Breakout Session:
Veranova Health
Why healthcare founded in faith is essential to Catholic family life in Cleveland.
Tim and Mary Ellen Jakubisin
Tim Jakubisin first got a glimpse of the Catholic Church’s teaching on sexuality while a senior in high school when he was assigned to read Humanae Vitae. He thought it made sense and he was ready to use natural family planning if he ever got married. Fast forward five years to when Tim first saw Mary Ellen. He was immediately smitten. On one of their first dates, they discussed Church teachings. Mary Ellen had heard favorable things about contraception in her Catholic high school but was open to taking a class on natural family planning. A few years later they signed up to become NFP instructors. They enjoyed teaching couples about marriage and how NFP can help a couple grow closer together, grow in their love of God, and protect them from many dangers.
Their journey intensified in 2006 when they were asked to become northeast Ohio Chapter Coordinators for the Couple to Couple League. They began looking for ways to help couples not only as they prepared for marriage but all through their married life. Together with other NFP instructors they formed Northeast Ohio NFP to support NFP instruction and married life. In 2018 they formed Fresnel Shores Foundation to promote natural family planning instruction, provide grants to medical personnel for training in women’s fertility, and to support the creation of medical clinics that would provide women and family care in accordance with Catholic teaching. In 2019, with the help of a vibrant team of supporters and backers, they formed Veranova Health, a medical practice that provides women and family care in accordance with Catholic teachings.
Besides Tim’s involvement in promoting natural family planning, Tim is employed as CFO of an international medical company, is a past board member of AM 1260, and is currently serving on the Board of Directors of St. Mary Seminary. Mary Ellen has been a team builder for a women’s faith formation organization, led parenting groups, volunteered for various organizations, and served on the Board of Directors of Welcome House.
Tim and Mary Ellen are members of St. Angela Merici parish in Fairview Park. Their family is still growing! They have six grown children, eleven grandchildren and love life!
Matthew and Annie Muller
Matthew and Annie Muller will be joining Tim and Mary Ellen for this breakout to share their experience with Veranova Health. Matthew & Annie are cradle Catholics that have been married for 13 years and homeschool their 5 children. The Mullers live in Willoughby and are active in the community at St Vitus parish in Cleveland. Matthew is a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant at University Hospitals and serves on the board of Veranova Health.
Veranova Health
Veranova Health provides evidence-based healthcare to women and families, specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, infertility, pelvic floor physical therapy, addiction medicine, cycle education and family medicine. Veranova Health welcomes patients from all faith communities and those who do not profess a religious perspective or spiritual belief. As an organization, we are guided by a commitment to the freedom of an individual’s conscience and by a principle that human dignity is a heritage of all persons regardless of their beliefs. The practice conforms to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Healthcare and the standards set by Pro Women’s Healthcare Centers (PWHC). Veranova Health invites you and your family to come in and receive personalized medical care at our convenient Middleburg Heights location. Make an appointment online or by calling 440-732-2173.