• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Dr. William Cook is president of the St. Agnes Medical Group. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

St. Agnes doctor carries healing legacy of religious sisters

October 7, 2019
By Anna Jones
Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Faces of Faith, Feature, Local News, News

When Dr. J. William “Bill” Cook recently became the president of the St. Agnes Medical Group, he understood that he was tasked with leading a ministry that began more than 150 years ago. The medical group can trace its roots back to the work of the Daughters of Charity during the Civil War.

“You’re talking about women who gave up their whole life to take care of sick and poor people,” Cook said. “To take on that legacy is very humbling.”

The number of sisters that work in St. Agnes Medical Group is not what it once was, but their teaching of seeing Christ in the faces of all they serve is something Cook carries close to his heart in his own daily tasks. Certainly, as a physician, but now as a leader of the physicians for the medical group.

Cook said it’s important for him to remember that in every meeting, every person there has his or her own story that he can empathize with. That attitude makes him a better problem solver, he said.

A primary care physician with St. Agnes for 25 years, Cook assumed his latest role in the group in August. As president of organization’s physician network, he leads 48 primary care, pediatric and OB/GYN physicians in the medical group spread through Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Howard County, while still seeing patients in his Catonsville office four mornings and one afternoon per week.

His afternoons are now packed with meetings, he said. And while he’s familiar with many of the key players in the health system, having previously served as chairman of the board of directors for St. Agnes Medical Group, it’s been a busy transition as he tries to keep physicians in the hospital and practices across the health group on the same page, he said.

Dr. William Cook talks with a colleague at the St. Agnes Medical Group’s Catonsville practice. (Kevin J. Parks/CR Staff)

Cook is a lifelong resident of Catonsville, now practicing medicine and running meetings “just a few football fields” from where he grew up. He is also a lifelong Catholic. He fondly remembers growing up in St. Mark in Catonsville – the parish he was baptized in and once served on the board for. Just recently, his first granddaughter was baptized in the parish.

He credits Father Christopher Whatley, the pastor at St. Mark’s, and the parish for his ongoing spiritual nourishment.

“The spiritual nurturing you get in a parish like that and from a pastor like that is hugely important to spiritual health,” he said.

Cook’s desire to practice medicine was born back in his high school days at Mount St. Joseph’s, as he said he had plenty of role models in the medical community that showed him the power of helping people. He wanted a career where he could help people in a direct and personal way, he said.

And, working for a Catholic health system has been icing on the cake.

“You actually bring your faith to work, as opposed to other places where it’s, ‘leave it in the car when you get here,’” Cook said.

Even before taking on this newest leadership role, Cook has always seen his work at St. Agnes as a ministry. This service has earned him a spot in the Healing Hands Society (inducted in 2016) and he was honored with the Seton Founders Award in 2015. He said he is simply carrying on the legacy of the sisters who have worked so hard to care for the poor and vulnerable for the last century and a half.

“I think (my faith) is one of the things I fall back on,” he said. “I’ve spent more of my life being a Catholic than being a doctor.”

For more Faces of Faith profiles, click here. 

 

 

 

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Anna Jones

Anna Jones is a contributing writer to the Catholic Review. A journalist by training, Anna has previously written for the Catholic Transcript in the Diocese of Hartford in Connecticut as well as several daily publications. Anna, her husband and young son are parishioners of St. Mary of the Mills in Laurel.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Assault outside Planned Parenthood office leaves pregnancy center employees shaken
  • Pope Francis says situation at U.S.-Mexico border is ‘serious problem’
  • Missionary of mercy priest: ‘Be Christ to all people’ in a world ‘hungry for the Word’
  • As COVID’s emergency phase ends, Catholic experts share takeaways for the church
  • Question Corner: Must I make my confession at the altar, as my pastor asks?

| Latest Local News |

Bishop Victor Galeone, former Archdiocese of Baltimore priest and bishop of St. Augustine, dies at 87

Assault outside Planned Parenthood office leaves pregnancy center employees shaken

RADIO INTERVIEW: The Prosperity Gospel

| Latest World News |

Archbishop: Months leading to synod are times for faithful to live response to divine grace ‘more intensely’

Numbers of Irish Catholics are falling rapidly; only half of Dublin residents say they’re Catholic

Nationals pitcher, Dodgers players join chorus criticizing LA team for plan to honor ‘Sisters’ drag group

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Movie Review: ‘Padre Pio’
  • Meet the new priests to be ordained in 2023
  • Archbishop: Months leading to synod are times for faithful to live response to divine grace ‘more intensely’
  • Numbers of Irish Catholics are falling rapidly; only half of Dublin residents say they’re Catholic
  • In June, let your garden honor the hearts of Jesus and Mary
  • Nationals pitcher, Dodgers players join chorus criticizing LA team for plan to honor ‘Sisters’ drag group
  • A host of sacramental statistics: Vatican tracks practice of the faith
  • Bishop Victor Galeone, former Archdiocese of Baltimore priest and bishop of St. Augustine, dies at 87
  • Videogame Review: ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED