One of the benefits of Loma Linda University is that we have the opportunity to engage in scholarly and professional dialogue. We get to do this with people within our own disciplines and across other professions as well. At LLU, people from different disciplines and professions are invited to experience the synergy and innovation that can be produced when we connect and collaborate. The strength of networks, and the power of pooling resources, is highlighted in Scripture. Engagement and intertwinement creates strength and resilience. An ancient sage portrayed this reality in the following way, “A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap” (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Jesus Christ, the model for LLUH’s mission, chose a community of disciples with whom he lived and served. Jesus’ community was essentially interdisciplinary; members brought their skills from diverging fields and experiences ranging from fishing to finance, from scribing to stonemasonry. Today, we have the opportunity to interact and learn from colleagues outside of our specific disciplines and fields. Even, if we are in the same programs it is very likely that we are pursuing different lines of inquiry and research. Professional dialogue gives us the chance to share with our course colleagues about the most urgent issues, and most exciting discoveries and practices, within our various areas. We all learn new things when we enter into such discussions: new lines of enquiry, new questions, new answers, new strategies… and the list goes on. In your discussion post: Provide the citation for a recent peer-reviewed article in your field/line of research. State why you believe this particular article is a “must-read” for others outside of your field. In other words, what is it that you hope others will be convinced of, or more knowledgable in, after reading this article? Provide the YouTube link for a video presentation that covers an important aspect of your own discipline or line of research. Again, comment on why you believe this particular video is valuable for people in another profession. Imagine that you are forming your own interdisciplinary team for a particular project. What would your project be and which professionals would you include and why? Let me provide the following example in order to illuminate this aspect of the assignment. One of my lines of research as a religion scholar is the subject of infertility. Specifically, I am interested in how people’s religious beliefs and practices inform and impact their experience of infertility and vice versa. Since I believe that religion is experienced and expressed in connection with other aspects of life, I see great value in interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. My “dream” interdisciplinary team would include an anthropologist, reproductive endocrinologist, historian, neuroscientist and a critical race scholar. Why? My anthropologist colleague could enhance the team’s understanding of how different cultures perceive infertility. The reproductive endocrinologist would provide education on the causes and therapies for infertility. Our historian teammate would contribute to our knowledge of how infertility perceptions have changed throughout history. The neuroscientist colleague could share relevant discoveries such as how RFRP neurons impact the reproductive system. The critical race scholar would educate us to the systemic and structural racism that has affected the reproductive healthcare access and health of Black, Asian and Hispanic people. Learning from all of these colleagues would challenge and develop my understanding of how physical and mental health, socio-cultural locatedness and racial identity- to name a few- shape people’s lives. My responsibility as a religion researcher and practitioner would be to share how religion colours and countours various life experiences (such as infertility) and vice versa. The aforementioned are just some reasons why interdisciplinary teams can produce innovative and cutting-edge results for research and practice. Do note that this section of the discussion can be adequately completed in a robust and well-written paragraph. Choose one course colleague to whom you would like to respond. If possible, select someone who is in a different program from you or choose someone who you know has a different research/project focus than you do. You may reference the “Getting to know you” discussion (module 1) in which all course members stated their various programs and areas of concentration. Either read the article or watch the video that was recommended by your chosen colleague. Respond to your chosen colleague’s post and specify whether you chose to read the recommended article or watch the recommended video. Your paragraph response should include what you learned and how this information is applicable to your own field/discipline.