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Get Started Today. Visit DrStartCosamin.com or call 1-877-COSAMIN. ŸSource: SLACK Incorporated Market Research April 2009. Surveys conducted of orthopedic specialists relating to glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate brands. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
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president from the CMDA
John R. Crouch, Jr., MD
As I reflect on CMDA’s past in light of today’s realities and challenges, I keep returning to the lessons I learned from my mentors and fellow professionals during my own introduction to CMDA. I didn’t have the benefit of a local campus chapter at my school during my formative years in medical school or residency. Perhaps that was a fortunate absence since I wasn’t listening at that time in my life as my walk with the Lord did not begin until after I served as a flight surgeon in Vietnam. As I remember the many lessons I’ve learned from CMDA over the years, the word “legacy” keeps coming to mind. Aside from the legal definition, legacy means something handed down from a predecessor, often a gift. (Interestingly, legacy in computer-speak apparently means a component of the computer system that survives rapid change. Despite my computer ignorance, I like that definition, too.) Legacies like CMDA are built on people. CMDA’s legacy is built on the founders and early leaders like Dr. Kenneth Gieser who started the organization. For me personally, it’s a legacy built upon by Drs. Dan Fountain, Bob Schindler and David van Reken who shaped my thinking about medical missions, particularly medical education in missions. That doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface as there are countless heroes of the faith in medicine who achieved great success in their profession and continued to remain uncompromisingly faithful to Christ and the ministries of CMDA. The list is far too long to list, but the point is that CMDA’s legacy endures because of the godly people who surrender to God and His purposes. So what exactly is the legacy that was passed onto me that I should be attempting to pass onto the next generation? The “gift” we are given is the reality of our Christian faith, thoroughly integrated into the practice of medicine. It is seeking God and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit for the answers to our patients’ problems we do not understand—and expecting an answer. It is praying with, and for, our patients for the healing of the whole person and sharing our faith with our patients and colleagues in an ethically appropriate and sensitive manner. It is generally caring for our patients with Christ-like servanthood. The legacy includes fulfilling the Great Commission through medical missions, especially to the underserved both here in the U.S. and around the world. It includes speaking out and taking a stand against the latest anti-Christian heresy in secular medicine. It is an amazing legacy! Hebrews 12:26-27 says, “And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, ‘YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.’ This expression, ‘Yet once more’ denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (NASB). So what are you doing to pass CMDA’s legacy onto the next generation? The opportunities are endless; you simply have to get involved. We have numerous vital campus chapters located near medical and dental schools across the country and they need you to get involved and be examples of heroes of faith in medicine to today’s healthcare students. My prayer is that we will be able to continue to pass on the CMDA legacy we have been given. It’s a gift which we have been given and which cannot be shaken! ✝
Legacy as Foundation
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contents Today’s Christian Doctor
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VOLUME 43, NO. 3
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Fall 2012
The Christian Medical & Dental Associations® Changing Hearts in Healthcare – since 1931.
10 From My Viewpoint: Healthcare Reform
22 The Emerging Medical Student
by David Stevens, MD, MA (Ethics) Asking the important questions about the Affordable Care Act
by J. Scott Ries, MD, FAAFP An in-depth look at meeting the needs of today's medical students
Redefining CMDA Witness within a Secular Paying It Back: 14 and 26 Pluralistic Academic Healthcare Context The Honor of Being Entrusted by Bill Pearson, PhD Becoming a community of witness on campus
by Ken Jones and Darilyn Falck, MD Sharing your gifts with the next generation
on 60 Years 18 Reflecting of CMDA Campus Ministry
30 Passing It On: Advice from Residents
by Michael McLaughlin, MDiv A collaborative piece by CMDA’s four regional directors
by Allie Dailey, MD, Jessie Degnan, MD and Erik Lystad, MD Offering advice to today’s medical students
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Transformations Classifieds
egional Ministries Northeast Region Scott Boyles, MDiv P.O. Box 7500 Bristol, TN 37621 Office: 423-844-1092 scott.boyles@cmda.org
Connecting you with other Christ-followers to help better motivate, equip, disciple and serve within your community Midwest Region Allan J. Harmer, ThM 9595 Whitley Dr. Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46240-1308 Office: 317-566-9040 cmdamw@cmda.org
Western Region Michael J. McLaughlin, MDiv P.O. Box 2169 Clackamas, OR 97015-2169 Office: 503-522-1950 west@cmda.org
Southern Region William D. Gunnels, MDiv 106 Fern Dr. Covington, LA 70433 Office: 985-502-7490 south@cmda.org
Interested in getting involved? Contact your regional director today!
TODAY’S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR®
transformations Highlighting the inspirational, personal and transformational stories and testimonies from our members and ministries
EDITOR Mandi Mooney EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Gregg Albers, MD John Crouch, MD Autumn Dawn Galbreath, MD Curtis E. Harris, MD, JD Van Haywood, DMD Rebecca Klint-Townsend, MD Robert D. Orr, MD Debby Read, RN VP FOR COMMUNICATIONS Margie Shealy AD SALES Margie Shealy – 423-844-1000 DESIGN Judy Johnson PRINTING Pulp CMDA is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). TODAY’S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR®, registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ISSN 0009-546X, Fall 2012 Volume XLIII, No. 3. Printed in the United States of America. Published four times each year by the Christian Medical & Dental Associations® at 2604 Highway 421, Bristol, TN 37620. Copyright © 2012, Christian Medical & Dental Associations®. All Rights Reserved. Distributed free to CMDA members. Non-doctors (US) are welcome to subscribe at a rate of $35 per year ($40 per year, international). Standard presort postage paid at Bristol, Tenn. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Christian Medical & Dental Associations, P.O. Box 7500, Bristol, TN 37621-7500. Undesignated Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture references marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version. Scripture references marked (MSG) are taken from The Message. Copyright© 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture references marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright© 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture references marked (NIV 2011) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture references marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Other versions are noted in the text.
For membership information, contact the Christian Medical & Dental Associations at: P.O. Box 7500, Bristol, TN 37621-7500; Telephone: 423-844-1000, or toll-free, 1-888-230-2637; Fax: 423-844-1005; E-mail: memberservices@cmda.org; Website: http://www.joincmda.org.
About the Cover Old photo: Students look on during an examination during class at George Washington University Medical School in 1958. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.
New photo: Residents, medical students and staff use the medical simulation center at Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, to hone their skills in 2011. Photo by Stephanie Bryant.
My Transformation Story by Fred C. Bergamo, DDS CMDA Member since 1962 In 1951, during my first year at the University of Pennsylvania Dental School, I was approached by a medical student inviting me to a Bible study. Having decided that I had moved beyond that sort of thing, I declined. At that time you could have identified me as a disillusioned evangelical. But he persisted and invited me to a CMS (as it was known in those days) banquet the next week. Students rarely turn down a free meal . . . I attended and it changed my life. I listened to a very well-spoken and academically respected Christian surgeon give his testimony and recount his experiences as a believer in the professional world. Christian Medical Society became an important part of my professional life and in subsequent years offered many opportunities for fellowship and service. At one point, a regional director challenged me with the question: “Are there any ethical dilemmas that you encounter in the practice of dentistry?” As a result, articles were written, a book published and a lifelong interest in dental ethics developed. As a member of the New York Academy of Dentistry, I have had the privilege to join a team of facilitators for the Dental Ethics Seminars at Columbia University School of Dentistry, helping students sort through issues they most likely will encounter as graduates in practice. I regret not remembering that medical student’s name. I would love to tell him how his persistence impacted my life.
If you are interested in submitting articles to be considered for publication, visit www.cmda.org/publications for submission guidelines and details. Articles and letters published represent the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. Acceptance of paid advertising from any source does not necessarily imply the endorsement of a particular program, product, or service by CMDA. Any technical information, advice or instruction provided in this publication is for the benefit of our readers, without any guarantee with respect to results they may experience with regard to the same. Implementation of the same is the decision of the reader and at his or her own risk. CMDA cannot be responsible for any untoward results experienced as a result of following or attempting to follow said information, advice, or instruction. C HRISTIAN M EDICAL & D ENTAL A SSOCIATIONS
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transformations Transforming Lives through Conferences Throughout the year, CMDA holds numerous topical, regional and local conferences focused on transforming the lives of healthcare professionals, equipping attendees to effectively serve the Lord and supporting members as they live out their Christian faith. Each year, hundreds of people attend CMDA conferences at locations across the country. The conferences cover a wide range of topics including students, families, dentistry, singles, women in medicine and dentistry, missions, education and much, much more. Over the years, CMDA’s conferences have become annual traditions for attendees, continuing to have an impact on their lives. “I have been so blessed and led for future service and coming to grips with some personal issues. How I praise the Lord for CMDA and this conference.” – 2012 National Convention Attendee “The Emerging Leaders in Dentistry was exceptional. Each speaker was unique and motivational. My life had been changed by this event and I am thankful to the organizers and the participants. Thank you!” – Emerging Leaders in Dentistry Symposium Attendee “I am overwhelmed and blown away by the love demonstrated to us this weekend. Thank you for answering the Lord’s call to serve and mentor future missionaries. I am walking away with renewed passion, energy and commitment to answering the Lord’s call for my life.” – Orientation to Medical Missions Attendee
“I was armed with logical reasons why I didn’t want to go, but I went. I had NO idea how that time would change my career as a medical student and, Lord willing, future doctor. After we got back, we shared what we learned . . . and we started praying for our classmates. We could tell you story after story of friendships that developed, conversations that began and opportunities that opened to share the love of Christ with our classmates. He used the CMDA retreat to reinspire His calling on our lives and spur us into action. I can’t wait to see where He will take things next.” – Northwest Winter Retreat Attendee
Upcoming Conferences For a complete listing of upcoming conferences and to register, visit www.cmda.org/meetings
WIMD Annual Conference September 27-30, 2012 6
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Global Missions Health Conference November 8-10, 2012
CMDA National Convention May 2-5, 2013
Spring Break Servants Each spring, Global Health Outreach organizes mission trips specifically geared and designed to allow healthcare students to participate during their spring breaks. In 2012 to date, more than 150 students have participated in mission trips through GHO. These trips focus on mentoring and discipling the students as they experience first-hand the suffering and anguish of the local communities in urgent need of medical care and the hope of the gospel. These trips continue to have a profound and transformative impact on the students, as well as the physicians and dentists serving as mentors. As they foster a new compassion for the needy, they also create a sense of community, develop their own character and deepen relationships among the team members. As one team member put it, “It was evident that God worked in the lives of the individual team members to use them to transform them as only He can.” “One of the things I was thinking about when I began this trip was, ‘What type of doctor am I going to be when I grow up?’—especially if I want to continue to be involved in international work. Through working alongside the different specialists I realized that it doesn’t matter what I choose . . . every area is important. God used the passion and expertise of the neurologist, the hematologist, the ENT surgeon and the family doctors all the same!” – A student serving in Nicaragua
This spring break stu dent GHO team visited Honduras in March 2012.
being able to help serve people’s dental needs was great, the relationships that I made were what truly made this trip amazing and what I will remember the most.” – A student serving in El Salvador “My faith was reaffirmed; I was renewed and recharged spiritually. My life is not meant to be lived for my benefit; instead, I was created to glorify Him, through the benefit of others.” – A student serving in Honduras
“I grew in my medical confidence and skills. The trip gave me some more insight into what the future looks like for me in serving Christ on the mission field. The greatest blessing was just to have a week of service. It is difficult to serve while in medical school and I really enjoyed being all about the Lord’s work on the trip.” – A student serving in the Dominican Republic Paid Advertisement
“I gained much experience from shadowing doctors. The Spanish really put me out of my comfort zone. The vast humility of this very talented group was a true spiritual challenge for me. My greatest blessing was probably the friendships I acquired and the excitement I now have for medicine and the opportunity to use it for the kingdom of God.” – A student serving in Nicaragua “The entire week I spent in El Salvador was truly a blessing from God. I am a second year dental student, and while C HRISTIAN M EDICAL & D ENTAL A SSOCIATIONS
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transformations . . . in Ministry
. . . in Missions
“Just a couple days ago I had an opportunity to pray with a patient. I had a medical student with me and afterward I was telling her that meant a lot to some of my patients. We went into my office to discuss praying with patients and on top of my mail was the CMDA post card with the picture of Jesus right next to the physician. It was the card that said someone was praying for me today. It nearly brought tears to our eyes because sometimes the caregivers need to be cared for. It was a particularly hard day with a particularly good ending. The card will stay on my desk as a reminder of your prayers.” – A CMDA member
“My greatest blessing was the opportunity to speak God’s words of truth and encouragement into the lives of some of the young women on the team and to remind them of His promises to those who believed in His Son. Once again, I saw my desperate need for God to reign over my heart.” – A participant on a GHO trip to Honduras
“Thank you for the huge difference you have made in my life. It has been a difficult journey through my husband’s surgery residency. I don’t know what I would have done without the support of the SBS group.” – Side By Side participant
Seen
& Heard the CMDA voice
“I went looking to be and experience a blessing. I felt more open to share, and the morning devotions helped to set the tone for the day . . . I felt a real bond developing with the docs. The climax at the end was the giving of the two Bibles with carefully personalized thank you letters explaining the content of the Bibles and where to find key portions related to finding Christ as Savior.” – A first time participant on an MEI trip to Mongolia “Praying with patients openly was a new thing for me. Recognizing that all of the world is the mission ground of God and not just overseas, I am called to be a missionary by default. Also, I am called to surrender my life completely to what God has in store for me, and not plan my own life. I felt God calling me to do more with my life than just get a degree and make a lot of money. I want to further God’s glory to the ends of the earth.” – A participant on a GHO trip to Honduras “It’s always been ‘enough’ for me to believe that my mission field is wherever it’s convenient for me to be. This trip has made me aware that I need to stretch myself beyond comfortable to take Christ to those outside my usual realm of influence.” – A physical therapist on a GHO trip to Haiti
Website Directory Transformation
Equipping
Campus Ministries cmda.org/student Chapel & Prayer Ministries cmda.org/chapel Community Ministries cmda.org/ccm Dental Ministries cmda.org/dentist Medical Malpractice cmda.org/mmm Side By Side cmda.org/sidebyside Singles cmda.org/singles Specialty Sections cmda.org/specialtysections Women in Medicine & Dentistry cmda.org/wimd
Christian Doctor’s Digest cmda.org/cdd Conferences cmda.org/meetings Doing the Right Thing cmda.org/rightthing Donations cmda.org/donate Human Trafficking cmda.org/trafficking Life Skills Institute cmda.org/lifeskills Today’s Christian Doctor cmda.org/tcd Weekly Devotions cmda.org/devotions
Voice Service Center for Medical Missions cmda.org/cmm Global Health Outreach cmda.org/gho Global Health Relief cmda.org/ghr Medical Education International cmda.org/mei Membership joincmda.org Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons cmda.org/paacs Placement cmda.org/placement Scholarships cmda.org/scholarships
American Academy of Medical Ethics ethicalhealthcare.org Washington Office cmda.org/washington Freedom2Care freedom2care.org
Social Media Blogs cmda.org/blogs Facebook facebook.com/cmdanational Twitter twitter.com/cmdanational YouTube youtube.com/cmdavideos
. . . on Campus “The students and doctors I’ve met through CMDA have encouraged me in my faith time and time again, and the public stand the national CMDA organization has taken on freedom of conscience, the rightto-life and other issues has given me so much hope. I praise God for this organization!” – A CMDA student leader “I had a horrible first week of medical school. Each day my classmates discussed what bar to go to that night to ‘get wasted’ before classes actually began. I was so excited to see the CMDA table at the activities fair at the end of that orientation week. I saw the word ‘Christian’ and . . . felt God answered my prayers for spiritual encouragement.” – A first year medical student “CMDA has let me know that I am not alone and that there are thousands of other Christian students and physicians who are going through the same things I am going through and fighting the same battles.” – A CMDA student leader “I feel I have grown tremendously in my spiritual life since coming to medical school and CMDA is the reason for that. Being involved in a strong community of believers within my own class has motivated me to reconnect with my faith and to work to grow it stronger than I feel it has ever been. Coming into medical school I knew that I wanted to be a strong Christian doctor one day, but really had no plan or idea on how. In fact, I wasn’t even on the right road to making that plan happen at all. I had lost touch with my spiritual life and my faith a great deal in college without ever realizing it. Small group Bible study and just being involved in a faith community of my peers has helped me to realize how lost I truly was and how to get back on the right track. While I have come a long way, I feel that my path for my spiritual journey has only just begun. God has entered back into my life, and I am ready to learn more about His promises through reading the Word and staying strong in my prayer life and will certainly continue to derive support from CMDA and small group for the next few years.” – A first year medical student “I am incredibly blessed to be a part of CMDA, and I have been very encouraged by older medical students as well as local physicians and residents. I am extremely grateful for God’s provision in placing mentors in my path to speak into my life, pray with and for me and encourage me to actively seek after Christ as I strive to be faithful to my calling as a medical student. I know others who are similarly encouraged in their faith. I’m excited to continue to grow in Christ as He sustains me in medical school and beyond.” – A CMDA student leader
Have you been
transformed? Are you
transforming others? We want to hear from you Send your transformation story, letter or photos to communications@cmda.org or to P.O. Box 7500, Bristol, TN 37621. Please include an email address for us to contact you.
We want to hear your story It can be a simple comment about a CMDA ministry; it can be an account of your experiences on a missions trip; it can be a profile of a member who has had a huge impact upon you; it can be photos from a campus meeting; it can be statistics showing how your trip served the needy; it can truly be anything— we want to see how your work is making a difference.
We want to hear your ideas Do you have a great idea for Today’s Christian Doctor? Send your ideas to communications@cmda.org.
Transformations showcasing the impact of CMDA one story at a time
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from my viewpoint:
Healthcare Reform by David Stevens, MD, MA (Ethics)
A perspective look at the Affordable Care Act
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Photo courtesy of Kristina Hernandez © 2012
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or months, it seemed like the country was holding its breath. With baited breath, some waited in anticipation and others waited in dread. Experts and analysts outlined countless “what if” scenarios, examining and scrutinizing various sides of the argument. On Thursday, June 28, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. And just like that, the country exhaled, some with a sigh of relief and others with a groan of disappointment. As we move ahead under its umbrella, this polarizing law will continue to have a profound effect on our country, especially on us as healthcare professionals. Non-scientific spot surveys of our members show that the majority of our members oppose the ACA. I haven’t met any CMDA members who think it is a perfect law. Everyone disagrees with certain aspects of the law or wishes other features were included. That is the nature of almost every law. ACA has several popular components like keeping your children on your insurance policy until the age of 26, no lifetime caps, no exclusions for pre-existing conditions and no co-pays for preventative services. The ACA hopes to provide insurance for more than half of the uninsured and significant aid to federally qualified healthcare clinics where some CMDA members sacrificially serve the poor. It also provides funds for studying better healthcare delivery models and intends to increase the number of primary care physicians. Many of these features are positive goals to attain. It’s important to note that CMDA does not have an official position on the ACA as a whole. In other forums, CMDA has addressed how some parts of the law do clash with principles supported in CMDA’s biblicallybased ethical statements, including right of conscience and abortion. Speaking against these concerns about ACA does not mean we are against reform. Here I will simply share my point of view on other aspects of the law, which is no more important than your perspective. As we prepare for the law to take full effect in 2014, and as it is likely to face new legislative review, I propose the following questions to guide our analysis. Does the
Both supporters and opponents congregate on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court as they await the ruling on the Affordable Care Act in Washington, D.C. on June 28, 2012.
problem need to be addressed? Is the solution wise? Is it practical? Can we afford it? Will this lead to undesirable consequences? The answers to such questions are matters of judgment, influenced by our experiences, training, available information, opinions and preferences. The apostle Paul might label these as “disputable matters” (Romans 14:1). Our various opinions should not be grounds for disunity. Do we need healthcare reform? Let me loudly shout that I think we need healthcare reform! Of the many aspects of healthcare needing change, better care for the poor is a top motivator for me. But I am not willing to accept reforms that are not economically viable. That serves no one. In 1980, we spent just 9 percent of the gross domestic product on healthcare, a cost of $1,091 per person per year. The next highest country was Switzerland spending $1,013, about 8 percent less than the U.S. In 2008, we spent $7,538 per capita (16 percent of the GDP), compared to the next highest country, Norway, at $5,003.1 In just 18 years, costs escalated so much we were spending 50 percent more than any other country in the world. By
What about government control? The government already pays more than 50 percent of healthcare costs.10 The ACA will elevate that percentage and markedly increase government control over healthcare as a whole. While government is now needed to address our problem, it should be as limited as possible or it brings other risks. Government intrusion introduces a great risk of further deprofessionalization of medicine. As we already know, those paying the bills call the shots. If government control continues to increase, healthcare professionals essentially become employees of the state and have little recourse other than unionizing and striking to handle grievances, as is common in other countries.11 This breaks the covenant between doctor and patient, erodes trust and further turns medicine into a trade rather than a profession. Under ACA rules, exchanges must also offer policies with government-subsidized abortion coverage. The ACA mandates that insurance companies offering these policies are not allowed to communicate in advance to
Photos courtesy of Kristina Hernandez © 2012
How can we afford it? Unfortunately, ACA doesn’t address the cost issue; instead, its main focus is on increasing access by providing subsidized insurance. When it passed in 2009, the bill was estimated to increase healthcare cost nearly $1 trillion over a 10-year period. Though many of its costly provisions have not yet kicked in, the Congressional Budget Office now estimates the increased cost for the same period at $1.76 trillion, almost double the original estimate.4 More than half of that total is unfunded, thereby increasing the federal deficit by more than $1 trillion. The “funded” part is questionable. While we need to have a safety net for those in need, it must be sustainable or we are just fooling ourselves. I also have concerns about “exchanges,” the government-operated health insurance market. Insurance is so expensive that the exchanges are expected to supplement the cost of policies for everyone earning up to $92,000 a year (400 percent of the poverty rate).5 ACA rules are written in such a way that most people will be forced into an exchange. If employers significantly change benefits, co-pays or deductibles, they are no longer allowed to keep their old insurance plan and must go through the exchanges. When threatened with a 50 percent increase in healthcare premiums for 2012, CMDA was forced to increase the deductibles on our health plan. The consequence of this change is that we will have to enter our state exchange when it is operational.
We will join many other employers in looking at the economical impact of our options. If employers with more than 50 employees completely drop insurance coverage, the government fines them $2,000 per employee.6 Considering what CMDA already pays for a family plan, we could pay the penalty, give each employee an $8,000 raise and still come out ahead by dropping our insurance coverage, thus requiring our individual employees to go on the exchanges. It is likely employerbased insurance will become a historic footnote. How can we significantly decrease healthcare costs? We need tort reform that could decrease cost by $54 billion or more over a decade by decreasing defensive medicine.7 We need to reduce wasteful spending on tests and treatments that offer little value. A recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated this alone could save up to 30 percent of healthcare costs annually.8 We need to better coordinate and manage care of patients with chronic diseases that consume up to 75 percent of healthcare dollars.9 We need to decrease unnecessary bureaucracy, which decreases time with patients. And we need to eliminate fraud.
From My Viewpoint: Healthcare Reform
June 2011, that amount grew to 18.2 percent of the GDP in the midst of a recession when many people lost their job-related health insurance.2 Some think this increase is okay since you are paying for quality healthcare, but that’s apparently not the case since the U.S. is ranked 50th on the list of countries by life expectancy.3 If we continue down this same road, the signs are starkly clear. The bridge is out ahead and the raging river below is cost. We cannot sustain this inflationary curve. The main reason many people don't have insurance is because they simply can’t afford it.
The crowds gather as the Supreme Court decision is announced.
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From My Viewpoint: Healthcare Reform
Dr. David Stevens testifies on the contraceptive mandate before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health in Washington, D.C. in 2011.
individuals that their plans include an “abortion premium” of $1 or more that will be deducted directly from their paycheck into an abortion on demand fund.12 If only 50 percent of the companies on exchanges pay this $1 monthly premium per individual, it will fund 2 million abortions a year, a figure much higher than the 1.2 million annual abortion rate.13 What about the contraceptive mandate? The ACA gives unprecedented powers to the Secretary of Health & Human Services. We already see an example of this in the contraceptive mandate. The Secretary was given power to determine what constituted the “preventative services” to be fully funded without copays. She asked the Institute of Medicine, the healthcare arm of the Academy of Science, to provide political coverage for her actions. Claiming to be “unbiased and authoritative,”14 they convened a committee without any known pro-life representation but a number of members with close ties to Planned Parenthood and other groups in the abortion industry. They recommended that all FDA-approved contraceptives, sterilization and counseling be required by all insurance policies without co-pay or deductibles. This included Ella, a known abortifacient.15,16 The Secretary then imposed the most limited right of conscience exemption ever articulated in federal law. In order to meet this exemption, an organization must: (1) be a church, religious order or integrated auxiliary; (2) exist to inculcate its religious values; (3) primarily employ people sharing its religious tenets; and (4) primarily serve persons sharing its religious beliefs.17 This means religious non-
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profits, church-affiliated hospitals and colleges cannot follow their convictions. Even Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Mercy would not qualify! Employers not providing insurance plans compliant with the mandate will be fined $100 per employee per day.18 For CMDA, the penalty would be more than $3.5 million each year and we could be sued by the Department of Labor for further damages. Children will be automatically and mandatorily enrolled in HHS-mandated coverage and receive free contraception including early-abortion pills, counseling and education. Healthcare professionals will not be required to inform parents, who won’t receive any bills to notify them since these services will be fully funded without co-pays or deductibles. The contraceptive mandate and the abortion premium’s biggest benefactors are not women, but Planned Parenthood and its allies. Their industry will be funded nationwide without personal cost to their patients. I firmly believe the contraceptive mandate is unconstitutional based on the First Amendment’s “free exercise of religion” clause. (This was not considered in the recent ruling.) If not overturned, it constricts religious freedom to just freedom of worship. We would have no religious freedom outside the doors of a church, synagogue or mosque. Under this new definition, Christian organizations could be forced to hire employees not sharing their religious beliefs or practices. It could require Christian healthcare professionals to participate in abortions or other practices violating their beliefs and more. This myopic view of right of conscience must be rescinded. CMDA is pouring itself into that battle.
Bibliography 1 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (2010), “OECD Health Data”, OECD Health Statistics (database). doi: 10.1787/data-00350-en (Accessed on 14 February 2011). 2 http://nchc.org/node/1171 3 https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2102rank.html 4 http://cbo.gov/publication/43080 5 Reconciliation Act Pg. 3. 6 26 U.S.C. 4980H Pg.1; Affordable Care Act Sec. 1562(f), Pg. 152) 7 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100904271.html 8 From an Ethics of Rationing to an Ethics of Waste Avoidance, Howard Brody, M.D., Ph.D., N Engl J Med 2012; 366:19491951. 9 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rising Health Care Costs Are Unsustainable. April 2011. 10 http://american.com/archive/2011/august/the-government-share-of-health-care-is-bigger-than-advertised-health-fact-of-theweek 11 http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/blog/2012/jun/21/doctors-strike-pensions-live-coverage; http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2010/05/german-doctors-strike-american-physicians-follow.html; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1349694/ 12 Affordable Care Act Sec. 1303(b)(1) & (2), Pg. 779-780) 13 Guttmacher Abortion Statistics and Cost 14 http://www.iom.edu/About-IOM.aspx/ 15 CHMP Assessment Report for Ellaone, European Medicines Agency (2009). This report can be found online at http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_- _Public_assessment_report/ human/001027/WC500023673.pdf 16 Background Document for Meeting of Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs (June 17, 2010). Prepared by the Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products, Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/Drugs/Rep roductiveHealthDrugsAdvisoryCommittee/UCM215425.pdf 17 HHS Mandate, Pg. 2 18 26 USC 4980D Pg. 1; ACA Sec. 1562(e)-(f), Pg. 152: 42 USC 300gg-13
David Stevens, MD, MA (Ethics), serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. From 1981 to 1991, Dr. Stevens served as a missionary doctor in Kenya helping to transform Tenwek Hospital into one of the premier mission healthcare facilities in the world. Subsequently, he served as the Director of World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse, assisting mission hospitals and leading medical relief teams into war and disaster zones. As a leading spokesman for Christian doctors in America, Dr. Stevens has conducted hundreds of television, radio and print media interviews. Dr. Stevens holds degrees from Asbury University, is an AOA graduate University of Louisville School of Medicine and is board certified in family practice. He earned a master’s degree in bioethics from Trinity International University in 2002.
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From My Viewpoint: Healthcare Reform
How do we move forward? Whether you support the ACA or are opposed to it, there’s no question that we face enormous challenges in healthcare. We certainly can’t afford to be silent. CMDA members continue to have influence in our culture, often more than we know. We can elect men and women who represent our views. And then we can share our concerns with them. My experience is that our representatives welcome thoughtful input from the doctors they represent. There is no better time for Christian healthcare professionals to revisit their calling to this profession, remind themselves that God is still in control and grasp the great opportunities to be salt and light during difficult times. God’s work is often best demonstrated in crises. ✝
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In This Year . . . Around the World - Chinese and North Korean forces captured Seoul for the second time during the Korean War. - Hank Ketcham’s best-selling comic strip Dennis the Menace, appeared in newspapers across the U.S. for the first time. - Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I opened on Broadway. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations began its closed door hearings into the dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur by U.S. President Harry S. Truman. - Winston Churchill was re-elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in a general election to defeat Clement Attlee’s Labour government after six years in power. - Direct dial coast-to-coast telephone service began in the U.S. In This Year . . . at CMDA - The name was Christian Medical Society, the headquarters were based in Chicago, Illinois, Howard Hamlin, MD, served as President and J. Raymond Knighton, Jr., was the Executive Secretary. - The fifth annual CMS Convention was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. - A subscription to the bimonthly published Christian Medical Society Journal was $1 per year. - Campus chapters were being established at several campuses including the University of California Medical School, the New York Medical College and the University of Louisville Medical School. - Membership dues took effect for the first time, producing an income of $4,597.50.
Redefining CMDA Witness within a Secular and Pluralistic Academic Healthcare Context by Bill Pearson, PhD
Learning from the historic events of Pentecost to create a community of witness
In 1931, Kenneth Gieser was a first year medical student. Amidst the demands of academics, he felt a distinct lack in his life and was searching for something more. He was searching for fellowship, for accountability, for a Christian community. His search resulted in the formation of a small gathering of students who “got together for prayer and reading the Scripture.” And out of his search grew the foundations of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations. As he wrote in an article published in the Christian Medical Society Journal in 1951, “There must be a purpose of [Christian Medical Society]. Wherever Christians are, 14
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Use your smartphone to read the historical article or visit www.cmda.org/reflections
wherever they’re mingling with those who do not believe, they have an obligation to let Christ be known to those round about them.” For Dr. Gieser, that purpose was to create a Christian community whose goal was to be an effective Christian witness. More than 80 years later, has our purpose changed? Are we still concerned with sharing the message of the gospel on campus and at work? If so, what does that witness look like in today’s culture? CMDA’s Boston Area Director Bill Pearson looks at these questions and more as we seek to redefine the campus Christian witness for the 21st century.
effect. As the community was displaced by persecution, the gospel of the kingdom began being exported by small bands of disciples who were trained to live under the reign of Christ and enable others to do the same. How does this historic narrative work itself out on our healthcare campuses? We certainly can’t organize the recreation of tongues of fire and miraculously speak in multiple languages. However, we can organize ourselves into the precursors of Pentecost. We can repent of our self-sufficiency, align ourselves to each other and, by prayer and study of Scripture, work out the gospel of the kingdom in our various contexts. In this way, we will be ready to burn brightly and know how to speak the gospel into the multiple languages of contemporary healthcare. Whether the Holy Spirit creates an audience of one or 3,000, we will be ready to expound to our colleagues how the reign of Christ redefines and empowers our common calling to reduce human suffering and contribute to human flourishing. Those compelled by this witness can simply involve themselves in the life of our community to know what it means to follow Jesus and heal in His name. As they are displaced by the persecution of residency training, they will be ready to engage in mission wherever they go in partnership with others. On one hand, a kingdom of Godstyled movement is not so difficult to imagine within the context of healthcare education and training. It is plausible that the Holy Spirit would welcome animating the daily events of caring for the sick and injured. We already gather day by day in our biomedical temples alongside our colleagues for a common purpose. Our context welcomes new knowledge through scholarship and research for the wellbeing of others. The pedagogy of medical education resembles that of discipleship. Residency training is a ready-made opportunity for disciples to be sent out each year to train others. The healthcare campus seems like a prime opportunity to stage the events and effects of a present-day Pentecost. On the other hand, this kind of movement of the Holy Spirit seems implausible given the requisite precursors of Pentecost. Here I will explore three requisites in turn:
Redefining CMDA Witness
“N
ow when they heard this they were cut to the heart…about three thousand were added to their number that day” (Acts 2:37,41, ESV and NIV 1984). The events and fruit of Pentecost are familiar. The precursors are less so. How did a dispersed group of frightened fugitives coalesce into a potent community of witness in a mere 50 days time? And what does this historic event have to do with our efforts today to embody the gospel within the secular, though pluralistic, academic healthcare communities in which we study, train and work? The 120 disciples gathered for a 10-day prayer meeting had just witnessed the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Prior to that 40-day period, most of them had heard the teachings of Jesus and seen His miracles. They had been redefined as followers of Jesus in a time when loyalty was demanded by Rome and religion. They could align themselves in complicit resignation, join the political resistance or retreat into religious piety. The Jesus-styled revolution differed from anything they could anticipate. It began with selfdenial, taking up a cross and following Jesus. It led to a new community of people aligned together by the courageous love of Christ. The Holy Spirit found a soma (body) to fill. I imagine this prayer meeting was something like a continental congress in session before the heavenly realm. This relatively small community, aware of the oppressive forces at work, was likely comparing notes about what Jesus had said and taught. In an effort to make sense of their current situation, it is likely they were pouring over Scripture in their deliberations, listening to one another and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit created an audience, but Peter was ready. The sermon he delivered was likely a summary of many of the things discussed and prayed for in that upper room. In that sermon, he reinterpreted contemporary events of first century Palestine in terms of the reign of Christ. Those who heard it were cut to the heart. They realized they had just put to death everything they had hoped for by participating in Jesus’ execution. It was like spurning a winning lottery ticket. How foolish. Following this ingathering, the precursors of the Christian movement were worked into the lives of new brothers and sisters. Orthopraxy led to orthodoxy. The pedagogy of “see one, do one, teach one” took its full
• to define ourselves as followers of Jesus within the context of contemporary healthcare, C HRISTIAN M EDICAL & D ENTAL A SSOCIATIONS
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• to train ourselves to become healers in Jesus’ name, and • to enable others to do the same. The first of these requisites is perhaps the most challenging. Medical students and practitioners are notoriously independent, and yet ironically we are experts at conformity. We align ourselves to the culture and expectations of medicine in order to achieve. To align to one another under the headship of Christ would require a radical redefinition. We must be willing to name and repent of our personal idolatry, preferences and fears. The body of Christ is very much present and alive in medicine. But we are spastic. We function according to our own wisdom. We can begin to become a community of witness by aligning ourselves with the brothers and sisters God has put right around us in our classes and training programs. As we come together, we can reinterpret our context in terms of God’s kingdom and work it out in prayer, even as the disciples did in Jerusalem. This shift in focus will have the added benefit of making us better clinicians and colleagues. Training to be a healer in Jesus’ name requires a longitudinal discipleship throughout medical school, training and practice. As we band together with others right around us, we can train each other to live out our calling in Jesus’ name in each stage of training. As students and trainees, we need to apply our minds to this task. Our faith expression must move beyond the sensate and become as rigorous as our commitment to basic science and clinical medicine. This is not to undercut the devotional or relational aspects of our faith. But we should consider that our secular colleagues who attempt new ways of doing things in medicine are often more devoted to a cause and to one another than we are. Finally, we need to create ways to enable others to do the same. How is it we confidently know how to mentor others in clinical skills and specialty training, but not in what it means to follow Jesus in our various contexts? When it comes to training, “the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light” (Luke 16:8, ESV). In any new field, people come together to define best practices and do the work of research to show how these new approaches are benefitting others. We need new teaching from contemporary apostles who can reinterpret the practice of healthcare in terms of the gospel of the kingdom. This knowledge needs to be insinuated in various training contexts. It also needs to be documented. If uneducated fishermen in the first century learned the academic trade language of Greek to expound the kingdom of God, we need to do the same. Research should be conducted that documents the positive effects of a thoroughly Christian practice of medicine starting with well-crafted case study (see the gospel of Luke for a well-crafted case-series).
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Whether in training or in scholarly activity, we simply need to be curious enough about our own faith to teach and document this knowledge. If we pursue the precursors of Pentecost as a community of witness, we give room for the Holy Spirit to make space for the authentic expression of Christian faith within our pluralistic, secular and academic settings. The events of the original Pentecost were amazing. But to those who were present, they understood it. They got it. They realized what was there for them and they joined this community. Maybe it was not as strange as it seems to us now. There is nothing keeping a kingdom of God movement from being birthed in our modern day temples of biomedicine other than our unavailability to Jesus. The Holy Spirit knows how to move in the world. The Spirit just needs somas to fill. In the early 19th century, there was a physician and follower of Jesus named John Collins Warren who lived at #2 Park Street on the Boston Common, an address now part of Park Street Church. Dr. Warren was a follower of Jesus and passionate about caring for the sick. As a professor at Harvard Medical School, he founded the Massachusetts and General Hospital. One of his early efforts was to gather a few physicians in his home to discuss cases in order to improve patient care. They began to document these cases and their discourses. This small company of doctors became the Massachusetts Medical Society, and the documents they drafted became the New England Journal of Medicine. Let us not despise the day of small beginnings, but find the Lord’s delight as we meet together in Jesus’ name in classes and training programs throughout the world. When we do so, as Dr. Gieser wrote, “. . . [CMDA] will go forth to even greater things than it has already accomplished.” ✝
Bill Pearson, PhD, withdrew from medical school in his second year at the Medical College of Georgia to lead the Medical Campus Outreach of First Presbyterian Church in Augusta. Since 1996, he has been working on the medical campuses in Boston as a CMDA Area Director in partnership with Park Street Church. He taught in the gross anatomy lab at Harvard Medical School for 10 years before returning to graduate school. While leading the ministry in Boston, he earned a PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine. This fall, Bill returns to the Medical College of Georgia as an assistant professor to continue teaching and mentoring students. Bill and his wife Elaine have five daughters.
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In This Year . . . Around the World - James D. Watson and Francis Crick of the University of Cambridge announced their discovery of the structure of the DNA molecule. - The first color television sets went on sale for about $1,175. - Joseph Stalin suffered a stroke after having dinner with other leaders of the Soviet Union. The stroke paralyzed the right side of his body and rendered him unconscious until his death later that year. - Ian Fleming published Casino Royale, his first James Bond novel, in the United Kingdom. - The coronation of Elizabeth II was held at Westminster Abbey. - The Korean War ended with an armistice agreement for the north to remain communist and the south to remain capitalist. In This Year . . . at CMDA - The name was Christian Medical Society, the headquarters were based in Chicago, Illinois, P. Kenneth Gieser, MD, served as President and J. Raymond Knighton, Jr., was the Executive Secretary. - A subscription to the bimonthly published Christian Medical Society Journal was $1 for students and $2 for practicing physicians. - Members from the Illinois and Southwestern student chapters volunteered at the Mission Clinic in Chicago, seeing more than 600 patients. - More than 90 people attended the annual banquet of the Philadelphia student chapters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. - The 7th annual CMS Convention was held in New York City.
Ref lecting on 60 Years of CMDA Campus Ministry by Michael McLaughlin, MDiv
with Scott Boyles, MDiv, Will Gunnels, MDiv, and Allan Harmer, ThM
Putting a spotlight on the 21st century CMDA campus chapter
I
n 1950, 10 medical students on the campus of the University of California shared a collective desire to share the message of Christ with their fellow students. So they banded together and a campus chapter was formed. It was that simple. All it took was a shared longing to create a community of believers on their campus. More than 60 years later, campus chapters are located on more than 240 medical and dental campuses across the country. Today, CMDA’s Campus Ministry is an effective outreach that connects these chapters as they create a Christian community, teach students to integrate their faith into the profession and reach out to their campuses with the love of Christ. So how has CMDA’s Campus Ministry grown and developed in the last 60 years to be such a valuable and important outreach to today’s healthcare students? And what does a campus chapter look like in the 21st century? Join CMDA’s four Regional Directors as they reflect on 60 years of CMDA Campus Ministry. In an article published by the Christian Medical Society
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Use your smartphone to read the historical article or visit www.cmda.org/reflections
Journal in 1953, Edwin Rose, MD, described the founding of that campus chapter at the University of California at San Francisco. The 10 students who formed that group spent time researching and decided that affiliation with the thencalled CMS was “suited exactly to our needs as students now and as doctors later . . . [and it seemed] advantageous to join forces with a larger organization composed of many like-groups with perhaps similar problems and for certain a similar spiritual bond, that of faith in Jesus Christ.” That steadfast commitment to Jesus Christ shared by the original members of that campus chapter certainly hasn’t changed for CMDA; although, it may be one of only a few things that haven’t changed in the intervening years. Just like American culture and the world at large, the CMDA of today bears little resemblance to the CMS of the 1950s. By and large, people in CMDA haven’t changed much as we still work and hope for the same ideals. We want to secure the opportunity to pursue an education and training, as well as the chance to practice healthcare and make a good
Changes in Organization Today, we have effectively doubled our influence as the number of medical and dental students has increased by 400 percent in the past 60 years! As our influence increases, so does our organization as it strives to meet the needs of students. In 1984, the field staff consisted of seven regional directors (RDs) and three Area Directors (ADs) who were all ministers. Today, our current field staff consists of four RDs, 26 ADs and more than 35 associate staff, several of whom are healthcare professionals. And the numbers are still growing. Considering just those figures alone, it is a vastly different scene from even the early 1980s, much less the 1950s. Field staff members serve an important role in guiding our local campus ministry. Serving as great examples of this role are Ed and Debby Read, the ADs in Richmond, Virginia. They have a deep impact upon their local community, as seen through the comments of recent residency graduate Janet Ma, MD: “Ed and Debby offer strong and consistent spiritual leadership and guidance for the Richmond CMDA. They are the ultimate examples of excellent spiritual leaders and mentors. Under their leadership, the student and resident CMDA body has flourished. The students and residents are taught relevant topics on a biblical foundation presented as pertinent to our lives, such as creating ‘margin’ in a busy life, how to pray with patients ethically and how to serve patients with our Lord Jesus’ perspective. Ed leads a discussion group for the students and residents who are doing clinical rotations, addressing spiritual issues in patient care. He also leads an ethics elective for fourth year medical students raising our awareness of relevant ethical issues for a Christian physician. Recently publishing her first book, Debby ministers to women, especially those married to doctors. Her hospitality is legendary in Richmond.” Associate staff members are commonly para-church ministry professionals serving with organizations like Campus Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity, Navigators, Campus Outreach, etc. They are willing to invest anywhere from a few hours to a couple days each week to spend time on medical or dental campuses and coach stu-
dent leaders. Working with associate staff has also increased CMDA’s partnerships with other ministries, in turn multiplying the impact of CMDA and greatly improving the quality of our ministry to students.
Changes in Opportunities and Resources Opportunities to serve others through medical and dental mission trips continue to grab at student hearts. Each year, hundreds of CMDA medical and dental students serve on trips with Global Health Outreach. And even more participate in local school trips. Mike Roberts, DDS, led two teams with 52 dental students from UCLA and USC to Central America, and the Sacramento doctors took 14 students from UC Davis to Guatemala. And more than 1,000 students attended the Global Missions Health Conference last November in Louisville, Kentucky. On the local level, campus groups sponsor or participate in community service, serve in local clinics or community projects for the poor and raise money to purchase much needed medical supplies to send to needy countries. Our greatest resource has always been healthcare professionals willing to mentor their peers and future peers. As CMDA has grown, we have witnessed the increasing need to provide godly and seasoned mentors who model the role of the Christian healthcare professional and the transformed Christian mind. Several different kinds of people fill the ranks on the frontline, including area directors, associate staff and campus advisors who come alongside student leaders for the purpose of encouraging, mentoring, training and equipping. In addition to these mentors, we produce several excellent resources specifically designed for student groups. Another round of workshops for the Life Skills Institute was filmed in April with speakers addressing topics highly relevant to the lives of students and young professionals. The Saline Solution is a conference and video series focused on the integration of faith and practice. It is our most effective resource and we plan to launch a second C HRISTIAN M EDICAL & D ENTAL A SSOCIATIONS
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living to provide for our families. We strive to serve God, our families and our patients. Most of all, we seek to know Christ and make Him known. And therein lays our true purpose. As we consider the myriad of changes in CMDA in response to the seemingly exponential shifts in culture, rejoice with us that our mission has not changed. We remain committed to changing hearts in healthcare.
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Reflecting on 60 Years of CMDA Campus Ministry
version next year. We’ve also made Chuck Colson’s Doing the Right Thing available for student group studies. A six-part DVD series, this resource takes an in-depth look at ethics in our culture today. Student leaders also desire to provide resources for campus chapters. Founded two years ago, the National Student Council began connecting students to the national ministry of CMDA. Presently, 75 students attend quarterly webinars hosted by NSC officers and field staff. With an ultimate goal of soliciting representatives from all U.S. campuses, this council has great potential to connect our student ministries with our national organization. Changes in Culture We don’t have nearly enough space to list the dozens of cultural changes influencing the average twenty-something American. And while Christian students are not the average American young adults, we are concerned by the immature faith, the lack of training in foundational doctrines of the faith and the resultant susceptibility to “every wind of doctrine” and philosophy characterizing a growing number of today’s incoming students. Spirituality in America greatly influences the church and many of the students joining CMDA. By being far more spiritual than any preceding generation, this generation excels in spirituality, but many students do so with little discernment between the claims of Christ and those of other religions. While they claim allegiance to the God of the Bible, more than a few struggle to embrace and defend biblical principles regarding chastity, heterosexuality, ethics in general and the exclusive claims of Jesus as the only way to God.
POTLIGHT S S U P M A C
CE ITH AND PRACTI INTEGRATING FA tegrating faith
h the vision of in For students to catc nts at the ecting with stude nn co e, tic ac pr regon into g is essential. At O in in tra r ei th of g beginnin local comversity in Portland, Health Services Uni ly meetand sponsor month an pl s or ct do ity un m and lead at Christian clinics s nt de stu le ip sc di nt-led ings, ey also foster stude Th . ps tri n io iss m summer nts to take d encourage stude prayer meetings an d theologich-based biblical an ur ch of e ag nt va ad of the Georgia Campus e th At g. in in tra icine, cal Osteopathic Med of ge lle Co a hi lp Philade life-on-life place a focus on local professionals dents. e together with stu rv se d an g rin to en m confident ith, become more fa y m in ed ur at edical “I’ve m into my future m ith fa y m g in at gr about inte practice.” – CMDA Student
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CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT CREATING CHR ISTIAN COMMU NITY Campus chapte
rs become hubs for Christian fellowship. At The University of Te xas Health Science Center at San Antonio, they have noon luncheons, missio n trips and smal l groups. The campus chapter at Penn State School of Medicine meets for weekl y lunches focuse d on hearing about the challeng es healthcare prof essionals face in their daily lives and their practices . These lunches, which offer fre e food as a signific ant draw, also create a special opportunity for di scipleship and outreach. And th at’s just the begi nning. Other chapters have so cials hosted by lo cal physicians, mentoring meetin gs, large fellowsh ip gatherings and numerous othe r events designed to create that strong Christian co mmunity for stude nts. “More than anythi ng, CMDA was a gift from God to me; or rather a to ol that God gave to me that made medical school su rvivable for me on many levels. . . .” – CMDA Membe r
Recently, a student leader invited a Muslim classmate to attend a CMDA chapter meeting and to read from the Koran after which she would read from the Bible, following both readings with discussion. In this setting, no one would have dared to assert that the Bible was authoritative while the Koran was a pagan book. When we asked her not to move ahead with this meeting under the CMDA banner, she did not understand. Reluctantly, and hurt, she sent another email announcing that this meeting would proceed, but would not be a CMDA meeting. Despite repeated attempts by student and faculty leaders, she pulled away and remains distant from CMDA. While events like this may not happen every day, it highlights the need for CMDA to train each successive generation as they seek to grow in their faith and increase their foundational knowledge of Christianity. Changes in Technology While cultural changes have certainly had a broad impact on students and our ministry efforts, there is no doubt that technology has changed the most since the 1950s. Take this experience from Michael McLaughlin during a visit to Rocky Vista University: “After arriving in Denver, I pulled off to the side of the road and texted the primary student leader to let him know I was on my way and to ask where I was speaking. He responded, ‘Oops! Forgot! Keep coming, we’ll be ready.’ When I arrived an hour later, I found 30 students crowded into a
And texting is just the beginning. Emails, webinars, smartphone apps, wireless networks, tablets and more are becoming the norm in our communication efforts. Regional conferences, area meetings, campus events and even mission trips are all advertised and planned largely through electronic communication. Conclusion These students will serve as our future leaders in CMDA both in their communities and around the world, demonstrating through their commitment to God and excellence in their practice that the gospel of Jesus Christ is and will always be the raison d’être for their practice, their lives, their very existence. We are just one generation away from losing committed Christian doctors in healthcare. We face great challenges from secularism in our culture and on our campuses. There is a greater need for CMDA campus ministry than ever before, and we are determined to stand in the gap. Your prayers, time and support are crucial to this effort. To get involved in your local community, contact Campus & Community Ministries at ccm@cmda.org. ✝
CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT REACHING OUT INTO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY Just as all Christians are called to spread the gospel, campus chapters also work to have an outwards focus on reaching out to their communities. The Rocky Vista University chapter offers free coffee for all students on a weekly basis, hosts ethical discussions that are open to the entire campus and is developing a local Side By Side ministry chapter. The campus chapter at the University of Missouri hosts quarterly “generosity giveaways” designed to serve their student body with welcome packets and baked goods. That outreach doesn’t stop with just the individual campus community as they also organize drives to collect supplies for disaster relief and local children’s organizations.
“The Lord really moved . . . and has seen fit to allow several CMDA members to play an important role as our unsaved classmates seek Christ in their lives.” – CMDA Student
Michael McLaughlin, MDiv, is the Western Regional Director. He hails from Seattle and lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife Linda, two children and their spouses and two grandchildren. He did his undergraduate work at Biola University and graduate work at Western Seminary. He started his ministry with CMDA in 1984 as the Northwest Area Director for Oregon and Washington, serving in various positions since then. On two occassions, he served as the director of Campus & Community Ministries. He also serves as the advisor of CMDA’s Singles Ministry. Scott Boyles, MDiv, is the Northeast Regional Director. He has served with CMDA for 10 years and specializes in equipping Christians in medicine and dentistry to follow God’s call on their lives and helping them create Christian community for healthcare professionals. After a short-term missionary service in West Africa, he graduated from the New Orleans Baptist Seminary. Scott and his wife Stephanie live in Bristol, Tennessee, and just recently welcomed their fifth child. Will Gunnels, MDiv, is the Southern Regional Director. He has been with CMDA for 10 years, serving with his unique ministry and business background. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University (BA) and Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon (MDiv). Will and his wife Susan of 29 years live in Covington, Louisiana. Their daughter Molly is a senior at Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
Reflecting on 60 Years of CMDA Campus Ministry
boardroom with lunch in the middle of the table. During his last class, the student leader had texted the CMDA group and Subway, bringing the entire event together in less than an hour using technology we couldn’t have even imagined just a few years ago.”
Allan Harmer, ThM, is the Midwest Regional Director. The Midwest Region is comprised of 11 states, 4,300 members and 27 staff. He and his wife Karen have four grown children and live in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they minister to young professionals in their church. Allan is currently working on a doctoral degree with an emphasis on organizational change. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, he previously served as an associate pastor in suburban Washington, D.C.
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In This Year . . . Around the World - Both Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella and A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted on CBS, quickly becoming annual traditions. - Approximately 3,500 U.S. Marines arrived in South Vietnam, becoming the first American combat troops in Vietnam. Throughout the year, anti-war protests drew 100,000 people in 80 U.S. cities and around the world. - The wreck of the SS Georgiana, reputed to have been the most powerful Confederate cruiser ever built and owned by the real Rhett Butler, was discovered off the coast of South Carolina, exactly 102 years after she was sunk with a million dollar cargo while attempting to run past the Union blockade into Charleston. - U.S. spacecraft Mariner 4 flew by Mars and became the first spacecraft to return images from the planet. - U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Act of 1965 into law to establish Medicare and Medicaid. In This Year . . . at CMDA - The name was Christian Medical Society, the headquarters were based in Oak Park, Illinois, Martin H. Andrews, MD, was President and J. Raymond Knighton, Jr., was the Executive Secretary. - CMS sponsored the Fourth International Convention on Missionary Medicine in Wheaton, Illinois. - The organization experienced a great deal of expansion through the work of strong leaders intent on advancing the cause of Christ through the healing arts. - The motto of CMS was: “Not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”
The Emerging Medical Student
by J. Scott Ries, MD, FAAFP
Examining the new generation of medical students in order to be an effective influence
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entered medicine with the assumption that there would be few to no other Christians.” This recent testimony from a medical student in New Jersey could just as easily have been written by Kenneth Gieser or George Peterson in 1931 when they formed the first chapter of what became today’s CMDA. After sharing similar thoughts with its founders, this medical student was thankfully able to continue, “CMDA this year was a surprisingly great experience. I am truly blessed to be a part of this organization.” Students of all backgrounds continue to matriculate into medical school with an idealistic desire to help the hurting and ease suffering. Christian students, in particular, continue to express a desire to serve God and minister to their patients and colleagues through the practice of medicine. Yet the burden of ever increasing knowledge and processes of the medical education system seem overwhelming as they make their way. Technology’s transformation has failed to lessen the impact of the stress and isolation of the journey. However, the world of medical training is now in an entirely different universe than it was just a few years ago. 22
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Use your smartphone to read the historical article or visit www.cmda.org/reflections
Recognizing and understanding the difference is prerequisite to effectively influencing the lives of today’s emerging doctors for the kingdom of God. Enrollment Trends Today’s generation of graduating doctors looks different than in years past, both literally and figuratively. In “The Medical Student Mind” published in the Christian Medical Society Journal in 1965, Dr. David Durica wrote, “95 percent of all medical students are men.” In fact, Dr. Durica referred to medical students almost exclusively in the masculine tense throughout his article, reflecting the large percentage of male medical students at the time. In the last four decades, the gender enrollment rate has shifted, with the proportion of women entering medical school increasing to 47 percent in 2011.1 In 1971, the vast majority of medical school students were Caucasian, with minority students composing only 10 percent of matriculants.2 Today, minority students comprise more than 35 percent of the enrollment, including Asian at 23 percent, Hispanic at 8.5 percent and Black at 7 percent.3
Changing Foundations With all these changes, the very foundation of medical education is changing as well. A fundamental shift in the culture of healthcare training has occurred in the last decade. The focus on team-based care is an increasingly common pattern across the nation.9 Distinct from the concept of the physician at the top of the healthcare hierarchy, the team-based approach integrates nurses, pharmacists, therapists and others along with medical students in an effort to create a more collaborative model of training. The effects of this team-based approach are being evidenced in many of our CMDA chapters. No longer are campus groups exclusive to medical and/or dental professionals. Rather, nursing, pharmacy and other students are joining CMDA’s ministry to be part of this community of believers, thereby enriching the “healthcare body of Christ.” The future of CMDA ministry will be strongly influenced by this integration of healthcare professionals. The “Complete” CMDA Chapter God has blessed CMDA with an increasing cadre of motivated student leaders across the country, resulting in a
total of 242 CMDA campus chapters representing 90 percent of all medical and dental schools in the U.S. We have observed varying levels of effectiveness in these campus chapters, leading to an emerging pattern of “best practices” in their kingdom-oriented ministry. One of these practices we are striving to see implemented at all campus chapters can be identified as the “Triad of the Complete CMDA Chapter.” This triad is composed of: a. Developed Student Leaders. The most effective student leaders are prepared by the leadership ahead of them, and the baton is effectively and efficiently passed to the new leadership team. b. Active Campus Advisors. These advisors assist the student leaders by serving as the glue of consistency as student leadership teams emerge and transition. They provide a sounding board and consistent presence. c. Ministry Shepherds. The role of a pastoral influence in a campus ministry can be transforming. Rather than leading the ministry or a Bible study, these ministry partners come alongside students and advisors to coach and catalyze the ministry with thoughtful theological and philosophical input and leadership development.
The Emerging Medical Student
The debt factor The average debt of the medical school graduate in 1965 was $3,900.4 Today’s graduating doctor is encumbered by an average $161,000 in debt, with one-third of students’ debt exceeding $200,000.5 The significance of this debt burden is more apparent when viewing the debt as a percentage of a primary care physician’s average annual income, having risen from 15 percent in 1965 to 95 percent today.6,7 As I visit CMDA chapters across the country, it is not unusual for me to encounter married physician couples with student loan debt greater than $400,000. A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted a young family practice physician whose debt repayment deferrals and partial default in fellowship resulted in extreme escalation of the debt to $555,000.8 This level of debt can be debilitating for all students, particularly deflecting some from fulfilling a desire to serve God on the mission field.
Not surprisingly, 100 percent of our campus chapters have student leaders and nearly all have active campus advisors. However, only about 25 percent currently have ministry shepherds. Our growing partnerships with organizations like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Campus Crusade for Christ, Campus Outreach, local churches and others are providing new ways to add shepherding staff to catalyze our ministry efforts. Opportunities for transformation As this new generation of students emerges, CMDA has tremendous opportunities to participate in their kingdomoriented transformation. Highlighted are a few pivotal opportunities: 1. Christian Worldview While speaking to students recently, I asked how many of them had required ethics courses. As you would guess, they all did. Then I asked, “How many of you have ever heard of the concept of moral complicity with evil?” Not one hand went up. C HRISTIAN M EDICAL & D ENTAL A SSOCIATIONS
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The Emerging Medical Student Paid Advertisement
Students need help moving beyond what they believe to why they believe. It is the clarion call of our ministry. The tough questions of life only become tougher on the road to becoming a physician. The basis for understanding and dealing within the ethical quagmire of abortion-ondemand, patient-demanded assisted suicide and other challenges of our field is rooted deeply in one’s worldview. We can meet this need of the rising generation of Christian doctors by helping them define and develop theirs. 2. Evangelism in the context of discipleship The medical school environment presents a unique opportunity for followers of Jesus to present to their colleagues what they are about, rather than simply what they are against. Students at the CMDA chapter at Dartmouth were looking for a better way to display the love of Christ to their student community. As a result, they now prepare a breakfast buffet for all first and second year students prior to their end-ofterm exams. CMDA student members at Harvard deliver goodie bags along with notes of encouragement to new medical students the night before their first exam. Many similar examples exist.
These activities stem from lives pursuing the gospel in kingdom living, even during medical training. The practical fruit of ongoing study of Scripture, commitment to prayer and the fellowship of accountability lead to the transformed life. The greatest joy is then experienced as described by this CMDA student leader at Mercer University, “Our most wonderful story is a student who came to know the Lord during Bible study. The Holy Spirit is fully present in his life, and it is absolutely fascinating to see his personal growth and excitement for Scripture!”
the next generation, so others can join this CMDA student leader at the University of Maryland in saying, “CMDA has made me a better follower of Jesus Christ.” ✝
Representatives from CMDA’s National Student Council at this year’s National Convention.
The Emerging Medical Student
3. Healing the poor Interest among Christian medical students in serving the poor and matters of social justice has peaked in recent years. Student interest in being the hands and feet of Jesus to the domestic poor continues to rapidly increase. A desire to participate in the restoring work of God’s kingdom here on earth by compassionately putting their faith in action is a strong motivation to this new generation of students. 4. The coaching mentor The most frequent testimonies we receive describe the impact a Christian physician had on the life of a student. One student described it as “life changing.” Allowing a student to see you in action in your practice, family, church and social life can keep them oriented in the direction of the mission God has designed for their life. If we don’t, who will? Students do not need a perfect example of a Christian doctor, they need an example of a Christian doctor following a perfect Savior.
Bibliography “First-year Enrollees to U.S. Medical Schools, 2004-2011.” Association of American Medical Colleges. https://www.aamc.org/download/264082/data/applicantenrollmentdata2011.pdf Accessed July 6, 2012. 2 Bird, Lewis P. “The Anatomy of Medical Students: An Examination of Today’s Medical Student.” Christian Medical Society Journal. Summer 1974. 3 Ibid. 4 Durica, David. “The Medical Student Mind.” Christian Medical Society Journal. Autumn 1965. 5 Medical Student Education: Costs, Debt, and Loan Repayment Facts. AAMC Survey of R/F Stipends and Benefits and AAMC Analysis. October 2011. 6 Statistical Abstract of the United States, 100th Ed. 1979. p109 7 Starting Salary Greatest for Specialty Care Physicians in Multi-Specialty Practices, MGMA Survey Finds. http://www.mgma.com/blog/Starting-salary-greatest-for-specialty-care-physicians-in-multispecialtypractices-MGMA-survey-finds. Accessed July 22, 2012. 8 Pilon, Mary. “The $555,000 Student Loan Burden.” Wall Street Journal. February 13, 2010. 9 Krupa, Carolyne. “Med Schools Shift Focus to Team-based Care.” American Medical News. March 26, 2012. pp.1-4. 1
Personalizing your investment God provides us with tremendous opportunities to participate in His transforming work in the professional and personal lives of each new generation. Who else can be this influence, if not the followers of Christ who have walked this journey as healthcare professionals? Regardless of your location or practice, you can invest in the next generation to be part of this gospel-centered transformation. Invest by becoming a mentor to a student or resident. Open your practice and even your home to them. Bring them to a CMDA conference or a medical missions conference. Simple times of connection yield grand rewards. Invest by connecting with other practicing healthcare professionals in your area and join the local CMDA ministry council. Start a local council if there isn’t one in your area. Begin praying with your colleagues and a few student leaders about a God-sized vision for transformation on and around your local medical and/or dental school. Consider “completing” your CMDA chapter by bringing a ministry partner alongside the student leaders and campus advisors. Invest by giving your financial support to CMDA’s local and national student ministries. We are on a new horizon with needs for technology-based resources for discipleship, worldview education, ethics training and debt management education for students. The primary limiting factor in meeting these important needs is finances. As the next generation of students emerges, one thing remains true: medicine remains a tremendous opportunity to glorify God by healing in Jesus’ name. It is our opportunity, and even duty, to pass this spiritual baton to
J. Scott Ries, MD, FAAFP, serves as CMDA’s National Director of Campus & Community Ministries, and has his finger on the pulse of issues facing students and residents in today’s rapidly changing medical environment. An awardwinning family physician, his clinical career has included faculty appointments at Indiana University School of Medicine and Butler University, and has spanned from academic medicine, to clinical research, to full-time private practice. He continues to actively see patients in the Tennessee/Virginia area. He has also functioned as a medical consultant for ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox network affiliates. Dr. Ries has been involved with CMDA for more than 20 years, serving initially as a student leader, and then on the Board of Trustees and as a team leader on short-term medical mission trips with Global Health Outreach.
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In This Year . . . Around the World - Ilse Koch, known as the "Witch of Buchenwald," wife of the commandant of the Buchenwald concentration camp, was sentenced to life imprisonment in a court in West Germany. - Avalanches in the Alps killed 240 and buried 45,000 for a time in Switzerland, Austria and Italy. - Ethel and Julius Rosenberg were convicted of conspiracy to commit espionage and were sentenced to receive the death penalty. - In Joplin, Missouri, the George Washington Carver National Monument became the first U.S. national monument to honor an African American. - Shoppers World in Framingham, Massachusetts, became one of the first shopping malls to open in the U.S. - Films including Alice in Wonderland and Show Boat premiered, becoming instant sensations. In This Year . . . at CMDA - The name was Christian Medical Society, the headquarters were based in Chicago, Illinois, Howard Hamlin, MD, served as President and J. Raymond Knighton, Jr., was the Executive Secretary. - J. Raymond Knighton, Jr., joined CMDA as the Executive Secretary after a career in the army teaching physical education and working as a field representative for a Christian college. - The Pacific Garden Mission clinic opened in Chicago, Illinois, and student CMS members staffed the clinic on the weekends. - The Christian Medical Society Journal published a report on other Christian medical societies around the world, highlighting organizations in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Japan and Norway. - Members of CMS attended the Third Annual Missionary Convention hosted by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in Urbana, Illinois.
Paying It Back: The Honor of Being Entrusted by Ken Jones and Darilyn Falck, MD
The importance of following the examples of others and becoming mentors to today’s students
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resident Ronald Reagan once said, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. . . .” While President Reagan’s thoughts specifically focused on our rights and obligations as Americans, the same idea can be applied to Christianity and more specifically to the practice of healthcare from a Christian perspective. Since the inception of the church, older Christians have been responsible for passing the baton of God’s truth to those new to the faith. This process was exemplified in Paul’s first letter to young Timothy when Paul confirmed the fact that he had been entrusted with the gospel (1 Timothy 1:11). In his second letter to Timothy, Paul emphasized the importance of passing that treasure on to future generations when he emphasized Timothy’s responsibility: “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of
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Use your smartphone to read the historical article or visit www.cmda.org/reflections
many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Timothy 2:2, NIV 2011). It’s a process that remains vital to the spread of the gospel and the discipleship, training and maturation of new Christians. The significance and importance of mentoring and “passing the baton” is perhaps nowhere more evident than in healthcare. From its earliest beginnings, CMDA understood the important role Christian healthcare professionals have in passing the mantle of faith and life priorities on to the next generation. When Dr. Robert D. Carpenter presented a paper in June 1951 at a CMS convention, he wrote, “In every age the Lord has placed His disciples in positions of leadership to aid, direct, and give moral strength to those less experienced.” But what exactly did a mentor relationship look like in the landscape of Christian healthcare in 1951? Dr.
“We live in a special moment in history, for better or worse. History has jumped the tracks. Something’s lurched. Everything is being shaken. . . . As a trends researcher for three decades, I’ve never seen it like this. And, quite frankly, neither has the world. To be sure, the world has wit-
nessed almost continuous change and dysfunction—but never before with such levels of speed, suddenness, complexity, intensity, information, communication, media, money, mobility, technology, weaponry, and interconnectedness.”1 Such an obvious escalation of change and disconnect, and the chaos it produces in the cultural and medical landscape of our day, only heightens the need for intentionality. Seasoned healthcare professionals—men and women of deep faith—have the opportunity to stand in the midst of today’s uncertainty and model trust, maturity and life-experience for young students. But what does a mentor actually look like in today’s changing world? And what does the process look like to pass along the truth and experience we have been entrusted to share? A mentor is a person with a serving, giving, encouraging attitude toward younger mentees. It is someone who sees leadership potential in young people and is able to promote or otherwise significantly influence them, guiding them toward the realization of their full potential. Mentors love their mentees and are willing to be open about their own successes and failures. Most importantly, a great mentor is a person who is worth following, someone who has earned the right to be heard. The mentoring process provides an ideal opportunity for a mutually beneficial relationship, resulting in development and blessing for both the mentor and mentee. Mentees have an uncanny method of challenging ways of thinking and testing belief systems. A fulfilling mentoring relationship provides a unique accountability, including maintaining integrity and consistency, and focusing on inspired and eternal ideals. While in earlier years mentoring was a culturally accepted and expected relationship between seasoned doctors and medical students in training, that process has become exponentially more difficult because we are a relationally disconnected society. Because that is true, what are today’s students looking for in their mentors? Probably the greatest attributes students long for are transparency and honesty. They are not looking for biblical scholars or perfect Christians; instead, they want real relationships with imperfect people who are earnestly seeking God and actively working out their salvation. They want to know about the struggles and trials of healthcare, and how to negotiate the difficult and changing times in which we live. Author Vickie Kraft defined an ideal mentor as someone who is honest with you, a model for you, deeply committed to you and open and transparent before you. It is someone who teaches you, believes in you, helps you define your dream and walks alongside you as you turn it into reality.2 In a recent note sent to Dr. Falck, the graduating student wrote, “You have been family to me. . . . Unlike most of my other mentors, you have so graciously invited me as a C HRISTIAN M EDICAL & D ENTAL A SSOCIATIONS
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Carpenter suggested that Christian physicians serve as “advisors” to students since they shared similar experiences (i.e. medical school, studies, etc.) They could also help plan programs for local chapter meetings or give advice on internships. He suggested that a mentoring relationship might include fellowship, such as offering young medical students a home-cooked meal. Certainly, the components of prayer and moral support would be vital to a mentoring relationship. The values and sentiments expressed in Dr. Carpenter’s paper represent timeless ideas. And yet, today’s world is hugely different from the medical landscape of the 1950s. Fifty years ago, medicine was heavily maledominated. Mentoring was literally “men-toring” for the most part. Today, women play a major role in healthcare. Fifty years ago, Christian students knew the Bible. Today’s culture does not place a premium on biblical knowledge. In many ways, ethics in earlier years was less complex as there were not issues like Roe v. Wade or DNA implications to contend with or consider. Fifty years ago, educational institutions—although secular in their focus—were mostly “faith-neutral.” That is, if a student believed in God or had a particular faith-practice, universities were generally neutral on issues of faith. However, the climate on many campuses today is not neutral, but hostile to faith development and a Christian organizational presence on campus. Christian healthcare students today have tremendous challenges and complex questions facing them. In his newsletter “Trends,” Dr. Richard Swenson recently wrote:
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brother in Christ into both your struggles and joys, and I cannot thank you enough for being an amazing example of God’s word and character.” Another student wrote about how his mentor “understood my crazy study schedule, and sent emails asking about my prayer requests.” There is no magic formula for developing a great mentoring relationship, but here are five foundational elements which can help: 1. A mentor needs to be comfortable with their own identity as a committed follower of Jesus Christ and desire to actively integrate their personal relationship with Him into an ongoing practice of healthcare. 2. A mentor understands that the mentoring relationship is to be an intentional investment, both spiritually and professionally, in their mentee. 3. A mentor commits to investing time in a mentee student on a regular basis for a specified period of time, perhaps the academic year. 4. A mentor recognizes that each mentoring relationship is unique. The approach to mentoring is often determined by the individual needs of the mentee. 5. A mentor determines to get to know the student personally. In Sacramento, California, the local CMDA chapter has ongoing efforts to connect mentors with students. When pairing up doctors and students, they consider hobbies, sports, specialty interests and other factors that provide for natural affinity. It is important to remember that every student and every mentoring relationship is different. Some pairs connect over coffee, while others may connect by biking or running together. One student spends Sunday afternoons at her mentor’s home, where she studies and plays the piano. And, although mentoring is not synonymous with counseling, coaching or discipling, some of those elements may need to be incorporated into the relationship as directed by the student’s needs. A mentoring relationship doesn’t simply end when the student’s needs are met or they graduate and become a practicing doctor. Some of the most impactful mentors are those who continue to guide, direct, encourage and support for years and years, through medical school, residency, private practice and beyond. And those types of relationships have long-term effects for both the mentor and the mentee. For the mentor, it is the personal satisfaction of passing their knowledge about the practice of Christian healthcare onto the next generation. It is their legacy. For the mentee, the impression left on their lives becomes even more profound as they follow the example set for them and become mentors themselves, establishing a continuous cycle. Perhaps more than any other profession and calling,
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healthcare professionals know the importance of teaching and being taught. And Christian doctors have an added responsibility, one with eternal implications. To slightly change President Reagan’s quote, “The practice of Christian medicine is never more than one generation away from extinction.” The weight of being entrusted with a treasure is significant. But our message and passion, as Christian healthcare professionals, must be passed from one generation to the next . . . one person at a time. What difference does it make if you are a mentor? It makes the difference of a lifetime. As author Bobb Biehl says, it makes “all the difference in the world!”3 ✝ Bibliography Richard Swenson, MD, Trends, Volume 1, Number 6, October 7, 2011, www.richardswenson.com. Kraft, Vickie. Women Mentoring Women. Moody Press. 1992 3 Biehl, Bobb. Mentoring: Confidence in Finding a Mentor and Becoming One. Breadman and Holman Publishers. Nashville, 1996. 1 2
Ken Jones, joined CMDA in 2005 and is the area director for the San Francisco Bay Area and Redding. In addition to 43 years of pastoral ministry, Ken is an ICF-certified physician development coach and a published author. His work has been published with some of Christian publishing’s most well-known houses, including Thomas Nelson, Fleming H. Revell and Multnomah. He is the 1994 recipient of the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference “Christian Writer of the Year.” Ken and his wife Randee were pastors for 37 years before he joined CMDA. They have three sons and six grandchildren. Darilyn Falck, MD, currently serves as the campus advisor for the CMDA medical student ministry at the University of California Davis School of Medicine. She is a graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. She practices emergency medicine at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where she serves as the Assistant Medical Director of the Emergency Department. Dr. Falck has been a member of CMDA since 1991, and has served as a campus student leader, student delegate, student trustee, chair of the WIMD Commission and area director for the Sacramento area ministry. Her husband Troy is also an emergency medicine physician, and they have one daughter, Micala.
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In This Year . . . Around the World - After authorizing $385 million of the $400 million already budgeted for military aid to Vietnam, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower warned against U.S. intervention in Vietnam. - The first mass vaccination of children against polio began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. - Senator Joseph McCarthy began hearings investigating the U.S. Army for being “soft” on Communism. Later that year, the U.S. Senate voted to censure McCarthy for bringing dishonor and disrepute on the Senate. - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that segregated schools are unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education. - The words “under God” were added to the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance. - Food rationing in Great Britain ended with the lifting of restrictions on sale and purchase of meat, 14 years after it began early in World War II and nearly a decade after the war’s end. In This Year . . . at CMDA - The name was Christian Medical Society, the headquarters were based in Chicago, Illinois, P. Kenneth Gieser, MD, served as President and J. Raymond Knighton, Jr., was the Executive Secretary. - CMDA continued to grow with a focus on missions during this period. - The Scherring Company donated more than 11 tons of pharmaceutical drugs valuing at $26,000 for use in medical missions. This was the first of many donations from drug and supply companies. - The American Medical Association granted space at its annual convention to CMS, the first time in the history of AMA they did so for a Christian organization. - The annual membership dues were $3.50 for students and $25 for practicing physicians.
Passing It On: Advice from Residents by Allie Dailey, MD, Jessica Degnan, MD, and Erik Lystad, MD
A panel of residents use their experiences in medical school to pass on the lessons they’ve learned
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n 1954, CMS asked a panel of residents and interns one question, “Looking back at the past four years of medical school life, what advice would you give to those now experiencing the tremendous pressure of medical school?” Their answers were published in the Christian Medical Society Journal in the article, “. . . since you’ve asked.” We asked a group of today’s residents that same question, along with a few others. Their responses are below as they use their own experiences, their memories and the lessons they’ve learned to pass on advice to today’s medical students.
1. Looking back at the past four years of medical school life, what advice would you give to those now experiencing the tremendous pressure of medical school? Allie Dailey: Bank on God’s promises. Know God
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Use your smartphone to read the historical article or visit www.cmda.org/reflections
will never leave you, He will never forsake you. Through medical school, the Lord continuously reminded me of His promise to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). It is the Great Physician who has called each of us into ministry in the field of medicine. He asks that we trust Him and promises to be with us each step of the way. Carry His promises with you as note cards or write them down through your study guides. These promises can be counted on, so remind yourself of them often. Erik Lystad: I grew up in Seattle, Washington, and I had never traveled to the East Coast before. When I received my acceptance letter from Jefferson
Jessica Degnan: As you start medical school and then progress through the years of schooling, I suggest that you take time periodically to raise your Ebenezer stone of God’s faithfulness (1 Samuel 7:10-13). As medical students, we can be just like the Israelites: while we wander through the desert-life of studying, tests and clinical rotations, it is so easy to lose sight of God’s direction and protection on our lives. The medical field is focused on success, but don’t let your self-worth be dictated by how well you score on tests or appease an attending’s probing question. Stay in God’s Word and focus on the fact that He has guided you to this journey, so He will carry you through it (Isaiah 43:2-4). Let Him be your rock and identity, not yourself; you and your intellect will fail. If you have something in your life you can look back on like the Ebenezer stone, that will give you the motivation through the difficult times to remember God is faithful and will bring you through whatever is weighing on you. 2. How did you create a balance in your life as a student between studying, clinical rotations, church, family, friends, etc.? Jessica Degnan: You have to remember that no matter how much you study, you will not succeed in life without a balance. No person can perform well if he or she solely focuses on one
thing. We were made to be in community with both God and man (Genesis 1:26-27, 2:18); thus, you need to spend time with God and others. There comes a point where more studying won’t help you because you are too burned out. Be honest with yourself about how much family and friend time you need to keep yourself sane. Do not neglect exercise! And most importantly, commit to time with the Lord. You won’t be able to attend church every Sunday due to scheduling issues, but try to find a church with evening or Saturday services or a church that posts its sermons online and listen when you can.
Passing It On: Advice from Residents
Medical College in Philadelphia, I expected the challenges to come to be mainly academic. The greatest challenges I faced came outside the classroom: the massive change in geography, learning how to live in a large East Coast city, distance from family, etc. These and many more stressors caused me to call out to God countless times for strength. I struggled with a sense of uncertainty that God had led me to Philadelphia for medical school. I perceived the difficult circumstances and my feelings of “not fitting in” as evidence that I had made a “mistake” along the way. These are difficult emotions to handle, especially as medical school requires a confident can-do attitude. For those out there who traveled to distant and unfamiliar territory and possibly doubt God’s leading on your life—don’t bury it down within. Talk to others who can reinforce that you are on the right path. If you are pulling away from the challenges ahead, call out for help. Don’t plow ahead keeping your heart and emotions buried. Pray that God would replace any doubts with a sense of His presence as evidence enough that He has you right where you should be.
3. What strategies can you suggest to keep God at the front of your life? Erik Lystad: Community is essential. If you have a Christian group on campus, get involved. Meet up with people throughout the week for prayer. Find a solid church and get involved. Find a group of believers to start a Christian medical student house. I lived with a group of five other guys in medical and dental school in a house that had a 10+ year history of community. Return to your old journal, emails and written thoughts to remind you of who you are and where you came from. 4. How have you managed to continue to develop and grow in your faith during your medical school years? Allie Dailey: Actually, medical school was a time of deep spiritual growth for me. I believe that we are most dependent on God in our most difficult times. And in that dependency, we find a God who is able to surmount every struggle we face. It says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is C HRISTIAN M EDICAL & D ENTAL A SSOCIATIONS
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Passing It On: Advice from Residents
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness . . . .” I realized early on that I could not survive medical school based on my own knowledge. I was sustained only by His strength and trusting that He had placed me in that very time for a purpose. 5. Is there a specific reason you chose medicine? Allie Dailey: I chose medicine because I had a passion for people and a great interest in science. Once my training began, the Lord confirmed how medicine is indeed a beautiful ministry. Through medicine, we are given the opportunity to see countless people who are in need in the most intimate setting. Patients honor us with their trust, and we have the opportunity to share with them the love and hope that comes through Christ. Erik Lystad: I chose medicine because I wanted to pursue medical missions. I love the intersection of science and service, as well as the practical application of scientific research in clinical medicine. There are few other jobs that foster the trust and confidence to the extent of the patient-doctor relationship. It is an opportunity to influence the world for His kingdom in ways few can experience. Though the training is long, the opportunities as a doctor are endless and very gratifying. Jessica Degnan: I chose medicine because I saw it as the clear culmination of the passions and desires God put in my heart. Since I can remember, I have had a passion for science—particularly biology—and a desire to help others. In particular, I have a heart to serve on mission trips in the future, and medicine affords ample opportunities to minister to people of other cultures through the physical needs of the broken. 6. How do you use your Christian faith to influence others around you? Allie Dailey: Most often, I believe I influence others for Christ without realizing it. It is Christ in us that is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). We bear Christ’s name. When we are rooted in His Word, those around us can delineate a difference between our actions and the rest of the world. I have often received questions such as, “Wow, how do you seem at peace in the midst of all these tests?” Or, “Why do you seem to have such a great community/support system around you?” As 1 Peter 3:15 says, “. . . Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give
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the reason for the hope that you have . . . .” When we’re asked these questions, the Lord is providing opportunities to share His great goodness with onlookers. As Christians, we live in a fish bowl. Our colleagues examine our reactions to situations. There are times when we slip and react like the world. However, it is in those times that we exhibit the peace that is beyond understanding so others see Christ in us. Jessica Degnan: I think the strongest way to influence others with your faith is to live authentically. This comes from seeking to develop a strong relationship with Him. I am not saying I do things perfectly, but I have noticed a huge difference in the responses of my non-believing classmates versus my own to the struggles of a harsh attending, picking away rotations and even choosing which field of medicine to pursue. Medicine affords ample opportunities for you to show others the peace of knowing God is in control regardless of how poorly you think you did on a test. This has given me cause to encourage others who may be struggling with the uncertainty of their future. Look for the opportunities to not only meet your patients’ needs, but also the needs of your classmates. 7. What impact does your faith have on bioethical issues facing medical students today such as physician-assisted suicide? Erik Lystad: I have been greatly influenced by Dr. John Patrick and recommend his material to other students. As an intern, most of these issues do not regularly come up with the exception of birth control. I have been taught how these devices work, but rarely have I been asked to consider why we should place them. I strongly recommend pausing periodically and asking the why questions throughout medical school and residency. For example, it is easy for me to consult palliative care on a patient and follow through with their orders without thinking about my own ethical stance. Dr. Patrick emphasized the importance of moral integrity and how vital it is to operate within one’s moral framework and never violate your conscience as a physician. Jessica Degnan: A Christian worldview significantly impacts how I view and address the bioethical issues that modern day medicine brings forth. Too often I have seen in medicine the mentality that if we can do something, that necessitates its goodness. Just because we can does not necessarily mean we should. Our God
8. What advice can you offer to students facing adversity because they are Christian (from other students, professors, etc.)? Allie Dailey: I was blessed to be in a medical school environment that was rather supportive of my faith. For students facing trials and condemnation for upholding the name of Christ I would advise you to read Acts 5. Erik Lystad: May your work be your ministry and your testimony to the world written by the quality of your work. Christians need to be excellent doctors—honorable and above reproach as 1 Peter 2:12 describes. We may not be the most talented or most qualified for the job. In my experience, residents and faculty at every level of training respect quality work. Your voice will be heard by the work you show to your team. Jessica Degnan: Adversity is never easy, especially when tempered against the rigors of medical school. Already having a firm foundation in Christ’s love helps but that does not mean it does not hurt. Ultimately, He promised a great reward for those who faithfully run the race of life. When persecution comes, run to the shadow of His wings for comfort. Share the situation with any godly mentors or fellow classmates who are believers that they might prayerfully guide your response. And most importantly, cover the situation in prayer! It is interesting to note that the responses of our panel ran almost parallel to the responses of the panel from 1954. Despite a gap of almost 60 years and a vast array of social and cultural changes, a consistent, over-arching theme flowed through both panels. It was a theme that stressed creating a Christian community and relying on Christ to guide you through the tremendous pressures of medical school. Christian students in the 21st century may face an entire differently set of challenges, but their focus and reliance on the Holy Spirit remains the same. ✝
Are you a resident looking to create a new community as you enter the newest phase of your training? Then get involved with CMDA’s newly formed National Resident Council. Here to help you during this time of transition, the NRC is dedicated to supporting you throughout your residency. For more information, email nrc@cmda.org or visit www.cmda.org/nrc.
Allie Dailey, MD, attended medical school at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. She is currently in her second year of a general surgery residency at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Allie has been involved with CMDA since 2007. She assisted in the formation of Connect the Docs, a mentoring program that helps medical students connect with practicing Christian doctors in the community in Lexington, Kentucky. Allie also serves as the Resident Trustee to CMDA’s Board of Trustees. Erik Lystad, MD, was born and raised in the beautiful Pacific Northwest where he grew to love hiking and the great outdoors. After studying chemistry at Whitworth College in Spokane, he worked as a nursing assistant in both a nursing home and hospital setting which exposed him to the challenges and great rewards of patient care. He spent the last four years in Philadelphia studying at Jefferson Medical College and is now currently finishing up his intern year in family medicine at Lancaster General Hospital in central Pennsylvania.
Passing It On: Advice from Residents
is a God of structure and order and there is a right and a wrong, even if our culture does not recognize it as such. We must remember that, ultimately, we are responsible to God for our actions and must prayerfully and carefully address such bioethical issues in light of His commandments, not society’s tolerance level of that particular issue. Seeking godly mentors can help you to better sort through the layers of the various bioethical issues medical students face and to respond appropriately when they arise.
Jessica Degnan, MD, is from St. Louis, Missouri. She attended medical school at St. Louis University School of Medicine, where she was involved with CMDA activities since her first year. She co-led her local CMDA chapter for second year, served as Vice-President of CMDA’s National Student Council during third year and enjoyed acting as the Student Trustee of CMDA her fourth year. Currently, she is entering her intern year as an Orthopaedic Surgery resident at Georgia Health Sciences University in Augusta, Georgia. She looks forward to staying connected with the ministry of CMDA during her time in residency.
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classifieds Dermatology – An independent dermatology practice in Kearney, Nebraska seeking a full-time or part-time dermatologist. Great potential for a busy practice in a wonderful family-centered community. Mission is not only to provide excellent dermatologic care but also minister to patient’s spiritual needs. Currently one full-time dermatologist treating an average of 35 to 40 patients per day. Please contact Sharon Bond, MD, at 308-440-3945 or sbbderm@charter.net, or Lori Grubbs, office manager, at 308-865-2214. Family Medicine – Mad River Family Practice is a progressive community-based family practice in West-Central Ohio. Currently seeking a full-time family physician to join a practice founded on lifelong learners and forward-thinking clinicians. Enjoy the rewards of a full scope of practice in a supportive group environment. Our family physicians place strong emphasis on addressing spiritual needs, as well as physical and mental needs. Practice offerings include: a vibrant and long-standing practice with varied demographics, flexibility in style and range of family practice, opportunities to foster medical education among students in healthcare, a welcoming community in West-Central Ohio, with easy commuting to Columbus and Dayton, Ohio and a competitive salary and benefits package. Contact Tara Wagner at tara.wagner@maryrutan.org or call 937-465-0080. Pediatric Ophthalmologist – Scott & White Healthcare System is seeking a second fellowship-trained pediatric ophthalmologist for the Scott & White Eye Institute in Central Texas – Temple. The Department of Ophthalmology is a comprehensive, 14-member group located in the Scott & White Eye Institute, a state-of-the-art clinic and surgery facility. Candidates will enjoy a challenging clinical/surgical practice and medical student/resident education. The S&W Department of Ophthalmology located in the Scott & White Pavilion is the only facility in Central Texas with fellowship trained physicians in every subspecialty offered in ophthalmology. Scott & White is a fully-integrated health system, the largest multi-specialty practice in Texas and the sixth largest group practice in the nation. Scott & White employs more than 850 physicians and research scientists who care for patients covering 25,000 square miles across Central Texas. Scott & White has a 636-bed Level I Trauma acute care facility in Temple, and is the primary clinical and hospital teaching campus for Texas A&M University System HSCCOM. Scott & White Clinic offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefit package, which begins with four weeks of vacation plus three weeks CME and a generous retirement plan. For additional information, please call or send your CV to Dalia Marquez, Physician Recruitment, at amarquez@swmail.sw.org or fax to 254-724-5680. Scott & White is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Orthopedic – Seeking BE/BC orthopedic surgeon to join two physicians united in priorities: faith, family and excellence in patient care. Well-respected practice in an exceptional community located on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Send CV to drmehs@comcast.net. Orthopedic – Burned out and need a change? Try a more relaxed setting in sunny Central Florida. No emergencies, quiet nights, time with family, yet good pay. Aging Christian orthopod seeks someone to take over “niche” practice as he nears retirement. Flexible hours and terms. Ideal location, great staff, great 34
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To place a classified advertisement, contact communications@cmda.org. hospitals and surgery center nearby. Too good to be true? Call 407292-8992 or email Sonia@RobertsOrthopaedic.com. BE/BC Otolaryngologist – needed for well-established, busy twoman practice located in a Big 10 college town in Lafeyette, Indiana. Excellent opportunity for fast track to full partnership. Our private practice includes: general ENT, head and neck, facial plastics and allergy. Onsite physician-owned ASC, CT scanner and voice lab with video stroboscopy staffed by speech language pathology personnel. The audiology department provides a full range of services staffed by AuD. Please contact Ruth at 765-477-7436. Send CV to 2320 Concord Road, Lafayette, IN 47909, or email lafayetteent@ comcast.net. Pediatrics – Busy primary-care, out-patient only, small-town practice in the hills of Virginia’s beautiful Blue Ridge. Join a three-provider mission-minded group seeking to replace a physician nearing retirement. Contact Anita Henley or Becky Ewald at 276-783-8183.
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