Sam Fredin found his calling at the intersection of theology, bioethics, and philosophy. His time at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) was not just an academic pursuit, but a transformative experience that strengthened his relationship with God and deepened his Biblical worldview. Sam’s journey at TEDS led him to a fulfilling career in healthcare, where he continues to make a difference every day.
Sam’s time as a student at TEDS began with his pursuit of dual master’s degrees in theology and bioethics.
“Unsure about entering ministry, this program fit my interests and kept future options open,” he explains. “I love understanding how the Lord designed everything to fit together — from the physical laws of the universe to how we interact with one another. Bioethics converged these topics, and the master’s degree in theology afforded me the flexibility to go deeper into other areas like physics and analytic philosophy.”
What initially inspired Sam to study these areas was the fact that the MA in bioethics program uniquely merges philosophy, theology and science, all of which are areas of interest to him.
“The curriculum and faculty were major attractions for me,” he says. “Having grown up in the Evangelical Free Church denomination, it felt comfortable and academically rigorous.”
At TEDS, Sam also met his wife, Madeline, and ultimately kickstarted a career in healthcare. After graduating with his degrees in 2018, Sam joined Sg2, a company that focuses on healthcare market intelligence.
“This role expanded my understanding of the healthcare business, shaping my career by influencing high-level decisions affecting patient care,” he says.
A couple of years ago, Sam transitioned into a user-experience (UX) analyst role at Vizient, Inc, a healthcare performance improvement company.
“My journey progressed through roles in corporate innovation and, recently, AI strategy, where I am currently involved in drafting an AI Ethics Policy,” he says.
Sam shares that working alongside remarkable individuals and impacting the American healthcare system has been a humbling experience.
“Our efforts, often unseen, facilitate smoother healthcare processes and decision-making, directly affecting patient care,” he says.
Today, Sam, who is originally from Minnesota, and his wife live in Minneapolis with their dog, Piper. He notes that his time at TEDS has had a lasting impact on both his career and his faith.
As a student, Sam worked through a lot of questions of authority, such as “Who has the authority to interpret Scripture?” and “What level of authority does experience have over tradition?” His time at TEDS helped him answer these questions through deep immersion in Scripture and discussions with faculty and peers.
“Being able to have the space to work those questions out in a safe and thoughtful environment was incredibly helpful,” Sam says. “I also think that I rediscovered worship through wonder at creation, both in how the Lord upholds and sustains the universe and laws that govern that, but also through the co-creative acts of men with God.”
In addition, Sam believes that his Trinity education encourage him to explore other areas of study that interested him, equipped with Scripture and an understanding of the deepest truths of creation.
“My faith and time in Scripture have become more clearly related to the world around me. It involves integrating the study of our world with the study of God’s work in it, encompassing not just people but all of creation,” he says. “Everything is interconnected, meaning that physics, AI, and woodworking are all relevant to Christian exploration. Nothing is beyond God’s creative scope, so nothing is beyond our scope for creativity. If it’s true, it belongs to God. Scripture and the Church offer the framework for interpretation and lay the foundation for engaging with the world. This connection between science and scripture, which once seemed limiting to me, actually fosters wonder and worship when properly aligned and ordered.”
He adds, “Trinity professors exemplified this approach, turning curiosity into worship. Now, I have the privilege of exploring the uncharted territory of AI’s impact on work, confident that AI will not supplant our role as God’s image-bearers.”
Sam has fond memories of working in Residence Life at TEDS, too.
“It was a challenging yet enriching time for community and personal growth,” he says. “More than anything, I remember my coworkers in Residence Life, who were some of the hardest working and most passionate people I have met. They sacrificed so much in caring for students, and it was an honor to serve with them and learn from them.”
Ultimately, Sam shares that skills from his role in Residence Life and insights from TEDS’ bioethics program continues to influence his professional life.
“They enable me to be a better coworker and persevere through challenges in the complex American healthcare system,” he says.
Someday, Sam adds, he aspires to teach at an institution like Trinity and engage with college students, all while growing in his faith daily.