Volume 48 No. 1 • Spring 2017
Today’s
Christian Doctor The Journal of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations
PROFESSIONALISM IN HEALTHCARE
TRANSFORMED Doctors, TRANSFORMING the World
45+ MINISTRIES. 1 MISSION. Changing Hearts in Healthcare.
We are a Christ-centered organization dedicated to motivating, educating and equipping you to be the hands of Jesus in your practice, your community and your world. We offer you discipleship, fellowship, mentoring, resources and missions opportunities to share the gospel and serve others. Become a member of CMDA today and join the thousands of Christian healthcare professionals who are changing hearts in healthcare. Our ministries include: ■ Campus & Community Ministries ■ Center for Medical Missions ■ Commission on Human Trafficking ■ Continuing Education for Missionaries ■ Dental Ministries ■ Fellowship of Christian Physician Assistants ■ Global Health Outreach
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FROM THE CMDA PRESIDENT JAMES HINES, MD
THE VISION OF TIME
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he missionary pilot’s single-engine airplane circled the dirt airstrip several times at the Boguila Medical Center in the Central African Republic. He was checking to be sure the runway was clear of cows, goats and people. Hundreds of villagers and hospital patients were waiting to welcome us when the plane touched down. I later learned we had just stepped back in time when our plane landed and we arrived in Central Africa. The medicines, equipment and treatment protocols were from the 1950s, and it was 1980! It was like we had made a time jump instead of simply taken a flight overseas. Time is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a nonspatial continuum that is measured in terms of events which succeed one another from past through present to future.” We are run by time—clocks, timers, stopwatches—in the U.S., but that wasn’t true in Central Africa. So it was an enigma for me when no one arrived on time at planning or administrative meetings. I discovered that an hour late was the same as being on time. This cultural perspective of time was extremely frustrating at first. It did not take long to discover we had significant issues in the pharmacy. The pharmacist was responsible for ordering all the medicines, laboratory and surgical supplies. Unfortunately, he was unable to anticipate future needs. If he had the item on the shelf, even if it was the last one, he considered that to be sufficient and that at no future time would we be in need. This was in spite of the fact that orders could take months or even a year to arrive! It took me a while to get used to the laid back attitude to time constraints. As human beings, we are finite and constrained by time. The God of Creation stands outside of time; He created time for our benefit. This is a blessing since our strength, energy and resources are also limited. “There is a time for everything...” Ecclesiastes 3:1 says. This includes time to rest. Time is precious because it is irreversible. Once it is spent, it becomes a memory. While it is impossible to fathom “no limit” in the time continuum, we concur with others that the length of our lives feels like a fleeting moment or a wisp of smoke. So what is the solution? Better watches and stricter adherence to schedules? Scripture tells us in Psalm 90:12 to “...number our days....” Do we simply count them off, keeping a record like marks on the wall of a man in solitary confinement? If we read that verse carefully, we see two things. “Teach us to number our days...” indicates God is able and willing
to teach us how to utilize the time we are given. And we can learn this! That is the first thing. The second thing is what follows—the goal: “...that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” God loves us, the people He created and placed within time. He desires and enables us to gain wisdom in the use of our time. I like to think of this in terms of intentionality. We decide to plan, anticipate, prioritize, seek wise counsel, pray to ask God for guidance and put our days (and hours) in order, so as not to waste even a single one. This is living intentionally, not haphazardly. Vision is essential for the wise use of time because it gives us the foresight to imagine the future. What could be? What might be? What does God desire? Dream and seek. The men of Issachar understood the times and knew what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32). This, too, is intentionality—allowing God’s Word, His will and His Spirit to guide us into our choices for the days yet to come. Think of the common sayings we have that include time: We can mark time, kill time, waste time, spend time and do time. While we may count time differently, depending on our culture, we can all take time or make time to invest our time in the things with eternal value that will never pass away—God’s Word and people. I choose to live each day intentionally, before I am out of time! Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 3
TO DAY ’ S C H R I S T I A N D O C TO R
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SPRING 2017
The Christian Medical & Dental Associations ®— Changing Hearts in Healthcare . . . since 1931.
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10 Cover Story Professionalism in Healthcare:
Medical Ethics and Jurisprudence
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Classifieds
by Curtis E. Harris, MD, JD
Examining the foundations of professionalism
ransformed Doctors, 16 TTransforming the World 21 Bringing Epilepsy to Light
featuring Bill Sasser, DMD
by Peter London, MD
A new program for neurologists to help patients in developing countries
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From Lost to Found: Transforming Hearts
by Joy Young, PA
Fully surrendering to God and finding purpose through service
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“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”
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by Amy Givler, MD, FAAFP
A physician and mother explores the topic of vaccines 4 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
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 AD SALES Margie Shealy 423-8441000 DESIGN Ahaa! Design + Production 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, Spring 2017, Volume XLVIII, No. 1. 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© 2017, 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, Tennessee. Undesignated Scripture references are taken from the Holy Bible, New In-
ternational Version®, NIV® Copyright© 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Other versions are noted in the text. Christian Medical & Dental Associations P.O. Box 7500, Bristol, TN 37621 888-230-2637 main@cmda.org • www.cmda.org 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.
TRANSFORMATIONS
CMDA MEMBERS RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR WORK TO TRANSFORM LIVES REBEKAH A. NAYLOR, MD, FACS, a general surgeon from Fort Worth, Texas, received the 2016 Surgical Humanitarian Award for her work in significantly improving and expanding the Bangalore Baptist Hospital (BBH) in Karnataka, India during her 35 years as a healthcare missionary. This award is given in recognition of surgeons who have dedicated a substantial portion of their careers to ensuring the provision of surgical care to underserved populations without expectation of commensurate reimbursement. Dr. Naylor arrived at BBH in 1974 and began her work as a clinical surgeon. In subsequent years, she became chief of the medical staff, an administrator and the medical superintendent. She greatly expanded patient care services, including the growth of the hospital from 80 beds to 160 beds. In the 1990s, Dr. Naylor organized training programs in four allied health disciplines, set up accredited residency training programs for physicians and established the Rebekah Ann Naylor School of Nursing. Dr. Naylor was also involved in church development in the state of Karnataka. Working with the medical ministry and Indian pastors, she helped establish 900 churches in the state of 53 million people. After returning to the U.S. in 2002, Dr. Naylor joined the faculty of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, where she served as clinical associate professor of surgery until retiring in 2010. As global healthcare consultant for Baptist Global Response, she now mobilizes and trains healthcare personnel to meet medical needs worldwide. PETER E. DAWSON, DDS, received the American Dental Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 2016 in recognition of his lifelong, undying devotion to advancing the art and science of dentistry. Dr. Dawson is considered to be one of the most influential clinicians and teachers in the U.S., if not the world. He is known globally for his contributions to the fields of occlusion and restorative dentistry and for his concepts on the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Dr. Dawson serves on CMDA’s Board of Trustees and is an integral piece in ministering to dental professionals. He is the founder of The Dawson Academy, a post graduate educational and clinical research facility. He authored the
bestselling dental text Evaluation, Diagnosis and Treatment of Occlusal Problems. Dr. Dawson is also a pioneer in developing and teaching principles of practice management. “Dr. Dawson is the real deal,” said CMDA’s Vice President for Dental Ministries Jeff Amstutz, DDS, MBA. “His passion for excellence in dentistry that has led him to study, practice with excellence, to write and to teach is the same passion and commitment that he has for God and for his family and friends. He leads by example and is a continuous mentor, from the early days of his practice where he readily began to share everything he was learning with fellow dentists until today as he interacts with young dental students desiring to make a difference through dentistry.” CMDA’S VICE PRESIDENT FOR DENTAL MINISTRIES JEFF AMSTUTZ, DDS, MBA, was inducted into the International College of Dentists in October 2016 in recognition of his excellence in leadership and service in dentistry throughout his career. The International College of Dentists is the world’s preeminent honor society for dentists. As part of his work with CMDA’s dental residency program, Dr. Amstutz also serves as Dental Director for the five dental clinics of Christ Community Health Services (CCHS) in Memphis, Tennessee. CCHS was recognized as a Center of Excellence by DentaQuest Institute. This award is presented to safety net dental programs that have displayed tremendous leadership and excellence in oral health practice management, as well as have greatly improved their dental program operations and the oral health status of their patients.
DAWSON Dental RETREAT
October 25-29, 2017 Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch • Avon, Colorado Register now at www.cmda.org/dentist
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 5
TRANSFORMATIONS
PRIZE WILL HELP TRANSFORM BURUNDI CMDA Member Dr. Jason Fader is the first-ever recipient of the $500,000 Gerson L’Chaim Prize for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service. “Because of the L’Chaim Prize, hundreds of people will walk, thousands will receive care and tens of thousands will be helped by the doctors we train,” Dr. Fader said. He serves as part of a team of healthcare missionaries at Kiyube Hope Hospital in Burundi, which is also the teaching hospital for Hope Africa University Medical School. Dr. Fader and his team train doctors, perform surgical procedures and are seeking to upgrade and expand their medical facilities. With this prize, they will add critically needed beds at the rural hospital, create Burundi’s first post graduate medical training and expand lower-limb facture care in a nation that travels by foot.
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EVENTS For more information, visit www.cmda.org/events.
2017 CMDA National Convention May 4-7, 2017 • Ridgecrest, North Carolina Voice of Christian Doctor’s Media Training June 2-3, 2017 • Bristol, Tennessee Emerging Leaders in Dentistry Symposium June 9-11, 2017 • Bristol, Tennessee Alaska Cruise August 20-27, 2017 Resident Restoration Retreat September 15-17, 2017 • Mineral, Virginia Women Physicians in Christ Annual Conference September 21-24, 2017 • Big Sky, Montana Greece Tour September 30 – October 9, 2017 Israel Tour October 1-9, 2017
MEMORIAM & GIFTS Gifts received October through December 2016
John and Elizabeth Curlin in honor of Louis Carter Dave and Betsy Polstra in honor of Nate Bernard Dave and Betsy Polstra in honor of Bill Reichart Dawson Academy in honor of the Dawson Academy and Staff and Friends Dr. and Mrs. Peter Dawson in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Mark Piper Dr. and Mrs. Peter Dawson in honor of Mr. Doug Reese Dr. and Mrs. Peter Dawson in honor of Dr. Sloan Hildebrand Katharine G. Ikeler in honor of Michael R. Ikeler, MD Dr. Helen Kim and Mr. Charles Westfall in honor of Dr. John Patrick Dr. Helen Kim and Mr. Charles Westfall in honor of Dr. Richard Swenson Dr. Robert Lerer in honor of Dr. Shari Falkenheimer Dr. and Mrs. Nabil Jabbour in honor of Dr. Shari Falkenheimer Mr. Jonathan Smith in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Keith Dowell Ms. Casandra Costoulas in honor of Dr. Douglas Lundy Mr. and Mrs. Cranston Vaughan in honor of Jean and Cy Vaughan Mr. and Mrs. Stan Sytsma in honor of Dr. John Galloway Ms. Sunny Ross in honor of Dr. A. Weir Ms. Sunny Ross in honor of Dr. Steven Rice Rob, Sarah and Harrison Goudiss in honor of Rick and Laurie Boden Mrs. Virginia Heyler in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Louis Carter Mr. and Mrs. Monty Brekke in honor of Dr. and Mrs. Louis Carter Anonymous gift in honor of Dr. William Wood Mrs. Marilyn Jordan in memory of Earnest Dwight Jordan Mrs. June Beard in memory of Earnest Dwight Jordan Dr. Frances C. Walker in memory of Dr. Walter Cooper Sandusky, Jr. Janet and Thomas Titkemeier in memory of Shirley Huether Janet and Thomas Titkemeier in memory of Mark Sturdevant Janet and Thomas Titkemeier in memory of Susan Meisner Magny and Sverre Tysvaer in memory of Dr. Shirley Lui Mr. and Mrs. Astor Stave in memory of Dr. Shirley Lui A.P. Keck in memory of Ardith Steffes Dr. and Mrs. Mark Snell in memory of Ardith Steffes Dr. and Mrs. James O’Neill, Jr. in memory of Ardith Steffes Dr. and Mrs. James D. Smith in memory of Ardith Steffes Ms. Betty Janzen in memory of Mr. Bob Janzen Ms. Florence M. Petruchik in memory of Peter Petruchik For more information about honorarium and memoriam gifts, please contact stewardship@cmda.org.
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TRANSFORMATIONS
MAY 4-7, 2017 RIDGECREST CONFERENCE CENTER RIDGECREST, NORTH CAROLINA www.cmda.org/nationalconvention
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his is a great opportunity to discover how to “Transform Lives” as you fellowship with Christian healthcare professionals, learn about current health and social issues, renew your faith through worship and network with exhibiting organizations.
PLENARY SPEAKERS BERT JONES
Bert is the Senior Pastor at Woodburn Missionary Church in Woodburn, Indiana. He previously served as the President and CEO of GO InterNational, as well as the Director of Leadership & Church Ministries at CMDA.
ELLIE LOFARO
Ellie is the founder of Heart Mind & Soul Ministries. A serious student of Scripture and an observer of culture, Ellie has a unique teaching style that touches the heart, stimulates the mind and nourishes the soul.
RICHARD A. SWENSON, MD
Dr. Swenson is a full-time futurist, physician-researcher, author and educator. He has written 10 books and presents widely on the themes of margin, stress, overload, life balance, contentment, complexity, societal change, healthcare and future trends.
GENE RUDD, MD
Dr. Rudd is CMDA’s Senior Vice President. An OB/Gyn who previously conducted international disaster relief programs, Dr. Rudd serves as a spokesman for Christian healthcare professionals through CMDA as he communicates what God is doing through Christian healthcare.
WORSHIP LEADER STEPHANIE SEEFELDT
Stephanie loves to lead God’s people in congregational worship, using the best of both historic hymnody and modern worship music. At Trinity Church in Baraboo, Wisconsin, she serves as organist and worship coordinator, as well as women’s ministry and communications director. WIN FREE REGISTRATION TO THE 2017 NATIONAL CONVENTION www.cmda.org/matchday
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 7
TRANSFORMATIONS
SUMMER EVENTS FOR YOUR FAMILY
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e know how important it is for you to connect and engage with your family despite the busyness of everyday responsibilities, work, church, relationships and more. That’s why we are now offering three summer conferences for you and your family. Each of these conferences will give you an opportunity to reconnect with God and your family, hear challenging speakers and enjoy free time for family activities. Each week is also designed to provide you with personal and spiritual renewal. We encourage you to find a date that works and make plans now to join us at a CMDA summer conference in 2017.
“I really can’t think of a better place to spend a week.” —CMDA Member
DEER VALLEY SUMMER CONFERENCE June 17-24, 2017 Nathrop, Colorado
SPRING CANYON SUMMER CONFERENCE June 24 – July 1, 2017 Buena Vista, Colorado
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS SUMMER CONFERENCE July 14-21, 2017 Bedford, Pennsylvania
www.cmda.org/deervalley
www.cmda.org/springcanyon
www.cmda.org/whitesulphursprings
“Deer Valley Ranch is a very special place for our family— one of the main reasons that I joined CMDA was for the conference at Deer Valley.” —CMDA Member
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TRANSFORMATIONS
MEI MOURNS PASSING OF TEAM MEMBERS Medical Education International is mourning the loss of two integral team members who served on multiple MEI short-term mission trips overseas. Both men were true examples of what it means to be “Transformed Doctors, Transforming the World.” DR. BILL BEVINS, an emergency medicine specialist who had served in missions in Kenya and Afghanistan and taught with MEI, was fatally injured in a fall in 2016. In remembering Bill, a colleague said Bill was called not only to teach, but also to show God’s love and share the Good News.
Western Region Michael J. McLaughlin, MDiv P.O. Box 2169 Clackamas, OR 97015-2169 503-522-1950 west@cmda.org Midwest Region Allan J. Harmer, ThM, DMin 951 East 86th Street, Suite 200A Indianapolis, IN 46240 317-257-5885 cmdamw@cmda.org Northeast Region Scott Boyles, MDiv P.O. Box 7500 Bristol, TN 37621 423-844-1092 scott.boyles@cmda.org Southern Region William D. Gunnels, MDiv 106 Fern Drive Covington, LA 70433 985-502-7490 south@cmda.org
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DR. ROBERT BUCKENDORF, a language speech pathologist who served with MEI in many locations demonstrating his love for his patients, died of a stroke just before a scheduled trip. He was remembered by one colleague as someone who could get even the least communicative child to connect with him. He was a wonderful teacher who was able to connect with parents, teachers and others in a personable, caring and loving way.
Regional Ministries Connecting you with other Christ-followers to help better motivate, equip, disciple and serve within your community
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 9
LEARN MORE
CMDA is dedicated to helping our members adopt and fully embrace the ethical tenets defined by Hippocratic tradition within their work as healthcare professionals. We also have ethical position statements about a variety of bioethical issues. For more information about these scientific, moral and biblical statements, please visit www.cmda.org/ethics.
PROFESSIONALISM IN HEALTHCARE Medical Ethics and Jurisprudence by Curtis E. Harris, MD, JD
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EDITOR’S NOTE In July 2016, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution released a multimedia investigative series focused on the topic of “Doctors & Sex Abuse.” The paper spent about a year researching this topic after finding that two-thirds of the doctors disciplined in Georgia for sexual misconduct were permitted to practice again. “Sexual conduct between a doctor and a patient…is strictly forbidden. In ethical terms, it’s a never event. In a legal sense, it can be a crime. Physicians know it’s a line that can’t be crossed—it’s a prohibition as old as the Hippocratic Oath.”1 Their investigation, however, showed that sexual abuse of patients by doctors happens much more often than expected. And while the American Medical Association has a zero tolerance policy, it does not expel every offender from its membership. With his experience in both healthcare and law, we requested Dr. Harris discuss this problem in Today’s Christian Doctor.
THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM
The findings are disturbing, to say the least. As physicians, dentists and other healthcare professionals, we should be stunned by the results of this report. The article’s authors investigated medical board reports across the United States in an effort to diagnose a broken system. But what is more disturbing is how the root of the problem doesn’t stop with just sexual misconduct by physicians against their patients. In today’s culture, the intrinsic values underlying the Hippocratic Oath seem to be further and further disregarded. From abortion to physician-assisted suicide, from sexual misconduct to euthanasia, the Hippocratic Oath appears to be taking a backseat in decisionmaking by the very people who took the oath when they entered healthcare. Is this simply another step in the loss of professionalism in healthcare? Or is this a warning sign of the imminent dangers patients, healthcare professionals and the profession of healthcare as a whole will face if we continue to disregard the foundation upon which our profession was built?
A FEW THOUGHTS AT THE BEGINNING
I am a professor of medical ethics and jurisprudence in Oklahoma, teaching senior medical students and residents how to behave well in the real world of medical practice. In addition, I am the Past President of the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure, where I regularly saw the failure of physicians to behave well in the real world of medical practice. In the stress of being a healthcare professional day after day, Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 11
rational, deeply philosophical and true. I do not cite verse and line when I teach, since there is no need to do so. Life teaches what is in God’s Word; we just have to read it. Universal truth begins in Genesis and is fulfilled in the Gospels. Our faith “informs” all of us about those things we should value and how we should act each moment. I can teach almost everything to my students, but I cannot teach Christ. “Academic freedom” is not “free” in our secular society. But that is expected. Christ told us, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth…” (Matthew 10:34, NASB). (While we could spend at least an hour discussing where the lines are drawn at universities today, that is not the focus of this article.) The Holy Spirit carries the burden of informing the Christian life. It is the Spirit I rely on when I teach…to teach me. Medical ethics and jurisprudence are man’s law, and as such are a lower form of moral thought than faith. We all need to know and be aware of “innocent traps” in medical licensure, malpractice law and privacy law. My goal with the students and residents is to teach them how to avoid those traps. some of us do not live up to who we thought we were when we began our careers so many years ago. I teach medical ethics from a biblical prospective, since nothing tells us more about the nature of man than the Bible. The Bible has been described as an “Owner’s Service Manual” for all of us. It tells us when to get an oil change and what to do when we break down on the side of the road. From the first word to the last, the Bible is coherent,
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WHAT IS A PROFESSION…OR A PROFESSIONAL
Every major learned skill has a set of written professional standards. In ordinary conversation, a profession is considered a way of earning a living or a skill others are willing to pay for. The word “profession” is commonly used as an equivalent to the word occupation or vocation, or it is described as something done by an expert as opposed to an amateur, student or apprentice. To profess a skill is to claim some special status, ranging from religion to laborer.
In classic literature, the learned professions were law, medicine and theology, reflecting the three major divisions of human existence: body, mind and spirit. At the beginning of the 20th century, a profession referred to one of the three and was not confused with earning a livelihood. Today, anyone claiming to have a unique skill is a professional. Hence, we have a professional golfer or a professional mechanic, as opposed to a weekend hobbyist. The blurring of the lines in the last 100 years is in part due to the newer profession of teaching, as opposed to a master instructing an apprentice, and in part from the denial of classical theology. Darwin, Marx and Freud replaced body, mind and spirit. With this loss of status, the profession of healthcare became one “profession” among many. “Professional” is an adjective added to a variety of nouns to enrich a thought. Professional skill, professional objectivity, professional accountability and even professional building are but a few ordinary uses of the word. The word professional is often used to create an image or emotion. The phrase “a violation of professional standards” creates a sense of guilt and implies a moral violation, even when discussing a behavior or attitude not considered wrong in other areas of life. I will try to distinguish between moral and ethical violations in what I say about “professionalism,” for they may not be the same.
PROFESSIONALISM Humans use three things in trade, and it is these three that set the limits of both medical ethics and jurisprudence. They are money, power and sex. How we use or abuse one of those three areas of human interaction defines both our moral life and personal success. For example, concerning one of these, we have been taught that “the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil…” (1 Timothy 6:10, NASB). How we handle money, power and sex will define our lives in general and specifically our practice of medicine. As professionals, we have a fiduciary duty toward our patients. The law defines a fiducial duty as one of trust and confidence. The relationship is a voluntary agreement between a person who gives power or property to someone who holds that power or property for the benefit of the other. A physician, as a fiduciary, must be willing to act to his or her own detriment, whenever required, in order to maintain the trust and confidence of the patient. Society values us as professionals only to the extent we honor our fiduciary duty to our patients.
A good friend of mine argues that many professions have practicing members who act in a professional manner, and he includes healthcare in that group of professions. I maintain that healthcare is the only remaining profession that adheres to the values present in the learned professions of the 20th century. It is the one profession that truly values the trust and confidence of those served. Healthcare is a calling for most of its members, far more so than any technical service vocation. I wish I did not know of so many physicians who fail that trust, but my friend is willing to grant those exceptions, since he believes in man’s fallen nature.
OUR FAILINGS, INCLUDING BOUNDARY VIOLATIONS
So if healthcare is a calling and we have a fiduciary duty to our patients, where does that lead us? We are led first to our failings. I want to put aside drug addiction and alcoholism among physicians for the moment. While physicians are as equally prone to those problems as non-physicians are, with all the damage drugs and alcohol do, treatment programs for physicians are two to three times more successful than the general population. The observation has been made that physicians are more dedicated to recovery than other groups because of the “calling” they feel to care for others. The loss of that part of their personalities is too great to sustain. They would rather give up alcohol and drugs than their profession. Boundary violations (inappropriate emotional or physical relationships with patients) are probably as common. In Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 13
some circumstances, they may be less damaging than alcoholism and drug abuse. However, personal relationships with patients can also be deeply immoral and devastating. The concept of a boundary is simple: the physician holds a power, the keys to the kingdom called healthcare. As long as the physician acts in accordance with the fiduciary duty owed to the patient, there is not a problem. However, emotional or sexual relationships with a patient are considered “predatory,” often using power to gain personal sexual reward. The current legal definition of a boundary violation includes a variety of behaviors that are not sexual in nature but do involve inappropriate personal relationships. The age and situation of the patient does not matter. Also, male and female healthcare professionals are predators when lines are crossed, not just male physicians, as was the bias in the past. Finally, many times patients seduce physicians for their own gain, often trading sex for opiates or social standing, while pretending to care for the physician. Regardless of the patient’s motive, the physician is judged to be unprofessional, and that physician frequently loses his or her medical license. A simple prevention is transparency. Do those things you would do for those who depend on you in a manner seen as open and trustworthy. The stunning thing is how many healthcare professionals believe they can keep private what they consider to be private. In the world of healthcare, we live in a fish bowl, not the ocean. Large city life may encourage an illusion of privacy. However, in the small town I 14 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
live in, everyone knows how my garden is doing each year, let alone how I treat my patients. That is not a bad thing. Other areas of unprofessional behavior include poor supervision of non-physicians, abusive behavior, improper use of telemedicine and the internet, inadvertent patient privacy violations and alleged poor quality of practice (misdiagnosis and waste of resources come to mind). These areas are all worth discussion, but normally represent a lack of understanding or willful ignorance of what is good practice, not major moral failures. However, they are still ethical violations we all need to consider carefully as part of our personal fiduciary responsibility to others. Finally, diversion of opiates, blatant fraud and illegal (felonious) acts are simply criminal, not solely within the profession. They are an abuse of power to obtain money, done by countless others in all walks of life, and as such are not unique to healthcare. I would include the fraud of abortion in this area. Abortionists are not (yet) a mainstream part of healthcare; hopefully, that will not change.
SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONALISM AND THE HIPPOCRATIC OATH
I recently finished reading a small, somewhat satirical book called Kill as Few Patients as Possible: And 56 Other Essays on How to Be the World’s Best Doctor by Oscar London, MD. It was light reading and a lot of fun, but it had a number of pearls. Based on a career of practicing medicine, Dr. London injected a lot of his own opinions on how to be “the
ignore the physician’s moral convictions when they run counter to those of the patient. In the face of the report from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the dearth of adherence to true Hippocratic principles, one can easily say that the Hippocratic Oath as a living document is dead. In fact, I would say it truly died when abortion became legal and when physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia became acceptable. Those “pesky” lines forbidding abortion and euthanasia in the oath made it not politically correct. So what is professionalism in healthcare?
world’s best doctor,” and he is fearless in talking about what he considers important. He does some things I would not, others I would. He is a “successful” physician, a professional within the better meaning of that word, exhibiting professionalism for all to see. I would recommend the book above many other more solemn tomes as an example of what to do rather than what not to do. Notice that so far I have not mentioned documents commonly consulted for medical ethics and professional behavior. Countless codes of conduct and practice guidelines are available. The American Medical Association’s Code of Ethics has recently been “modernized,” according to the AMA, and every subspecialty and medical society has some statement of ethics. Some are based on the Nuremberg Codes, others on medical-legal concerns. CMDA has an excellent collection of ethical statements based on biblical principles. (To access these statements, please visit www. cmda.org/ethics.) It is not a question of what is available, but what matters. Of course, the code most commonly recognized by the public is the Hippocratic Oath. It has been made trivial by what is called a summary of the oath, “Above All, Do No Harm.” That statement is not the oath, and it is normally used by those who want to define “harm” for their own purposes. I have seen the term “harm” used to mean not providing medical services the patient demands, providing services at a cost considered excessive, not providing a referral for an elective abortion and even encouraging that we
When you boil it all down, I define it as a fiduciary duty exercised with a dedication to healthcare as a calling. Those two things should sound familiar. After all, the first Great Commandment is to “‘...love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40, NASB). We are called and we have a duty. The rest is learning how to live in a complex world, in a complex profession. Simple, isn’t it? BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Judd A. Doctors & sex abuse. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. http://doctors.ajc.com/ Accessed December 12, 2016.
Curtis E. Harris, MD, JD, is the Chief of Staff and Chief of Endocrinology for the Chickasaw Indian Nation in Ada, Oklahoma. He is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Oklahoma City University School of Law, as well as the PLICO Professor of Medical Ethics and Jurisprudence at the Oklahoma State University School of Medicine. He is the Past President of the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, a past Trustee of the Federation of State Medical Boards and a Fellow of the American College of Legal Medicine.
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 15
TRANSFORMED TRANSFORMED Doctors
Featuring
BILL SASSER, DMD
CMDA: To start, tell us a little bit about your background. DR. SASSER: My first job in high school was working in a neighborhood drug store. This led me to an interest in healthcare and I graduated from Samford University with a degree in pharmacy a few years later. I served three years as the director of a U.S. Navy hospital pharmacy and then used government benefits to attend dental school at the Medical University of South Carolina. Then, after two years residency in periodontics at The University of Alabama at Birmingham, I entered private practice in Charleston, South Carolina where I still live. After almost 40 years of practice, I now consider myself “re-wired” (not retired), working part-time in a combination of private practice, international missions, teaching and local volunteer service. CMDA: When did you first get involved with CMDA, and how have you been involved since then? DR. SASSER: My first experience with CMDA was on a Global Health Outreach (GHO) mission trip in the late 1990s. I also attended my first National Convention shortly afterward. I have been involved with CMDA on a regular basis ever since. I typically participate on at least two GHO teams each year, try to attend the National Convention and I am a past member of the Board of Trustees, a dental specialty advisor and a past member of the GHO advisory group. About 15 years ago, I helped establish a student chapter of CMDA at the College of Dental Medicine at The Medical University of South Carolina. We arrange multiple short-term mission trips each year along with local events such as speakers, socials and Bible studies. CMDA: Has faith always impacted your life and/or career? 16 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
DR. SASSER: I made a shift from cultural Christianity to Bible Christianity many years ago and have strived to grow daily in my knowledge and love of Christ. This impacted how I related to my patients, their treatment and personal needs, as well as financial and time considerations. I heard the concept of “finishing well” some years ago and the challenge of shifting gradually from a success-driven motivation to one based upon significance. That’s been my goal. I have been inspired and supported in this direction by my associations within the CMDA family. CMDA: As a dentist, how have you incorporated your faith into your practice over the years? DR. SASSER: Many years ago, we began our office day by sharing a devotional and praying for the day’s work and known patient needs. In addition, I increased my local and international volunteer involvement each year until it became 25 percent of my practice hours each month. CMDA: How has your life changed since going on your first mission trip with GHO? DR. SASSER: The first charity dental clinic I was involved with was established in our town about 25 years ago. Around that time, the Lord began working on my heart to not only do volunteer work locally, but also to do more
TRANSFORMING TRANSFORMING Editor’s Note: This new regular feature will profile CMDA members who are actively fulfilling our vision of “Transformed Doctors, Transforming the World.”
international service as well. I had been overseas a couple of times, but I had not connected with an organization that did a good job of combining ministry and service together. The people I met on that first GHO trip loved and cared for patients, plus they were a great encouragement to me. Many have become good friends and mentors since that first GHO trip. CMDA: Why is it important to you to work with students through missions? DR. SASSER: Students are the next generation. I have made many mistakes in my life and fortunately God is forgiving and redeeming. Sharing my story with students and showing them the value of “giving back” as well as what I have learned technically will hopefully bear fruit in their lives long after I have departed this life. My desire is for them to “catch the vision” of missions early in their careers and make giving back a part of their practices from the beginning rather than waiting until mid-career.
the World
the handicapped who have such difficult lives. This is not easy for those living in the United States, but it is doubly difficult for those in developing countries. On several trips I have been able to treat patients who were denied care for a variety of reasons by national dentists. While challenging, it’s also heartwarming to be able to help someone who has no access to care. This can be sad, but we know that some day we will live in a new heaven and there will be a new earth where there won’t be sickness, sadness and tears. This keeps me going when I would tend to despair. CMDA: Our vision is “Transformed Doctors, Transforming the World.” What does that mean to you? DR. SASSER: When I think about transformation, all I can say for sure is that my life has certainly been changed, first by a commitment to follow Christ, and second by the decision to use a significant portion of my time, talent and
CMDA: How have you and your wife worked together through these trips? DR. SASSER: My wife Susalee is a great helpmate and, in spite of not being in healthcare, she’s very supportive of our mission trips. We both enjoy travel and sharing time together, even though our gifting is different. She’s not medical, but she is a great organizer, whereas I’m better in the technical arena. Her career was with Delta Airlines, so she’s great in getting us from place to place. CMDA: What would you say is the biggest way CMDA has impacted your life? DR. SASSER: This is hard to put into words. It’s been a privilege to share my life with the CMDA family. In a secular society such as ours, it’s a privilege to walk alongside men and women who seek to follow the great commandment of Christ, to love God and love our neighbors. One of the greatest joys is being able to serve those in need, especially Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 17
will finally learn what a difference my efforts made in making this world a better place by helping people with their dental problems, but more importantly sharing the kingdom. CMDA: As a dentist, what’s the best advice you can give to others about how to get involved transforming the world for Christ?
money in serving those less fortunate than myself. I don’t think we will ever know this side of heaven how our efforts have impacted others. I trust that when I arrive “home” I
DR. SASSER: Scripture calls us to live examined lives before the Lord. Who’s really on the throne of my life? How am I using my time? Dental disease is a great need throughout the world, and I’ve learned how dentistry can be portable up to a point. As such, it’s a great vehicle for loving, serving and sharing the good news of the gospel. The call to serve is ongoing. We just have to respond to the call and say “yes” to participation in a Christian organization like CMDA. Then get ready to mentor young people, donate your time and services at home and follow Christ’s order to support the Great Commission efforts around the world.
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OUTREACHES
CMDA Ministries LIST
The core of CMDA’s ministry happens in local communities where healthcare professionals, residents and students live out the character of Christ. Our outreach ministries are dedicated to transforming the lives of healthcare professionals through evangelism and discipleship. www.cmda.org/ministry Campus & Community Ministries
Side By Side
A network of more than 120 local graduate ministries and more than 270 campus chapters providing opportunities for members to connect and live out the character of Christ in their practices, on campus and in their communities. cmda.org/ccm
A network of more than 60 local chapters to encourage, support and minister to women in healthcare marriages through fellowship, Bible study and prayer. Each local chapter meets the unique and individual needs of its community. cmda.org/sidebyside
Dental Ministries
Specialty Sections
An outreach supporting dental professionals and students as they integrate their Christian faith into all aspects of their lives, while providing opportunities for training and equipping. Also includes the CMDA Dental Residency [+] program. cmda.org/dentist
A wide variety of specialty sections formed to equip, network and provide a voice for CMDA members to their areas of specialty or service. Organized by CMDA members who wish to connect with their colleagues. These sections include: academic, academic surgery,
dermatology, emergency medicine, family medicine, pediatric, physician assistants, physical therapy, psychiatry and uniformed services. cmda.org/specialtysections
Women Physicians in Christ A ministry that encourages and supports Christian women physicians and dentists in the unique challenges women face. It is a key resource for women in integrating their personal, professional and spiritual lives. cmda.org/wpc
A major component of CMDA’s ministry efforts is missions, and we are dedicated to domestic and international healthcare missions. We provide opportunities for healthcare professionals to use their God-given skills to meet the needs of others around the world and share the gospel with them. www.cmda.org/missions
MISSIONS
Center for Medical Missions A program designed to serve domestic and international healthcare missionaries in their work, as well as aid in the recruitment, training and retention of career healthcare missionaries. cmda.org/cmm
Commission for Advancing Medical Missions A commission that is dedicated to recruiting, educating, equipping and networking future and present healthcare missionaries through mission events. cmda.org/camm
Continuing Education for Missionaries An annual 10-day multiple track continuing education and spiritual renewal
conference for healthcare missionaries currently serving in international mission outreaches. cmda.org/cmde
Global Health Outreach A short-term missions program that sends 40 to 50 medical, dental and surgical teams around the world each year. GHO disciples participants, grows national churches, shares the gospel and provides care to the poor. cmda.org/gho
Global Health Relief A short-term missions program that focuses on bringing health and hope to people affected by disasters around the world through medical, dental, spiritual and psychological care and support. cmda.org/ghr
Medical Education International A short-term missions program that sends more than 30 teams to teach in academic or clinical settings to bring transformation by advancing medical, dental, bioethical and educational knowledge while sharing the gospel. cmda.org/mei
Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons A program that trains and disciples African to be surgeons who glorify God and provide excellent, compassionate care to those most in need. There are now 11 residencies at established evangelical mission hospitals in Africa. cmda.org/paacs
RESOURCES & SERVICES
CMDA’s wide variety of resources and services help us fulfill our mission to motivate, educate and equip Christian healthcare professionals and students. These resources and services give our members the knowledge and tools they need to effectively serve the Lord. www.cmda.org/resources Chapel & Prayer Ministries
Life & Leadership Coaching
A network of CMDA’s staff and members to pray for the ministry and our members. Also includes online recordings of bi-weekly chapel services held at CMDA’s headquarters. cmda.org/chapel
A personalized resource with certified coaches who assist healthcare professionals in finding balance in addressing both the professional and personal issues of everyday life. cmda.org/coaching
Commission on Human Trafficking
Life & Health Resources
An effort to abolish human trafficking through policy initiatives, education, raising awareness and providing clinical services to victims. cmda.org/humantrafficking
Continuing Education We offer continuing medical and dental education courses as we are accredited by the ACCME to provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and an Academy of General Dentistry Approved PACE Provider. cmda.org/ce
Ethics Hotline An on-call program to assist members facing difficult patient care decisions, provided by Christian physician ethicists who also formulate CMDA’s ethical position statements. Reach the hotline at 423-844-1000. cmda.org/hotline
Events A variety of more than 40 topical, local, regional and national conferences each year for training and networking including TRANSFORM: The CMDA National Convention, the Global Missions Health Conference and more. cmda.org/events
A distribution service for CMDA-produced and recommended resources through the CMDA Bookstore, including Just Add Water, Grace Prescriptions, Prescribe-A-Resource and a variety of other valuable aids. shopcmda.org
Marriage Enrichment A ministry that provides four to six conferences per year that address the unique needs and stresses of healthcare marriages, offering couples the opportunity to nurture and grow in their marital relationships. cmda.org/marriage
Medical Malpractice Ministry A program assisting healthcare professionals facing malpractice lawsuits with prayer, educational resources and encouragement from a network of healthcare professionals who have faced malpractice suits themselves. cmda.org/mmm
Member Services A department that assists CMDA members with information regarding the resources and services available through CMDA, as well as membership
recruitment, renewals and retention. cmda.org/members
Placement Services A recruiting service that brings together Christian healthcare professionals and practices throughout the U.S. to enhance their ministry and advance the kingdom of God. cmda.org/placement
Publications A wide variety of informational print and electronic resources published by CMDA to encourage, equip and motivate readers, including Christian Doctor’s Digest, Today’s Christian Doctor, Weekly Devotions and many others. cmda.org/publications
Speaker’s Referral Bureau An online self-referral speaker’s bureau of CMDA members who can be contacted for local, regional or national events. These recommended speakers are available for a variety of topics and issues. cmda.org/speakers
Stewardship & Development An educational service that encourages and aids CMDA members to be good stewards of the gifts given them by God, with resources to help protect their assets and provide for loved ones while building the kingdom. cmda.org/giving
VOICE
CMDA is dedicated to serving as a Christian voice, as well as offering valuable resources on today’s current healthcare topics to our members. Our voice outreaches speak for our members to the government, media, church and public on bioethical and public policy issues while also training Christians to be effective advocates themselves. Voice of Christian Doctor’s Media Training An individualized training workshop for members to learn how to prepare for and give media interviews which offer Christian perspectives on ethical questions and general health topics. cmda.org/mediatraining
Public Service Announcements A library of public service announcements on ethical and healthcare topics available to radio stations. cmda.org/psa
News Releases
Washington Office
CMDA’s responses to breaking news on vital healthcare issues resulting in hundreds of media interviews each year. cmda.org/newsroom
A department of CMDA that serves as a liasion with Congress, the White House, federal agencies and non-governmental organizations in Washington, D.C. Also provides opportunities for federal employment, Congressional testimony and committee service. Includes the Freedom2Care website that is a coalition to advance conscience rights in healthcare and provide other legislative updates and tools. cmda.org/washington
State Public Policy Campaigns Grassroots campaigns to promote lifehonoring legislation and referendums at the state level on physician-assisted suicide, abortion and other issues. cmda.org/publicpolicy
Christian Medical & Dental Associations • P.O. Box 7500 • Bristol, TN 37621 • www.cmda.org
BRINGING EPILEPSY to LIGHT by Peter London, MD*
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 21
P
icture this: you live in a remote village in Africa. While preparing dinner, you hear a blood-curdling scream coming from your 12-year-old son outside. You rush out and find him collapsed on the ground, turning his head to the right. He suddenly becomes stiff. You call his name and he does not respond. He bites his tongue and then urinates on the ground. His eyes roll back as he begins foaming from his mouth. A crowd starts forming as his body jerks violently. No one has seen this bizarre behavior before, so the villagers become fearful he is possessed. The villagers send for the witch doctor and chain your son to a tree to protect him and themselves from this demonic activity. If this were your child, you would feel hopeless. Your son would become an outcast in the village with little chance of a normal life or ever getting a job. Little do you know that an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine could show your child is not possessed but has a medical disorder called epilepsy. You do not realize medicine is available to allow your child to be treated and live a normal life.
This may seem like an exaggerated, far-fetched scenario, but situations like this play out all around the world in third world villages and cultures without access to Western healthcare. Approximately 32 million people with epilepsy live in developing countries, yet they have very little hope for proper diagnosis and treatment. Seven out of 10 of these people could be treated, but, unfortunately, most of the world’s healthcare resources are only available in de22 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
veloped nations. There is a significant treatment gap for under-resourced countries. Phenobarbital, which is recommended by the World Health Organization for the treatment of certain types of epilepsy in developing countries, costs only pennies a day and is available across most of the world. However, without diagnostic tools, it is difficult for it to be properly prescribed. An EEG measures the brain’s waveforms and can be used both to diagnose epilepsy and give guidance in proper treatment. According to the World Health Organization, 800,000 patients with epilepsy live in Kenya alone, yet the country has less than 10 EEG machines, which are concentrated in urban areas and unaffordable for most people. As a neurologist in Alabama, I know the importance of EEGs in the treatment of epilepsy. I cannot imagine having to treat epilepsy patients without this vital tool, but this is the reality in most of the world. It was on a healthcare mission trip to Jacmel, Haiti that I first thought of reading EEGs remotely to help underserved nations. I saw a young girl whose EEG taken in Haiti was interpreted by a physician in Miami. At this point, I realized that with advances in telemedicine, we could help people with epilepsy around the world. The Lord started giving me the vision that I could make a difference in epilepsy in the poorest areas while also giving hope to those who have so little. If I could obtain a relatively portable EEG machine, I could train staff in mission hospitals how to perform a study and then send the files back to the U.S. via the internet for interpretation by neurologists. Around this time, I also read Miracle at Tenwek, a book about the lives of missionary physicians like Dr. Ernie Steury and CMDA CEO Dr. David Stevens. They served as physicians at Tenwek Hospital, now a 300-bed hospital in Bomet, Kenya. I contacted Dr. Stevens and told him of my vision. He replied, “It is interesting how God works. The ROW Foundation visited us last year wanting to donate EEG machines.” The ROW Foundation is the non-profit arm of OWP Pharmaceuticals. They also have a vision of
helping epilepsy patients around the world and hope to donate better anti-epileptics to developing countries to further improve seizure control. With this in mind, I planned another trip to Haiti to test my idea of reading EEGs remotely. I discovered that the Natus XLTEK line of EEG machines has reader software that does not require an individual user license. This would be important if we had a large network of physicians reading the studies. I contacted my local sales representative, and he agreed to loan me a demo unit to take to Haiti. While there, I successfully performed EEGs on three young Haitians with epilepsy. They had been treated previously for seizures, but they were not convinced they needed medication and had stopped taking it. Two of these girls had abnormalities on their EEG, so I was able to show them their brainwave abnormalities and explain how medication would help. I then sent these studies via the internet to be interpreted by my partner in the United States. It worked! He was able to interpret the studies as if they had been done in our own office. With this test run complete, it became apparent the Natus EEG machine was the answer. It is a laptop-based system with a small USB-powered headbox that can be completely powered by a battery. It is small enough to be transported in carry-on luggage. Upon returning from Haiti, I contacted
the vice president of sales for Natus Neurology and told him they had the solution to epilepsy all across the world. Their device is so portable and versatile that I could do an EEG on an African patient while sitting on a stump under an Acacia tree. Once the machine is then connected to the internet, the files can be sent anywhere in the world for interpretation. I asked Natus to donate an EEG machine for Tenwek Hospital, and they generously agreed. And with that, this vision from God started to fully become a reality as we officially started International Neurology Services, which is now an arm of CMDA. With the machine in-hand, we were able to get started organizing other details for this new project work and start making a difference for epilepsy patients in developing countries. We needed a central server to house the studies for interpretation, so I began working with InsideOUT Data Services to build our website. In addition, the ROW Foundation generously donated a second EEG machine. Having two machines opened doors for us to begin testing at both Tenwek Hospital and Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. In September 2016, I boarded a plane for Africa with both machines in my baggage. Sandra Lee, a registered EEG technician from Birmingham, Alabama who also serves as the president of the Alabama Society of Electrodiagnostic Technologists, and Jeff Bush, a videographer, joined me on
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World    www.cmda.org 23
GET INVOLVED
For more information about this project and to get involved, visit www.intlneuro.org. Our greatest need is for Christian adult and pediatric neurologists to be willing to give of their time and their expertise to join with us in reading these studies. More than that, we need your prayers for the Lord to continue to bless this project, and we need people to partner with us in financing the purchase of some of the future machines.
the trip. We had only five days to train four Kenyan technicians how to accurately place the electrodes and run the studies, as well as compress the files and send them through the website to be read by a neurologist halfway around the world. The physicians at Tenwek and Kijabe are already
treating epilepsy based on what the patients are able to report, but as Dr. Dino Crognale, family medicine physician at Tenwek, put it, “Sometimes we are making decisions on treating patients without all of the facts.” While a few EEG machines are available in Kenya, the travel expenses alone to have the study performed can cost up to a month’s wages. Isaac, one of the new Kenyan EEG technicians we trained, stated, “It is very difficult to find an EEG machine in Kenya.” He also doesn’t know of anyone in Kenya who has ever been trained to do this study. “We are pioneers,” he proudly said. Three months before we arrived, and before he even knew of his future involvement in this project, Isaac dreamed that he and a woman were marking and measuring a child’s head. He didn’t know what this meant or even why they were doing it. But months later while he was performing an EEG on a little child with Elizabeth, his fellow tech in training, he remembered his dream. Since we returned from Kenya, the techs from both locations have used our server to send studies rivaling EEGs performed in the U.S. It takes two years to train an EEG technician in the U.S. Clearly, the level of understanding a fully certified tech has of performing these tests is much higher than we were able to teach in less than a week, so we plan to continue training our techs via online video conferencing. VSee, a HIPAA-compliant tele-health program for screen sharing and video conferencing, generously donated software so we can continue to train the Kenya techs
24 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
and communicate with them virtually. We’ve also partnered with Neurotech, an in-home ambulatory EEG company to help with training. They hope to send a follow-up team in the future to complete more on-site training.
CMDA’s vision is “Transformed Doctors, Transforming the World.” And that’s exactly what we seek to do in Kenya and around the world through this new program. We are striving to revolutionize healthcare for epilepsy patients in developing countries. This initial trip to Kenya was a beta test for International Neurology Services, and the Lord blessed it beyond our expectations. We now know this project is fully expandable to countries around the world. Please prayerfully consider how the Lord would have you join us to bring hope to epilepsy patients around the world. Through this project, we want to push back the darkness of epilepsy while also exposing our patients to the light of the gospel. Our prayer is that International Neurology Services will have a global impact on epilepsy for God’s glory.
PETER LONDON, MD,* is a board certified neurologist. *Name changed for security reasons
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 25
From Lost to Found Transforming Hearts
by Joy Young, PA
M
y story starts out pretty normal, and you’ve probably heard stories just like this from others. As a child, I was raised in a good Christian home. I went to church on Sundays, was active in youth group and loved the Lord. I was saved when I was 11 or 12 years old, and I stayed involved in church until I graduated high school. When I left home to attend college, I was on my own for the first time in my life and I began struggling. I quit reading my Bible and going to church. I thought I wanted to be a pharmacist and applied to pharmacy school, but I didn’t get accepted. I had no clue what I was going to do with my life, so I moved back home. As I continued to struggle with life, I couldn’t escape the feeling of being lost. And while I developed friendships with people I shouldn’t have been around, I continued to draw further and further away from God. I decided I was going to be a physician assistant, so I applied and was accepted into the program. I was happy to
26 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
finally begin seeing some direction for my future. During this time, I also met a guy. He was a non-believer, but I was lost myself so it wasn’t that big of an issue. After dating for a few weeks, my parents invited us to church. We went to the service—for the first and only time in our relationship. That day, the preacher spoke on not being evenly yoked. It was more than 17 years ago, but I remember this sermon like it was yesterday. We had a conversation about it after the service, but we weren’t too concerned about it given that my faith and church weren’t big priorities in my life. We dated for four years and then married after I finished PA school. It wasn’t a bad relationship, but we did have issues from the beginning. I knew it; I just chose to ignore the signs. After six years of marriage, he decided he wanted something different and left. However, we didn’t divorce immediately. I still wanted the relationship to work because I made a seri-
Joy Young, PA, was baptized in the Caribbean Sea by CMDA's Vice President of Campus & Community Ministries Bill Reichart, MDiv, while on a short-term mission trip to the Dominican Republic.
ous commitment and wasn’t ready to fail. I may have been lost, but I still had some faith in Jesus and knew He existed. I allowed my husband to come back into my life several times over the next four years, but we eventually divorced after 10 years of marriage. I was devastated. It was the worst thing that ever happened to me. I felt as though my life was over, my future was gone. I had just wasted 14 years of my life with nothing to show except a failed marriage and a broken heart. The pain was unbearable, and it almost killed me physically. I may have survived the physical pain, but emotionally I died. The fun loving, naïve, happy person I used to be was no more. During this time, I seriously questioned if there was a God. How could this have happened to me? I lived my life right and was a good person. I did not deserve what happened. For the next two and a half years, I was in an extremely dark place. I was alone, broken, bitter, angry, lost,
confused. About every negative emotion you could think of applied to me. This flowed into my personal life and caused issues with every interaction I had. I was difficult to be around. I was hurting, so I felt like everyone else around me needed to hurt as well. I took on a second job and started working all the time to avoid the pain. I just existed and it was miserable. Then in spring 2015, I met a nurse who began working at my second job. We started talking and developed a friendship over time. She is now my best friend. She started going to a new church and really liked it. She kept inviting me but I always said no. In my mind, I had given up on God and didn’t need that in my life. Then one Sunday morning, she asked me to go with her to church and I finally said yes because I wanted her to leave me alone. I was miserable, but I felt a draw to continue attending. I was under conviction for quite some time. Four months after I started attending, Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 27
I finally accepted Jesus back into my life on January 1, 2016. But while I decided to follow Jesus again, I was still living for me. I was a part-time Christian, which to me meant I only lived for Jesus if it suited me. I wanted Him to help me, but I wasn’t willing to give anything up. I continued to struggle with life and what my future would hold. Around this same time, the Lord saw fit to place a man in my life. We met at church and he came out of nowhere. I really wanted nothing to do with him because of my past heartbreak. It had been a long time since I let a man into my life, but the Lord kept opening the door, so I gradually let him be a part of my life and we developed a really enjoyable friendship. He liked to travel so many of our talks were about different places we would like to visit. It all sounded exciting to me since I had never really traveled outside of West Virginia. I applied for a passport thinking I was going to need it if this friendship turned into a relationship. Even though we talked for several months, the friendship never developed into anything more. I was struggling a lot because I couldn’t figure out why the Lord would bring this man into my life and not let something else develop. I questioned what was wrong with me, because I know I’m a good woman with a lot to offer in a marriage. At this point, I de-
cided I had to fully surrender to God’s control and remove my wants from the picture or nothing was going to change. It was the best decision I could ever make because things really started happening in my life once I fully surrendered to Him. I started studying Proverbs 31 because I felt I needed to become a better woman. During my studies, I realized I was lacking in my service and giving back to others. To start working on developing this part of my character, I began researching healthcare mission trips. I always wanted to go on a trip like this, but was just afraid to do it. I searched online and discovered CMDA and Global Health Outreach (GHO), one of CMDA’s short-term missions programs. They had an upcoming trip scheduled that would fit into my schedule, but I didn’t give it much more thought. A few days later, my daily devotion focused on service and missions. Then the following day a missionary came to speak at my church. I could tell God was talking to me, and I knew He wasn’t going to stop until I finally listened to His direction. The next day I decided to call the contact person for the trip. I got some details about the trip and found out my services as a physician assistant were much needed on this trip to the Dominican Republic. I prayed about it and knew I couldn’t ignore this strong calling from God, so I signed up. I couldn’t believe I was going to do it, but I knew I had to go. Before I left for the trip I had a discussion with my mom about baptism. I always thought I had been baptized when I was younger, but she told me I had never been baptized. I decided the Dominican Republic would be the perfect place to proclaim my faith in God since it was my first mission trip, my first time out of the country and a new start for me in my walk with Christ. Surrounded by my brothers and sisters in Christ, I was baptized in the Caribbean Sea on June 25, 2016 by CMDA’s Vice President of Campus & Community Ministries Bill Reichart, MDiv, who was also our team leader on the trip. It’s a moment I will never forget.
28 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
GET INVOLVED
You can follow in Joy’s footsteps and start using your God-given skills in healthcare to serve others and share the gospel around the world through a mission trip with Global Health Outreach. For more information, visit www.cmda.org/gho.
Do you find yourself going through something similar to what I did? Are you lost and struggling and just not sure which way to go? We are reminded in Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (KJV). God’s way is always best, so trusting Him is what is needed in life. If we allow Him to guide and direct us in our choices, we can never go wrong. Surrendering and trusting Him will open your life up to endless possibilities. My profession of faith and full surrender to God has changed my life forever. It has put me on a course I never imagined possible. Since that first trip to the Dominican Republic, I have been given the privilege to provide medical care and share the gospel on trips to Ecuador and Nicaragua. And I’m also headed to El Salvador in March 2017. I am no longer bitter, lost, alone or angry. God found me, took that all away and turned me into a loving, caring, kind individual. My heart overflows with love for others. I am no longer ashamed of my past. I don’t regret the choices I made for my life either. Everything has made me the person I am today. I love telling my story to others in hopes they may find the healing power and joy of the Lord. While the friendship that sparked this amazing adventure never developed into anything else, it opened my eyes to make me
realize I have the best relationship possible. Jesus is all I need and gives me the best love ever. He is so amazing and wonderful, and I can’t thank Him enough. He has given me so much I just want to continue to serve and give back. I am truly living life because I now appreciate the power of God’s grace and unending love. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
JOY YOUNG, PA, was born and raised in West Virginia. She received her bachelor’s degree in physician assistant studies from The College of West Virginia in 2001 and a master’s in physician assistant studies from the University of Nebraska in 2008. For the majority of her career, she’s worked in family practice and urgent care. She has two nieces and one nephew who are the loves of her life. She loves the outdoors, especially hiking and visiting new places. Healthcare missions has become her passion in life, as she feels providing medical care and sharing the gospel with others is amazing. She also loves meeting new people and considers life to be just one beautiful adventure.
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 29
“AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?” by Amy Givler, MD, FAAFP
LEARN MORE
“C
an I ethically immunize my kids with a vaccine that has been produced using cells from an aborted baby?”
The caller asking the question seemed to be sincere. During Stand to Reason’s call-in podcast, the questions vary widely—the nature of God, evangelism, ethics— and host Greg Koukl does a great job thinking on his feet and applying a biblical worldview.1 Still, I cringed when I heard this particular questioner asking about vaccines. If there was ever a subject that divides Christians, it is vaccination. I am familiar with the caller’s qualms. Several vaccines are produced using one of two cell lines that came originally from the lungs of aborted fetuses. The first time I learned of this was many years ago, when a Christian friend posted on 30 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
Visit www.cmda.org/ethics to view CMDA’s Ethics Statement on immunization. These scientific, moral and biblical statements cover a wide variety of boethical issues.
Facebook that she was miserable with the flu. “I’ll bet you wish you had gotten the flu shot!” I commented. I was not prepared for the flood of negative replies from friends of hers, which included a woman who insisted vaccines were just chopped up aborted babies. That seemed so outrageous that I did some research, and then I tried to explain about “cell lines” and how those two children, who died in the 1960s, were not aborted for the purpose of obtaining their tissue.2 And besides, the flu shot wasn’t made that way. I’ve always been enthusiastic about vaccines, as I much prefer preventing a disease to treating it, so I stayed in the discussion. But I stopped replying when it deteriorated into name-calling and a questioning of my salvation. In the years since, I’ve continued to discuss vaccination, write about it and make comments on Facebook posts, but
only when I have the emotional energy to handle the inevitable mudslinging. Yet the caller in the Stand to Reason podcast wasn’t being contentious. He was genuinely looking for an ethical opinion from someone who has thought through countless ethical issues. The tone of the ensuing conversation, in which Greg Koukl echoed many of my thoughts on the subject, was civil and logical. Maybe future vaccine debates would be rational. It was like a fresh breeze entering a musty room. I’ve long thought this particular issue of using cell lines that came from aborted babies to produce vaccines is something thinking Christians could legitimately disagree on. But my conversations with people who are refusing vaccinations are so seldom civil and logical that I am reluctant to bring up another debatable issue. Back in 2005, the Vatican produced a statement in response to a concerned Catholic who asked about this issue. The Vatican said that in cases where an alternate vaccine is not available, the use of these vaccines is acceptable if “necessary in order to avoid a serious risk not only for one’s own children but also, and perhaps more specifically, for the health conditions of the population as a whole.”3 But the statement also stresses the need to advocate for alternate vaccine production that doesn’t use the morally questionable cell lines. Though I’m not Catholic, I appreciate the statement’s coherent reasoning. Are such alternative vaccines—vaccines not made with fetal cell lines—available? Yes, and all but two of those vaccines are licensed by the FDA, and thus obtainable in the U.S.4 The two not available here are the Hepatitis A and the rubella vaccines. The Kitasato Institute in Japan makes these two vaccines in cell lines derived from animal organs, but since they are not licensed by the FDA, a patient would have to travel to Japan to obtain them. That would be pricey,
but that would be a way to satisfy one’s conscience while protecting one’s own health and the health of the public. Though I deplore the loss of human life that led to the development of the fetal cell lines now in use, my conscience doesn’t tell me it’s wrong to use them to develop vaccines. The abortions were wrong, but they weren’t done in order to make the cell lines, and so the vaccine production is not morally complicit with the evil of the abortion. But—and here is why this is a subject worth revisiting as time goes by—I am troubled by China’s recent development of a third fetal cell line intending to make vaccines.5 What is it about vaccination that sparks polarization and strong emotion? Why would any parent hesitate for a moment to protect their child from diseases that killed or maimed so many millions over the course of history? These were questions I truly didn’t know the answer to until the day I sat in my pediatrician’s office with my precious 2-month-old firstborn. I looked at her intact skin and felt nauseous and repulsed that a nurse would soon walk in with a needle to puncture that creamy softness and my baby would cry. She was about to experience pain I could have prevented. Though I’d been a pro-vaccine family physician for two years by then, my response was visceral. That was the day I stopped being flippant and dismissive of parents who questioned vaccination. I still urge my patients to be fully immunized, because what the good vaccines do is far greater than the harm. In fact, unless I include “clean water” under the umbrella of medical care, I think vaccination is the best thing we do in medicine. It has saved the most lives. And what is the harm in vaccination? Anaphylaxis, though rare, is certainly the most dangerous. But otherwise, not much. The Institute of Medicine’s extensive review of 2011 could find no clear evidence linking any other adverse events to vaccines in a causal relationship.6 This was the product of 18 medical experts examining 12,000 peer-reviewed articles for more than two years. But this kind of thinking—considering risk-benefit analyses by experts—is the road we as healthcare professionals walk on every day, and it is not often the path our patients travel. When I first became a mother, I grasped this implicitly. Before, I was only responsible for myself with my health decisions. Now I had another life to think about, and I was willing to sacrifice my comfort for hers. So introducing something that might harm her—no matter how slight the possibility—seemed unacceptable. I had to reason with myself on an intellectual level to get past my emotional reluctance. Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 31
In her book On Immunity, Eula Biss writes on the struggles so many mothers have with vaccination with clarity and a poet’s touch. A mother herself, she acknowledges the fear she feels knowing about all of the dangers her son could potentially face. She writes, “As mothers, we must somehow square our power with our powerlessness. We can protect our children to some extent. But we cannot make them invulnerable any more than we can make ourselves invulnerable.”7
Virginia and Mississippi as the only three states not allowing any religious or philosophical exemptions.10 Though Americans tend to see themselves as independent individuals, the fact is we are all interconnected. One family’s decision not to vaccinate, when multiplied by a critical number, puts the most vulnerable among us in jeopardy. Eula Biss puts this well:
For any parent who is struggling to think through the conflicting information on the internet and is trying to make a loving choice, I highly recommend On Immunity. Voices for Vaccines is another resource, and it is a website written by parents and for parents, providing accurate and understandable information.8 And for any patient, or healthcare professional for that matter, seeking information on any iota of minutiae about vaccines, I recommend Immunization Action Coalition’s excellent and comprehensive website.9
“One of the mercies of immunity produced by vaccination is that a small number of people can forgo vaccination without putting themselves or others at greatly increased risk. But the exact number of people this might be—the threshold at which herd immunity is lost and the risk of disease rises dramatically for both the vaccinated and the unvaccinated—varies depending on the disease and the vaccine and the population in question. We know the threshold, in many cases, only after we’ve exceeded it.”11
As a nation, the U.S. has a stake in encouraging a healthy population. An epidemic sweeping through a country leads to economic consequences in addition to the suffering of the citizenry and the loss of life. But there is no federal compulsory vaccination law. The U.S. leaves it up to the individual states. Vaccination is a requirement for school entry in every state, though which vaccines, and for which ages or school level, varies widely by state. Immunization Action Coalition has compiled that information, a daunting task.
Much of the rest of the world—now, and throughout history—has an easier time than Americans in thinking of themselves as a part of a community, a tribe, a group. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians expounds on the importance of the body of Christ to the individual members, as well as the importance of the individual members to each other. Even though he is talking about the church as a whole, I think it is applicable to all larger societies. “For the body does not consist of one member but of many…If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all
All U.S. states allow medical exemptions for school immunization requirements. A total of 18 states allow “philosophical exemptions,” though the definition of “philosophical” is not uniform. Almost all states allow religious exemptions, though there’s a difference between Connecticut, which requires an annual notarized statement detailing the religious objections for each child, and most other states, which often only ask a parent to check a box on a school entry form. Last summer California joined West 32 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
rejoice together” (1 Corinthians 12:14,26, ESV). After Cain killed his brother Abel, God asked Cain where his brother was. “He said, ‘I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?’” (Genesis 4:9b, ESV). Cain was asking a rhetorical question, the answer being “no.” He was assuming, or maybe hoping, God didn’t know what he had just done. Cain was saying, essentially, that he was only responsible for himself. But even without the fratricide, the answer to Cain’s question is plain. The answer is “yes.”
STAY UPDATED
Do you want to know the latest information and news about today’s important healthcare topics, just like this one? Visit www.cmda.org/thepoint to learn more and join the conversation with The Point, a weekly blog focusing on breaking news stories in bioethics and healthcare. Our expert contributors also recommend additional resources and information.
We are our brothers’ keepers. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1 www.str.org 2 Wadman, Meredith. “Medical Research: Cell Division.” Nature.com. June 26, 2013. Accessed December 6, 2016. http://www. nature.com/news/medical-research-celldivision-1.13273. 3 Vatican Statement on Vaccines Derived From Aborted Human Fetuses. Accessed December 6, 2016. http://www.immunize. org/concerns/vaticandocument.htm. 4 “The Campaign for Ethical Vaccinations.” US Fetal Derived Vaccines. Accessed December 06, 2016. http://www.dgwsoft.co.uk/ homepages/vaccines/usvaccines.html. 5 Ma, Bo, Li-Fang He, Yi-Li Zhang, Min Chen, Li-Li Wang, Hong-Wei Yang, Ting Yan, Meng-Xiang Sun, and Cong-Yi Zheng. “Characteristics and Viral Propagation Properties of a New Human Diploid Cell Line, Walvax-2, and Its Suitability as a Candidate Cell Substrate for Vaccine Production.” Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics 11, no. 4 (2015): 9981009. doi:10.1080/21645515.2015.1009811. 6 Stratton, Kathleen R. Adverse Effects of Vaccines: Evidence and Causality. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2012. 7 Biss, Eula. On Immunity: An Inoculation. Minneapolis, MN: Graywolf Press, 2014. p. 124. 8 http://www.voicesforvaccines.org/ 9 http://www.immunize.org/ 10 States with Religious and Philosophical Exemptions from School Immunization Requirements. ncsl.org. August 23, 2016. Accessed December 6, 2016. http://www.ncsl.org/ research/health/school-immunization-exemption-statelaws.aspx
11 Biss, Eula. On Immunity: An Inoculation. Minneapolis, MN: Graywolf Press, 2014. p. 122.
AMY GIVLER, MD, FAAFP, is a family physician in Monroe, Louisiana. She and her husband Don met in 1980 at a CMDA student event her first year of medical school, and they have both been active members of CMDA ever since. Amy graduated from Wellesley College and Georgetown University School of Medicine, and she then completed her family medicine residency at the same indigent-care hospital where she now works part-time. She also works at an urgent care clinic and is the medical director for a Shots for Tots clinic. Amy loves to write and has written many articles and one book, Hope in the Face of Cancer: A Survival Guide for the Journey You Did Not Choose. She and Don have a heart for missions, and hope to do more short-term trips now that their three children have launched from the nest.
Transformed Doctors ➤ Transforming the World www.cmda.org 33
CLASSIFIEDS To place a classified advertisement, contact communications@cmda.org.
MEDICAL
Outpatient— only family practice clinic/residency program (part of In His Image International) in Shenyang, China (http://www.lightshenyang.org/) seeking short- and long-term family physicians/ pediatricians for non-paid positions starting May 2017. Mission is to provide excellent patient care, train Chinese doctors in family medicine and let the Light shine. Clinical settings include international clinic and charitable clinics for orphans, people with disabilities, migrant workers, HIV patients, rural communities and nursing homes. Currently staffed by Western physicians, three resident graduates and five residents in training. Chinese proficiency not required but beneficial. Should have active medical license. Please email Dr. Carlton Baer for more information at cpb1963@gmail.com.
Family Medicine— Highly qualified, compassionate BC/BE family medicine physicians are being sought to augment our primary care team in Central and South Central Illinois. High earnings potential, work/life balance, family-oriented communities with excellent costs of living and great benefits. Work for a faith-based organization committed to patient care regardless of the patient’s ability to pay. Contact: Steve Burton, Provider Recruiter, HSHS Medical Group, 217-492-6599, steven.burton@hshs.org. Family Medicine— Family medicine physician needed in Minnesota. Have a great career and family time too in this quaint community with lots of character. Full spectrum family medicine: four MDs, one CNM, four APPs; new hospital and clinic under construction; MDs all do OB, C/S needed; call 1:5; HPSA score of 14; loan repayment options, sign-on bonus, residency stipend; loyal and growing patient population; part of CentraCare Health; EMR is EPIC. Long Prairie, Minnesota is a community in Central Minnesota, 60 minutes from St. Cloud and 120 minutes from Minneapolis. Private and public school options. Lake, country or city living for a balanced lifestyle. Contact: Cassie Tinius, Physician Recruiter, CentraCare St. Cloud Hospital, 320-6567085, tiniusc@centracare.com. Family Medicine— Family practitioner with OB to join large MSG practice. Founded in 1980, College Park Family Care Center is a multi-specialty group serving the communities of Johnson County, Kansas with locations in South Kansas City. Our approach is faith-based, treating the “whole” person—body, mind and spirit. The ideal candidate will have the ability to grow a vibrant, full-spectrum family medicine practice. As a PCMH, we offer a variety of services that are not provided in a suburban family medicine practice setting including but not limited to a walk-in clinic, Anti-Coagulation Therapy, cardiovascular imaging, dietary and nutrition services, functional medicine, endoscopy and full-service laboratory, radiology and imaging services. Additionally, our research department allows us to better serve the healthcare needs of our community and the pharmaceutical industry by participating in clinical trials. Interested applicants should submit a CV and cover letter to Alyssa Blumhardt, Director of Physician Recruitment, at alyssa. blumhardt@hcahealthcare.com or call 816-289-6955. Family Practice or Med/Peds— Seeking family practice or med/peds physician for Mercy Chris-
DENTAL
Clinical Assistant, Associate or Full Professor in the Honors Program Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, consistently listed with highest honors among The Chronicle of Higher Education’s “Great Colleges to Work For.” Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas. The university provides a vibrant campus community for over 15,000 students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Baylor is actively recruiting new faculty with a strong commitment to the classroom and an equally strong commitment to discovering new knowledge as we pursue our bold vision, Pro Futuris. http://www.baylor.edu/profuturis/ The ideal candidate will have both a clinical research background and the ability to teach research methods, anatomy or humanities courses related to medicine. He or she will also have had significant clinical experience as a healthcare practitioner (medicine, public health, epidemiology, healthcare administration, etc). The specific goal for the position is to enhance the education of pre-health (primarily pre-med) students. Master’s degree in hand at the appointment start date is required. The successful candidate will teach three undergraduate classes each semester in the area of specialization, serve as a mentor for undergraduate students writing honors theses and serve as an administrative liaison for pre-health students. For complete details and to apply, visit https://jobs.baylor.edu/postings/1782. Baylor University is a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, Baylor is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, marital status, pregnancy status, military service, genetic information, and disability. As a religious educational institution, Baylor is lawfully permitted to consider an applicant’s religion among its selection criteria. Baylor encourages women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply.
34 TODAY'S CHRISTIAN DOCTOR Spring 2017
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Dental Associate— Are you looking for a practice where uncompromising patient care is supported by proactive leadership/communications, superior clinical skills and an unbridled passion for dentistry? We are seeking an associate for our office located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. We provide an extraordinary standard of comprehensive dental care with a wide array of services. This position is perfect for someone seeking a solid long-term opportunity with potential for partnership. Email dentistman@gmail.com. Dentist— Looking for a key full-time provider team member to join a faith-based, mission driven, growing community health center. Full-time includes 32 hours of patient appointments a week, participation in staff, provider and organizational committees. Join an interdisciplinary team of colleagues in serving a diverse patient population providing integrated whole person care. LLCHC offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Qualifications: Dentist, DMD or DDS degree, appropriate board certification, Ohio dental license, bilingual in Spanish a plus. Responsibilities: oversee dental service activities and personnel; experience in a managerial role; strong leadership qualities; work collaboratively with primary care physician to implement appropriate healthcare programs; the ability to treat patients who need it the most: those from a wide diversity of social, ethnic and economic backgrounds; strong organizational skills; excellent written and verbal communications skills. Please forward resume/CV to careers@llchc.org.
tian Health of Ypsilanti, Michigan, a non-profit Christ-centered primary care clinic for all ages and incomes. All outpatient. Contact Tom Léger at tomleger51@icloud.com. Internal Medicine and Hospitalist— One hour from Twin Cities; IM positions - no night call; hospitalists - seven days on/seven days off, ninehour shifts; ICU work; specialists available for consultations; “Top 100” Hospital 10 times; serving a 12-county area of 690,000; CentraCare Health has been on “Best Places to Work in Minnesota” by Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal; resident and student teaching; sign-on bonus. St. Cloud, Minnesota. 60 minutes from Twin Cities; family friendly; excellent school options; four season recreation/lakes area; theatre and arts; four colleges. Contact: Karla Donlin, Director Physician Recruitment & Relations, donlink@centracare.com, 320-255-5822. Interventional Pain Medicine— Fellowship trained, BC/BE physician wanted for thriving private practice in Northeast Georgia. Currently physician/ owner and two PAs, with room to grow. Mix of interventional and medication management. On-site accredited ASC. Minimal hospital call. Looking for independent, entrepreneurial Christian for salaried position, with opportunity for partnership. Must possess excellent procedural, medical management, administrative and interpersonal skills. Community is midsized, 45 minutes from Atlanta, with excellent hospital, schools, churches and recreational opportunities. A great place to raise a family. Send letter of interest and CV to kingofpain530@yahoo.com. Website: www.lanierpain.com.
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BRINGING TOGETHER HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS TO FURTHER GOD’S KINGDOM We exist to glorify God by placing healthcare professionals and assisting them in finding God’s will for their careers. Our goal is to place healthcare professionals in an environment that will encourage ministry and also be pleasing to God. We make connections across the U.S. for physicians, dentists, other providers and practices. We have an established network consisting of hundreds of opportunities in various specialties. You will benefit from our experience and guidance. Every placement carries its own set of challenges. We want to get to know you on a personal basis to help find the perfect fit for you and your practice. P.O. Box 7500 •Bristol, TN 37621 888-690-9054 www.cmda.org/placement placement@cmda.org
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In His Image provided me with excellent medical training and also showed me how to use medicine as a ministry and see each patient as Christ does. Through the Spiritual Curriculum, Counseling Track, mentorship of exemplary faculty physicians and fellowship with like-minded residents, my heart continued to grow for those in need around me. My husband and I were encouraged and challenged to grow as a couple through weekly Bible Studies, conferences and retreats sponsored by IHI. We believe that IHI helped equip and spur us on toward a calling God placed on our hearts serving the underserved! I am currently working at a rural federally qualified health center in a diverse community, serving for God’s glory.