicine with special attention to the “Careful Nursing” concept (2014-2016)
  • Co-Developed/Led a MCAT Prep Workshop for MCHS’ BSHS program students (2014)
  • Guest Lecturer/Presenter for the Iowa Central District of Radiologists Special Seminar for Limited Permit Radiographers on “Developing Transreligious Competency for Health Care” (2014)
  • Guest Lecturer on “Fundamentals of Critical Thinking” at Grandview University (2013)
  • Guest Lecturer/Presenter for Mercy Medical Center’s DREAM on Diversity Issues and the LAS Curriculum Writer/Author of Rationale Documents to MCHS’ BSN Faculty on retaining Critical Thinking and Caring Core Courses in the core curriculum (2012-2013)
  • Writer/Contributor to “Giving Joy to the World” President’s Publication on MCHS’ 280 Caring Course Service Learning Project efforts (2012)
  • Guest Lecturer/Presenter for the Iowa Central District of Radiologists Limited Symposium on “Religious Competency for Health Care” (2011)
  • Flash session workshop leader on curriculum mapping at the Higher Learning Commission Assessment Workshop and Academic Academy (2011)
  • Researcher/Resource consultant for the Editor of the Simplified Diet Manual (11th ed.) for the Iowa Dietetics Association (2010)
  • Co-Presenter/Panelist for the “Health Care Education: A Crossroad to Health Care Careers,” Workshop at the Iowa/Nebraska NAACP State Conference on September 17, 2010.
  • Consultant/Presenter at Country Club Dental Care (CCDC) clinic with physicians/staff on areas of personal and professional development in critical thinking in 2009-11.
  • Lecturer/Presenter at the Iowa South Central District of Radiologic Technologists Conference and the Limited Symposium at Mercy Medical Center on July 18, 2009, April 16, 2010 and May 16, 2010 on “Developing Religious Competency in Healthcare”.
  • Featured Speaker on the “Insight on Business: Metro Monday “Televised, Web-cast Program.
  • Researcher/Resource Person for the Editor of the Simplified Diet Manual (11th ed.) for the Iowa Dietetics Association.
  • Lecturer/Presenter at Mercy Medical Center Lunch “N Learn Seminar for MMC staff on May 21, 2009 and for Mercy Franklin Behavioral Services staff on July 2, 2009 on “Developing Religious Competency in Healthcare”.
  • Presenter/Panelist at the University of Louisville’s I2a Inaugural Institute on Developing Critical Thinkers (May 27-29, 2009 and May 24-27, 2010) in Louisville, KY on the exemplary use of integrating critical thinking into the clinical and health sciences at Mercy College of Health Sciences.
  • Lecturer/Presenter at the 28th Annual International Conference on Critical Thinking at Berkeley, CA on July 23, 2008 on “Developing Diversity Understandings in Collegians Preparing for Healthcare Professions Utilizing Critical Thinking/Worldview Analysis”.
  • Lecturer/Clinician at various other national and regional seminars/workshops (e.g., “Issues on Caring and Spirituality”, “Effective Teaching Strategies”, “Critical Thinking, Critical Living”, “25 Days to Better Thinking and Better Living”) for other MCHS departments/faculty/programs (e.g., Nursing, Surgical Technology, CNA classes) and for numerous local churches and community organizations including Ashworth Road Baptist Church (WDM), Covenant Presbyterian (WDM), Parkersburg Congregational Church, Garner Evangelical and Reformed Church, Sunday Church (WDM), Family Violence Center of Children and Families of Iowa and Valley Southwoods High School (WDM).
  • Book reviewer for Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins of Lipe & Beasley, Critical Thinking in Nursing: A Cognitive Skills Workbook (2004).
  • Writer/Contributor for the Mercy Messenger, Pathways Newsletter and MCHS’ Vital Signs magazine.
  • Tour Co-Leader/Presenter for 44-member, 2-week tour group to the Holy Lands, Israel (2000).
  • Guest Speaker/Clinician for Turning Point Ministries, “Insight for Living” seminars in Moscow, Russia (1994) and Melbourne, Australia (2000)
  • Guest Lecturer/Presenter on “Spirituality” at the Moscow Evangelical Seminary in Moscow, Russia (1994).
  • Wrote/Defended doctoral dissertation: Measuring and Facilitating Christian Maturity in Adults at First Federated Church (1993).
  • Published Thesis: A Developmental Discipleship Training Program Designed for the Continental Singers; as a result, over 2,000 copies of three separate workbooks were published by Growth Publishing, Inc. and translated into Spanish, French and German (1976-1982).

Professional Memberships

  • Member of the International Critical Thinking Community (ICTC) through the Foundation of Critical Thinking based in Tamales. CA.
  • Member of the National Network for Critical Thinking Initiatives in Higher Education based out of University of Louisville, KY.
  • Member of Faculty Row Network of Professional Educators.
  • Member of the Multicultural/Diversity Issues Group in Iowa Higher Education.
  • Iowa Council for International Understanding Member.
  • Associate Member of American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
  • Catholic Higher Education Advocate Member. Grants and Awards:
  • Co-author of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities mini-grant proposal for developing and assessing servant leadership in Mercy College of Health Sciences (MCHS) students (2015).
  • Recipient of the Catholic Charities Campaign for Human Development Building Hope Grant 2010 focused on adopting 3 homeless/underserved families in River Bend neighborhood and Des Moines (DSM).
  • Recipient of the Catholic Charities Campaign for Human Development Circle of Mercy Grant 2011 promoting MCHS student service learning projects in DSM.
  • Recipient of the Catholic Charities Campaign for Human Development Circle of Mercy Grant 2012 promoting special MCHS student service learning projects in DSM.
  • Developer of the SIKH, Inc. Liberal Arts and Sciences Student Scholarship at MCHS (Since 2010). Honors:
  • Graduated with Highest Honors in all Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees Completed.
  • Recipient of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Health Care Workers’ Good Samaritan Award presented by His Excellency, the Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowsky, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers, Rome, Italy (2011).
  • Award of Excellence in Scholarship by MCHS Research Committee (2006).
  • Award of Excellence in Critical Thinking Pedagogy (2006).
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences Faculty Excellence Award Nominee (2007-2017).
  • Thomas Ehrlich Community Engaged Faculty National Award Nominee (2014).
  • Iowa Campus Compact Engaged Faculty Partnership Award Nominee (2014).
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences Faculty Excellence Award Recipient (2014); Faculty Excellence Award Nominee (2007-present).
  • Iowa Campus Compact Mission Engagement Award Recipient (2015).
  • Iowa Campus Compact Community Partnership Engagement Honorable Mention Award Recipient (2017).

Community Service Involvement

  • Initiator/Planner/Coordinator of service learning project experiences for Mercy College of Health Sciences (MCHS) PHI 110 and 280 students each semester with the underserved and homeless in the River Bend and Des Moines area involving over 1,800 students/faculty with community partners since 2010.
  • Facilitator/Coordinator of servant leadership project experiences for MCHS SVL 285 Servant Leadership students with the underserved and homeless in the River Bend and Des Moines area involving over 100 students/faculty each semester with community partners since 2014.
  • Pioneer of new community partnerships with over 30 organizations and agencies and targeting the homeless and underserved in MCHS’ neighborhood and in Des Moines area since 2010.
  • Organized/Facilitated MCHS student staffing of the Drake Neighborhood Community Farmers’ Market Health Tent (2013)..
  • Officiate for the Stations of the Cross presentation for Holy Week observances at Mercy Medical Center (2014).
  • Host/Facilitator of meetings at MCHS with Conservative Congregational Christian Conference pastors from across Iowa (2011 – 2014).
  • Host/Facilitator for Des Moines’ Street Outreach Coalition Meeting  at MCHS (2011) (a community-action coalition of individuals/agencies/organizations focused on eliminating homelessness in DSM).
  • Coordinated MCHS’ volunteer efforts to support Joppa Homeless Camp Spring Clean-Up (2011).
  • Board of Directors for the Foundation for Giving member (since 2001); Board President (since 2008)
  • MCHS Faculty Leader/Planner of the Annual Diocesan Healthcare Student Conference sponsored by the Des Moines Catholic Diocese Campus Ministry (2010-2015).
  • MCHS Faculty member of the Des Moines Catholic Diocese Campus Ministry team since 2010.
  • Guest Lecturer/Presenter for Children and Families of Iowa Family Violence Center staff on “Working with Diverse, Vulnerable Populations” (2009).
  • Mercy Medical Center’s Mission Advisory Council Member (by Presidential appointment) and Personal Formation Sub-Committee member (2007 – Present).
  • Speaker/Lecturer on religion and ministry at various local and statewide churches/schools/ community organizations in Iowa since 1991.
  • Mercy Medical Center’s (MMC) Mission on the Move Community Service Project Volunteer since 2004.
  • Officiated at numerous wedding and funeral services for members of the Mercy College of Health Sciences family, members of the community including with the deaf and homeless populations since 2004.
  • Multiple types of community service involvements in numerous localities while involved in 26 years of pastoral ministry: too numerous to list here.

Advice to Students

My personal mantra is “No brain, no pain, no gain”. We must be “laser” in our thinking as healthcare practitioners because the shortest distance between you and a malpractice lawsuit is lack of critical thinking. Remember that when practicing healthcare, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. Also, people may not remember what you said or did, but they will never forget how you made them feel.

Personal History

I enjoy supporting and giving leadership in service learning/servant leadership initiatives and in spiritual life emphases at MCHS and for the Des Moines Diocese Campus Ministry including the Holistic Healing Prayer Team, “Caring Hearts in Prayer” Ministry, Tuesday Reflections, Busy Person’s Retreats and the Student Campus Ministry. The MCHS website homepage on “Service Learning” and “Spiritual Growth/Campus Ministries Opportunities at Mercy College” lists numerous activities offered regularly to Mercy students for their service and their holistic and spiritual development. I hope students will avail themselves to these excellent, enriching opportunities.

Some of my hobbies are being a grandfather to my two grandchildren, listening to music, biking, riding on RAGBRAI each summer, playing the drums, fishing, exploring astronomy and watching science fiction movies. I also love helping others and travelling. The places I’ve visited include Russia, Australia, Holland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico and Israel. Besides being a die-hard, Chicago Cubs and Bears fan, I am also an equestrian sports adherent due to my daughter’s professional pursuits.