CMDA Today Summer 2026

HEALTH care

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, in their synagogues, the good news of the kingdom and ever y disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them." Matt . 9:34-35

From the CMDA President

Lifting Our Eyes

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (P salm 121:1–2, Es V)

As we recently gathered for the 2026 CMDA National Convention in Loveland, Colorado, surrounded by mountains that quite literally lift our gaze upward, we were reminded of a timeless truth: in a world marked by uncertainty, our help does not come from the hills themselves—but from the Maker of the hills. We are living in a season of profound cultural, political and professional instability. Healthcare is rapidly evolving. Legal and regulatory landscapes shift. International conflicts unsettle global systems. Technology advances faster than wisdom sometimes keeps pace. Several of us feel the strain of practicing healthcare in an era where truth itself can seem contested. Yet Scripture offers us clarity. We lift our eyes—not to systems, not to parties, not to institutions—but to the Lord of heaven and earth.

Recently, I was reminded of a powerful statement from a speaker whose words have stayed with me:  “Finite gods never forgive.” When we elevate ideologies, political movements, professional statuser34 or even cultural identities to ultimate authority, they inevitably disappoint us. They demand loyalty but cannot offer redemption. They require sacrifice but provide no grace. Only the infinite God—holy, sovereign and merciful—offers forgiveness that restores and transforms. As members of CMDA, we must guard our allegiance carefully. We advocate for policies that uphold the sanctity of life, religious freedom, ethical medical practice and compassionate care for the vulnerable. At times, those positions may align with one political party or another, but let us be clear: CMDA is not a political organization. We are a kingdom organization.

In Joshua 5, when Joshua encounters the commander of the Lord’s army, he asks a natural question: “Are you for us or for our enemies?” (Joshua 5:13). The answer is striking—“Neither… but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come” (Joshua 5:14, NASB). The Lord is not enlisted into our causes, instead, we are called into His. Our allegiance is not ultimately earthly but heavenly. That perspective reshapes everything.

It reshapes how we engage in policy discussions—with conviction, but without hostility. It reshapes how we disagree— with courage, but without contempt. It reshapes how we endure hardship—with perseverance, but without despair.

When our help comes from the Lord, we are free from fear. We do not need to grasp for control because the One who neither slumbers nor sleeps watches over us. We do not need to secure our own vindication because the Judge of all the earth does what is right. We do not need to manufacture hope because our hope has already been secured in Christ.

For Christian physicians, dentists, students and residents, this assurance is not abstract theology—it is daily fuel. In exam rooms, operating suites, research labs and classrooms, we stand at the intersection of science and soul. We are entrusted not only with diagnoses and treatments but with the privilege of representing Christ in moments of vulnerability and need.

At the National Convention, as we looked out across the Colorado mountains, I pray we remembered our eyes were not merely admiring creation—they were being redirected toward the Creator. The mountains may inspire awe, but they are not our refuge. The cultural moment may feel turbulent, but it is not our foundation. Our help comes from the Lord. In the coming months, there will be continued uncertainty. Policies will change. Court decisions will be handed down. Institutional pressures will rise and fall. Nevertheless, our calling remains steady. We stand with the Lord of Heaven. We belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Let us be known not first for what we oppose, but for whom we serve. Let us speak truth boldly, practice healthcare faithfully and love sacrificially. When the noise grows loud and the path forward feels unclear, may we lift our eyes once more. Our help comes from the Lord.

I enjoyed gathering with several of you at the 2026 CMDA National Convention. Please consider joining us for the 2027 CMDA National Convention in the Cincinatti, Ohio area on April 29 - May 2, 2027. Visit natcon.cmda.org to learn more and to register. May the Lord bless you and keep you as you serve Him in your calling.

Omari Hodge, MD, is the program director of the family medicine residency program at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel in Tampa, Florida, and he received his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He has served as a CMDA Trustee since 2018.

EDITOR

Rebeka Honeycutt

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Gregg Albers, MD

John Crouch, MD

Autumn Dawn Galbreath, MD

Curtis E. Harris, MD, JD

Van Haywood, DMD

Rebecca Klint-Townsend, MD

Debby Read, RN

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CMDA Today™, registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Summer 2026, Volume LVII, No. 2. 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© 2026, 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 INTERNATIONAL 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•cmda.org

If you are interested in submitting articles to be considered for publication, visit 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.

The Journal of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations

12 ON THE COVER

The Intersection Between the Health Belief Model and the Great Commission

SydneyDorrough,OTD,OTR/L

Meeting the medical needs of patients and encouraging their faith

A closer look at the impact of CMDA’s Side By Side ministry 18

Standing Firm in One Spirit: Strengthening Healthcare Marriages for the Long Haul

RebeccaLehman

From Saline Solution to The Saline Process: Equipping Healthcare Professionals for 30 Years

WilliamT.Griffin,DDS

A look at the past and present of The Saline Process

32

The Dr. John Patrick Bioethics Column That We May Worthily… JohnPatrick,MD

How Christian faith shapes ethical behavior and cultural norms

In the Trenches: A Physician-assisted Suicide Battle is Won

ThomasW.Eppes,Jr.,MD; DonaldR.Stern;MD,MPH; andNikhilChandravel How advocacy in healthcare has an ongoing effect on state legislature 22

REGIONAL MINISTRIES

Connecting you with other Christ-followers to help better motivate, equip, disciple and serve within your community

Western Region: Wes Ehrhart, MA • 6204 Green Top Way • Orangevale, CA 95662 • 916-716-7826 • wes.ehrhart@cmda.org

Midwest Region: Connor Ham, MA • 2435 Lincoln Avenue • Cincinnati, OH 45231 • 419-789-3933 • connor.ham@cmda.org

Northeast Region: Bill Reichart, MDiv • P.O. Box 7500 • Bristol, TN 37621 • 678-350-8539 • bill.reichart@cmda.org

Southern Region: Grant Hewitt, MDiv • P.O. Box 7500 • Bristol, TN 37621 • 402-677-3252 • south@cmda.org

THE CHRISTIAN MEDICAL & DENTAL

®

COMMUNITY

Northeast Regional Director Position Available

Shawn Morehead, MD • Abstract Reviewer

Mark Vandewalker, MD • Abstract Reviewer

Jeffrey Barrows, DO • Poster Judge

Kyle Baumann, DO • Poster Judge

CMDA is seeking a full-time Regional Director for the Northeast—a region of significant strategic importance, encompassing major academic medical centers and a growing network of campus and community CMDA chapters. This is a unique opportunity to invest in the spiritual formation and development of Christian healthcare trainees and professionals in a region shaping the future of American healthcare. Use the QR code above to view the job description:

To express interest, please send a resume and cover letter detailing your personal faith journey and commitment to Christian values to CMDA Human Resources (hr@cmda.org) or visit cmda.org/careers to apply.

Annual VIE Poster Session Took Place at National Convention

CMDA’s ninth annual VIE Poster Session took place during the 2026 CMDA National Convention. A total of 40 poster presentations from 33 institutions were represented covering areas such as spirituality, ethics, education, biotechnology, biomedical science, medicine, surgery, nursing and medical humanities. We would like to recognize and thank the following VIE Committee members, abstract reviewers and poster judges for their investment of time and expertise to ensure the success of the VIE Poster Session!

Bill Ardill, MD • Advisory Committee, Abstract Reviewer

Charlotte Paolini, DO • Advisory Committee, Abstract Reviewer

Dale Agner, MD • Abstract Reviewer, Poster Judge

Nicholas Comninellis, MD • Abstract Reviewer, Poster Judge

James Smith, MD • Abstract Reviewer, Poster Judge

Eric Stader, MD • Abstract Reviewer, Poster Judge

Philip Tipton, MD • Abstract Reviewer, Poster Judge

Thomas Witzig, MD • Abstract Reviewer, Poster Judge

Deon Cox Hayley, DO • Abstract Reviewer

Andrea Braun, MD • Poster Judge

Mark Buchanan, MD • Poster Judge

Bella Carroll, MD • Poster Judge

Abel Castro, MD • Poster Judge

Selina Chen, MD • Poster Judge

Jacquelene Childs, MD • Poster Judge

Bob Cranston, MD • Poster Judge

Kristy Edwards, MD • Poster Judge

Joshua Elder, MD • Poster Judge

Paul Halverson, MD • Poster Judge

Brandon Hecht, DO • Poster Judge

Jim Hines, MD • Poster Judge

Jeff Newswanger, DO • Poster Judge

Amanda Nichols, DO • Poster Judge

Peter Phan, MD • Poster Judge

Alwyn Rapose, MD • Poster Judge

Susan Rutherford, MD • Poster Judge

Catherine Scarbrough, MD • Poster Judge

James Scott, MD • Poster Judge

Judi Voelz, MD • Poster Judge

2026 VIE Poster

Session Winners

Student Vignette

First Place – Neha Chandra and Lina Bedjaoui

Second Place – John “Tal” Redhead

Third Place – Austin Boehm

Student Research

First Place – Jayden Henneman

Second Place – Wiley Cain

Third Place – Claire Pinson and Leslie Omeire (tied for third place)

Resident/Fellow Winner

First Place – Emmanuel Salcedo, MD

Ministry News

CMDA 2026 Member Awards

2026 Servant of Christ Award

Dr. Ruth A. Bolton

2026 President’s Heritage Award John Stonestreet

Dr. Ruth Bolton grew up in a strong Catholic family. Her life changed when her mother suddenly passed away when Ruth was 15, yet she finished high school and attended Eau Claire State University, obtaining a degree in biology, math and secondary education. Between her junior and senior years of college, she had an opportunity to travel to Africa where she saw true poverty and what lack of medical care can do to people. As a result, she finished her education degree but decided to try to get into medical school. As a senior in college, she committed her life to Jesus. She didn’t have prerequisites for medical school, so she went to night school while she worked as a chemical engineer and later as a lab tech for Mayo Clinic until she had the credits to apply to medical school. She was offered a position at Mayo Medical School graduating with a medical degree in 1980 and completing a family medicine residency at the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1983. Dr. Bolton started her medical career at a Christian clinic in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Within a year, she became the Medical Director of six of the largest crisis pregnancy centers in the Twin Cities area. In 1988, she joined the University of Minnesota’s Family Medicine Department as an Associate Director of one of their family medicine programs, and within a year, she became the Director of the program at North Memorial Hospital, which led to her establishment of a pro-life family medicine clinic in Minneapolis. Dr. Bolton’s involvement in CMDA started in 1976 when she and six other students started the first student chapter of CMDA at Mayo’s Medical School. She was soon asked to be on the Board of Trustees for CMDA and in 1994 was one of the founding members of Women Physicians & Dentists in Christ. She was on the CMDA Board of Trustees for 17 years, including being elected president of CMDA in 2005. Dr. Bolton has been retired from medicine since 2021, but she is still active as a physician at a crisis pregnancy center in Mankato, Minnesota. She is also a very active member in her Baptist church in Mankato.

John Stonestreet serves as President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their faith with clarity, confidence and courage in this cultural moment. John provides leadership to initiatives such as the Breakpoint podcast and radio program, the Colson Fellows Program and the annual Colson Center National Conference, all designed to help believers understand and engage the cultural moment from a Christian worldview. A highly sought-after speaker, author and cultural commentator, John addresses topics at the intersection of faith and culture, including theology, worldview formation, apologetics, education and cultural engagement. He is the daily voice of Breakpoint, the nationally syndicated Christian commentary on culture and worldview, and the co-host of the groundbreaking documentary Truth Rising.

John has authored and co-authored several books, including: A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World; Restoring All Things: God’s Audacious Plan to Change the World Through Everyday People; Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage; Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview; and A Student’s Guide to Culture. Before joining the Colson Center in 2010, John served in leadership roles at Summit Ministries and was a member of the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College in Tennessee. He holds a master of arts degree in Christian thought from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. His commitment to equipping Christians for cultural engagement reflects his deep conviction that faith is not private but speaks to every area of life. In addition to his professional work, John is passionate about mentoring emerging leaders and strengthening families. He and his wife Sarah live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they are raising their four children. He is a fan of Duke basketball.

In his own words, “We were called to this time and place, not by accident, but by God’s design. Every Christian must decide: Will I obey the call of Christ in this moment, or will I shrink back?”

CMDA 2026 Member Awards

2026 Educator of the Year

Donna Harrison, MD, and Mark Harrison, MD

2026 Global Servant Award

Dr. Timothy and Marjorie Benadum

Donna Harrison, MD, and Mark Harrison, MD, married on June 12, 1982. Two months later, they both started medical school at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, later choosing to complete their fourth-year medical school elective in Limbe, Haiti. Before starting private practice, Donna and Mark worked to begin a community health center in Montrois, Haiti. In November 1990, they welcomed their first child. Donna was busy, spending every spare moment being a mom between private practice, work as an Associate Clinical Professor at University of Michigan and taking every fourth night call. Mark and Donna also continued to work in Haiti. In 1993, their second child was born, followed shortly after by the birth of their first son. In 1994, Donna helped to craft a citizen petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), asking for the FDA to deny approval for an application for mifepristone for abortion. In 1996, their fourth child was born and three weeks later Donna testified at the FDA Reproductive Health Advisory Committee on urging the committee to deny the application of mifepristone for abortion. On December 27, 1996, their son Paul passed away. The grieving that followed caused Mark and Donna to deeply rethink overseas service. It was clear God was now calling them to focus on helping their family recover from the trauma of Paul’s death. Their fifth child was born February 16, 1998, and later that year Donna presented to legislators on the topic of mifepristone abortion. Mark and Donna welcomed their sixth child in 2000 and Donna took a two-year maternity leave to care for her family and committing time to the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). From 2000 to 2002, Donna co-authored a citizen petition to the FDA requesting repeal of the approval of mifepristone. This petition laid the foundation for the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. Food and Drug Administration lawsuit filed in 2022 and later lawsuits filed by the states. In 2013, Donna assumed leadership in AAPLOG. After years of professional collaboration with CMDA and other medical professional organizations, Donna helped to found the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine (AHM). Donna became Chair of AHM in 2022 and has been instrumental in establishing AAPLOG as a trusted source for scientific information, which enables healthcare professionals to give an evidence-based defense of both pregnant mothers and the human beings in their womb.

Dr. Tim and Marjorie Benadum are the founders of Mercy Medical Center Cambodia (MMCC) and have served as missionaries in Cambodia since 2002. The Benadums met at Ohio State University and were married in 1983, before either had come to know Christ. During medical school, a close friend’s decision to take a pause from medical school to study the Bible deeply intrigued Tim. He began attending a men’s Bible study, and when the group studied Ephesians 2:8-9, he realized he had found the truth he had been searching for—salvation by grace through faith. Marjie soon came to recognize her own need for Christ, and together they began growing in faith. In 1984, the Benadums moved to Newport News, Virginia for Tim’s family medicine residency. They joined a local church where their faith matured and friendships formed that continue to encourage them today. A defining moment came in 1986 when they attended the eighth ICMDA World Congress in Mexico, followed by a short-term medical outreach. Experiencing healthcare in the developing world for the first time profoundly impacted them. They returned home with a vision they had never expected—a growing sense that God was calling them to long-term mission service. After a season of prayer and discernment, they made the costly decision to sell their home and prepare for overseas service. In 2002, the Benadums boarded a plane with their four children and moved to Cambodia. After completing language study, Tim served as Country Director for their mission agency while working at a small Christian clinic in Phnom Penh. In 2008, he transitioned into full-time medical ministry and founded Mercy Medical Center Cambodia as a distinct ministry focused on holistic primary healthcare, medical training, discipleship and church planting. Over the years, they have watched God bring growth from small beginnings. During their 23 years on the field, they have been deeply encouraged at the annual conferences for medical missionaries. Marjie and Tim are deeply grateful for time spent with their eight grandchildren and remain committed to seeing compassionate holistic healthcare, Christ-centered leadership and especially the gospel flourish in Cambodia.

LEARN MORE

These awards were presented at this year’s National Convention. These articles are excerpted from the actual award citations which can be viewed at cmda.org/awards.

Ministry News

MEMBER NEWS

In Memoriam

Our hearts are with the family members of the following CMDA members who have passed in recent months. We thank them for their support of CMDA and their service to Christ.

• Dorothy M. Barbo, MD – Albuquerque, New Mexico Member since 1955

• Andrea M. Feijoo, MD – Chicago, Illinois Member since 2015

• Christopher H.C. Fung, MD – Hingham, Massachusetts Member since 1960

• Jerry E. Van Kuiken, MD – East Jordan, Michigan Member since 1987

• Fred A. Simon, Jr., MD – Goshen, Indiana Member since 1978

• Miguel A. Martinez, MD - Wenham, Massachusetts Member since 1988

Memoriam and Honorarium Gifts

Gifts received January through March 2026

• Russell Roberts in honor of Michael and Tracy Balboni

• Kristen Ojo in honor of Jeanine Bruen

• David Garza in honor of Arlin Garza

• Ellen Rupp in honor of Thomas Grosh, IV

• Chad Griffin in honor of Al Weir, MD

• Shannon Austin in memory of Dr. Wayne Grant

• Kemuel Philbrick in memory of Phyllis Irwin, MD

• James Smith in memory of George Stewart, MD

• Paul Deforge in memory of Dr. Wilson Wayne Grant

• William Humphrey in memory of Dr. Fred A. Simon, Jr.

• Goshen Youth Soccer Organization Inc. in memory of Dr. Fred A. Simon, Jr.

• Appleton Mason in memory of Miguel Martinez, MD

• Elizabeth Ford in memory of Miguel Martinez, MD

• Jeanne Whitman in memory of Miguel Martinez, MD

• George and Rose Courtney in memory of Dr. Dorthy Barbo

• Jane Tol in memory of Dr. Marvin Jewell

• Dale Mulder in memory of Dr. Marvin Jewell

• Nancy Fahner-Hill in memory of Dr. Marvin Jewell

• Sheldon Fahner in memory of Dr. Marvin Jewell

• Geoffrey Hale in memory of Dr. Marvin Jewell

• James Smith in memory of Dr. Marvin Jewell

• Mark Ralston in memory of Dr. Marvin Jewell

• Richard Palacios in memory of Dr. Marvin Jewell

• Debbie Davies in memory of Dr. Christian Patrick

• Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, Administration in memory of Dr. Christian Patrick

• Ronnie and Jan Easterby in memory of Dr. Christian Patrick

For more information about honorarium and memoriam gifts, please contact stewardship@cmda.org

Upcoming Events

Dates and locations are subject to change. For a full list of upcoming CMDA events, visit cmda.org/events.

18th ICMDA World Congress

June 30 – July 5, 2026 • South Korea

2026 Who Are You Becoming? Student Coaching July 19 – December 14, 2026 • Virtual

2026 Great Commission Dental Conference

September 11-12, 2026 • Dallas Forth Worth, Texas

2026 WPDC Annual Conference

September 17-20, 2026 • Niagara Falls, New York

2026 Midwest Fall Conference

September 25-27, 2026 • Norton Shores, Michigan

RESOURCES

The Point of Medicine

The Point of Medicine, formerly The Point Blog, is now an online forum aiming to stimulate thought and discussion on the most pressing issues in healthcare. Through this forum, we hope to educate, encourage and equip healthcare professionals and the Church to practice and advocate for good medicine—that which is God-honoring and committed to the flourishing of the patient as an image bearer. Articles on this forum are intended to promote scholarship and biblical wisdom, providing clarity on the issues of the day, to bring glory and honor to God. To join the conversation, visit cmda.org/point

Faith in Healthcare—The CMDA Matters Podcast

Are you listening to CMDA’s podcast with CEO Dr. Mike Chupp? Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters Podcast, formerly known as CMDA Matters, is the premier audio resource for Christian healthcare professionals. This popular weekly podcast shares powerful stories and explores the issues that matter most to you, along with the latest news from CMDA and healthcare. A new episode is released each Thursday, and interview topics include bioethics, healthcare missions, financial stewardship, marriage, family, public policy updates and much more. Plus, you’ll get recommendations for new books, conferences and other resources designed to help you as a Christian in healthcare.

Listen to Faith in Healthcare—The CMDA Matters on your smartphone, your computer, your tablet. . . wherever you are and whenever you want. For more information, visit cmda.org/cmdamatters.

Standing Strong in Practice Now Available

New CMDA Ethics Statement

At its annual meeting during the 2026 CMDA National Convention, CMDA’s Board of Trustees and House of Representatives approved an updated CMDA Ethics Statement. That statement is:

• Abortion

CMDA’s Ethics and Position Statements are designed to provide you with biblical, ethical, social and scientific understanding of complex issues through concise statements articulated in a compassionate and caring manner. They are needed for the religious freedom battles we are currently facing, so we encourage you to share them with your colleagues, pastors, church leaders and others. Visit cmda.org/ethics for more information about CMDA’s Ethics and Positions Statements and to review all of the statements

The Voice of Advocacy

As the latest addition to CMDA’s long list of resources for our members, Standing Strong in Practice is an on-demand video series created specifically for graduate healthcare professionals committed to following Jesus. It is designed to help healthcare professionals think deeply and biblically about the controversial issues they face in their practice. These issues include abortion, gender ideology, assisted suicide and the ability to practice healthcare according to their biblical beliefs. The curriculum consists of video modules lasting approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Each module has two didactic sessions followed by questions allowing group discussion, plus each module includes a facilitator guide.

Standing Strong in Practice joins the two previous iterations of this curriculum: Standing Strong in Training and Standing Strong with the Church. For more information and to access all three versions of the curriculum, visit cmda.org/standingstrong

Included in CMDA’s network of podcasts is The Voice of Advocacy with Vice President of Bioethics and Public Policy, Brick Lantz, MD. This monthly podcast features special guests and members of the Advocacy team. Listen to learn more about Advocacy’s grassroots efforts at the state and federal level, legal and legislative victories and how CMDA members can be involved in achieving justice for the vulnerable. To listen to the latest episode, visit cmda.org/advocacy.

Legal Assistance for CMDA Members

As a result of a partnership between CMDA and Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), we are now offering free legal consultations for CMDA members who may be experiencing conscience freedom issues in the workplace. Exclusively available to CMDA members, this program is designed to serve members who feel they are being discriminated against in the workplace due to their firmly held moral and religious beliefs. We believe conscience freedoms have profound ethical and religious importance within the healthcare profession, and we encourage colleagues, institutions and governments to respect these freedoms. If you feel your conscience freedoms are at risk, please visit cmda.org/legal.

CMDA Learning Center

Faith Prescriptions

The CMDA Learning Center offers complimentary continuing education courses for CMDA members. This online resource is continuing to grow with new courses to help you in your practice as a Christian healthcare professional. All continuing education courses are available at NO COST to CMDA members. For more information and to access the CMDA Learning Center, visit cmda.org/learning

CMDA Go App

Have you downloaded CMDA Go yet? Our mobile app, CMDA Go, is available to download, so visit your device’s app store to download it today. In the CMDA Go app, you can set up your personal CMDA profile, check out the latest news from CMDA, listen to podcasts, renew your membership and make your dues payments, access a variety of downloadable resources, interact with other members through the discussion forms and join group chats. For more information, visit cmda.org/app.

CMDA

Center

Continuing Education and Specialized Training for Healhcare Professionals Learning

The CMDA Learning Center offers an array of original courses on a wide range of topics designed to help educate and advance your knowledge in key areas within healthcare.

Now available exclusively for CMDA members, Faith Prescriptions is an on-demand video series that provides training on everything from LGBTQ issues in the healthcare arena, to praying with your patients and sharing your faith in ethical and appropriate ways with colleagues and patients. Faith Prescriptions is a revision of the program Grace Prescriptions, which has been in circulation for several years on DVD, but this updated and improved series is available video-on-demand. It is free to CMDA members and simply requires your member login and password to access all sessions, as well as all video training sessions, within the CMDA Learning Center. For more information, visit cmda.org/learning.

Afew years ago, my brother was diagnosed with Stage IV thymic carcinoma at the age of 39. He passed away a year and a half later. On the day he died, we discovered a video he had recorded on his cell phone shortly after his diagnosis—his own eulogy. As we listened to his words, which we would come to cherish deeply, one statement stood out above all the others. He said, “I have no regrets in life except one: that I did not do more for the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Imagine a 6’3”, broadshouldered cowboy—successful businessman and veterinarian, far from “religious”—facing death head on with one thing on his mind: eternity and his role in it.

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB). These were Jesus’ last words. He could have said anything. He could have reiterated the Beatitudes or reminded them of the Golden Rule. Personally, I imagine this would have been an ideal moment for a few well earned “I told you so’s.” Instead, He said, go. Not a suggestion—a command. Time was, and still is, of the essence, and He was sending out the greatest invitation the world has ever received.

So why this send off from Jesus? The Bible is clear—heaven is real, and hell is real. There is only one way to reach heaven: through the cross, by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord. Once surrendered, the task becomes clear—tell others. This is why the commission is so great. It is a command. It is simple. It is urgent. So why do only 42 percent of Americans claim to be born again

Christians?1 And why do only 64 percent of Christians believe it is their personal responsibility to share their faith, a decline from 89 percent in 1993?2

Both acceptance and rejection of Jesus as Lord are evident throughout Scripture. In John 4, Jesus speaks with the Samaritan woman at the well, revealing His identity to her. She believes, returns to her town and shares her testimony, spreading the Good News widely. In contrast, Matthew 23 shows the Pharisees repeatedly rejecting the gospel because their self-righteousness blinded them to their need for a Savior. Similarly, Mark 10:17-27 recounts the rich young ruler who acknowledged his need for eternal life but left sorrowful, unwilling to surrender his earthly possessions to follow Christ. In John 12:42-43, some believed in Jesus but refused to confess their faith because “…they loved human praise more than praise from God.”

So what causes one person to accept Christ and the other to reject Him? What causes one person to boldly share their faith and another to never share? This paper uses the Health Belief Model to provide insight into those questions, thus providing an intentional framework for evangelism and discipleship.

Understanding the Health Belief Model

The Health Belief Model is widely used in the health professions, particularly in wellness and prevention. It provides a framework for understanding why individuals may not make

wise health choices. According to the model, perception is key.3 An individual’s perception may or may not align with reality, but it remains the central focus.

For a health behavior change to occur, a person must first perceive a threat to their health.4 They must also believe the threat is severe enough to require action and that they are personally susceptible to it. One’s willingness to make a change is highly linked to their perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits and self-efficacy.5

For example, consider a patient who considers themselves relatively “healthy” and rarely visits the doctor. They feel doctors are primarily motivated by profit; therefore, they have a general distrust in the medical system. However, after several months of not feeling well and progressively feeling worse, they visit a doctor and are told they are at risk for Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM-II) based on their current health status. The doctor outlines a plan involving healthy eating and exercise, gives them a visually appealing handout and warns that without changes, the patient is likely to be diagnosed with diabetes within the year. Although the patient nods politely during the visit, verbally agrees to make changes and thanks the doctor for the information, no changes occur afterward.

Fast forward a few years, and the patient finds themself in the emergency room (ER) with diabetic ketoacidosis. They are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in critical condition and undergo days of medical treatment before stabilizing. They follow up with their primary care doctor the following week,

and the doctor is shocked to learn of the patient’s noncompliance over the last few years.

Why the noncompliance? The doctor was kind during the initial visit, and the patient handout was culturally relative and visually appealing. Does the patient not care about their health? Prior to the trip to the ER, the patient never perceived themselves as susceptible or the disease as a significant threat.

Health Belief Model

Evaluating Behavior and Barriers

Once an individual perceives a threat and acknowledges its severity, they begin to weigh the perceived benefits and barriers to change. Take the same patient, now diagnosed with DM-II after a frightening ER visit and ICU stay. They can no longer deny their susceptibility or the seriousness of the disease. However, as the doctor outlines a treatment plan—insulin, dietary restrictions, daily exercise—the patient evaluates the benefits and barriers. They may follow the plan diligently for a few weeks but experience a setback, such as a spike in blood sugar, and return to the ER. Discouraged, they begin to view the barriers as outweighing the benefits and abandon the treatment. In essence, they decide the behavior change is not worth it.

The Role of Self-efficacy and Cues to Action

Another critical component of the Health Belief Model is self-efficacy—the belief in one’s ability to make a change. If the individual perceives the threat and believes the benefits outweigh the barriers but lacks confidence in their discipline, willpower, financial resources or support system, they will not make the change. Self-efficacy must be nurtured for change to occur.

Additionally, according to the model, individuals need cues to action. Cues may come from subjective experiences and initiated internally, or they may come from the context and environment, thus initiated externally.6

Connecting the Model to the Great Commission

So, what does this have to do with the Great Commission?

According to a survey by Pew Research Center (2021), only 28 percent who identify as unaffiliated with any religion believe in hell.7 Although they may have other beliefs about the afterlife, the vast majority of nonbelievers do not believe in an eternity of torment. So what reason would they have to make sacrifices on this earth, abstain from sin and/or possibly face ridicule from loved ones when there is no real threat? The premise is simple: one must perceive themselves as susceptible to hell and recognize the seriousness of sin. In the case of the Pharisees, they did not see themselves as susceptible to hell based on their own self-righteousness.

Once they understand their trajectory without Jesus, they must believe the benefits of salvation outweigh the barriers. This is where the rich young ruler came up short. He knew he needed Jesus and even sought Jesus out to ask Him how to have eternal life; however, he deemed the sacrifice of giving up his worldly possessions as too big an ask.

In terms of self-efficacy, one must understand their role in accepting Jesus as Lord and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to walk with Him daily. They must realize their sin is not too big and the promise made in Romans 10:9-10 is for anyone.

Finally, the Holy Spirit serves as the cue to action, drawing individuals to Christ. John 14:6 makes it clear that Jesus is the only way to heaven, and according to John 6:44, they must be drawn to Christ from the Father. Additionally, 1 Corinthians 2:14 is clear that the Holy Spirit must draw people to Christ. Therefore, although self-efficacy is required in one realizing they must actively confess and can be saved, one must also recognize that cue begins with the Father, is revealed by the Spirit and is only possible through Jesus.

The same principles apply to sharing the gospel. A believer must first perceive others are susceptible to hell. Then, they must believe the benefits—eternal life and joy regardless of circumstances—outweigh the barriers, such as rejection. Regarding self-efficacy, they must see themselves as agents of change, even without immediate results. They must view the Great Commission as a personal calling, not just a task for pastors or religious leaders. The church should serve as a beacon, offering cues through encouragement and equipping believers to share the gospel.

Implications

for Christians and the Church

What does this mean for Christians and the church? We must meet people where they are. How? Through relationships. It is impossible to understand someone’s position within this model without spending time with them. Whether it’s a nonbeliever needing Jesus or a Christian learning to heed the Great Commission, relationships are key. This is how God advances the church from Genesis to Revelation—through relationships with Him and with one another.

For a nonbeliever in the perceived threat stage, sharing absolute truth and apologetics is essential. The approach must be loving and built on trust. While personal testimonies are meaningful, absolute truths and clear explanations of Christian beliefs speak directly to a nonbeliever’s perception of susceptibility and the severity of sin and death. If they do not believe in hell or the truth of the Bible, all other arguments are futile.

Once a nonbeliever perceives the threat and their susceptibility, they begin weighing benefits and barriers. For instance, someone may want to accept Christ but fear alienation from family or friends. They may feel the sacrifices required in this life are not worth eternity in heaven. While believers may disagree, it is crucial to recognize this internal struggle and give space for intrinsic motivation to develop. The Holy Spirit must do the internal work.

Self-efficacy remains vital. Once the nonbeliever perceives the threat and evaluates the change, they must understand their role

in coming to Jesus and His power to save—regardless of background, circumstance or sin. If they see themselves as too far gone, the process stalls.

Empowering Believers to Fulfill the Great Commission

The same concept applies to believers fulfilling the Great Commission. Meeting Christians where they are in this process is essential. They must recognize the threat of hell for others, believe the benefits outweigh the barriers and recognize the power of the Holy Spirit within them. Churches should be outwardly focused, constantly seeking ways to reach the lost and meet both earthly and spiritual needs. If the church does not invest time, effort and resources into building relationships beyond its walls, believers will not perceive the threat. Empowering and mentoring believers emboldens them to reach a lost and dying world.

Conclusion

Meeting people where they are in their journey is essential, and this is fostered through meaningful relationships. When we begin to care about the person, we cannot help but care about their soul and their eternal destination. Recognizing an individual’s perception and starting from there—rather than from where we wish they were—is crucial. Just as a person with diabetes will not change their behavior without aligning their perception with reality, a nonbeliever will not accept Christ, nor will a believer share Christ, without a similar alignment.

Though the tendency may be to convince others of a particular viewpoint, individuals must intrinsically recognize their need for a Savior, pursue Him and accept the gift of eternity. May we seek to meet people where they are, just as Jesus meets us where we are.

Eternity Belief Model

Sydney Dorrough, OTD, OTR/L, lives in Elk City, Oklahoma, with her husband and two sons. She has been an occupational therapist for over 16 years and currently serves as the Director of Student Success and Associate Professor in the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at Oklahoma Baptist University. Previously, she was the Program Director of the Occupational Therapy Program and Associate Dean in the College of Science and Health Professions at Northeastern State University, where she gained extensive leadership experience in academic program development, faculty mentorship, and fostering a positive and collaborative work culture. In addition to her academic leadership, Sydney owns Prosper OT Consulting, LLC, a private practice where she integrates occupational therapy expertise with parent coaching to help families navigate challenges such as anxiety and stress. She is passionate about advancing student success, supporting faculty growth and empowering future health professionals to meet the evolving needs of today’s healthcare environment while boldly living out their Christian faith.

Endnotes

1 Bird, W. (2023, October 18). Evangelicals in America: The stats may surprise you. The Gospel Coalition. https://www.thegospelcoalition. org/article/evangelicals-surprise/

2 Barna Group. (2018, May 29). Sharing faith is increasingly optional for Christians. Barna. https://www.barna.com/research/sharing-faithincreasingly-optional-christians/ [outreachmagazine.com]

3 Alyafei, A., & Easton-Carr, R. (2024). The health belief model of behavior change. StatPearls.

4 Alyafei, A., & Easton-Carr, R. (2024). The health belief model of behavior change. StatPearls.

5 Al-Ani, A., Hammouri, M., Sultan, H., Al-Huneidy, L., Mansour, A., & AlHussaini, M. (2024). Factors affecting cervical screening using the health belief model during the last decade: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 33(1), e6275. https://doi.org/10.1002/ pon.6275 [europepmc.org]

6 Al-Ani, A., Hammouri, M., Sultan, H., Al-Huneidy, L., Mansour, A., & AlHussaini, M. (2024). Factors affecting cervical screening using the health belief model during the last decade: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psycho-Oncology, 33(1), e6275. https://doi.org/10.1002/ pon.6275 [europepmc.org]

7 Pew Research Center. (2021, November 23). Views on the afterlife. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/11/23/ views-on-the-afterlife/ [owl.purdue.edu]

Standing Firm in One Spirit

Strengthening Healthcare Marriages for the Long Haul

Almost every healthcare marriage has a moment when you realize this life will not be ordinary. It might be Match Day, when the envelope opens and you celebrate through tears while quietly grieving the loss of control. It might be your first overnight call as a resident’s wife, holding a newborn at 2 a.m. while your husband delivers someone else’s baby. It might be a lawsuit letter, a patient loss, a moral dilemma or the slow drip of exhaustion over years of giving emotionally to everyone else. The call to medicine is beautiful. It is sacred. It is kingdom work. It is also heavy. And while the physician wears the white coat, the marriage often carries weight no one sees.

The Silent Strain

My husband Joshua is a family practice physician. We have been married for 18 years and have four children. We have walked through medical school debt, residency fatigue, unpredictable schedules, ministry leadership, parenting in seasons of call and exhaustion and the quiet ache of watching the man you love carry more than he can say. Over the last 15 years, I have also had the privilege of participating in and serving Side By Side, a ministry of CMDA supporting women married to medical and dental professionals around the world. What I hear again and again is a version of this:

“I knew medicine would be demanding. I didn’t realize it would demand so much of our marriage.”

Healthcare is under pressure like never before. Burnout does not stay at the hospital. It follows healthcare professionals home. When a healthcare professional gives compassion, steadiness and excellence to patients all day long, it’s miraculous if there is any left when they walk through the door for very real work at home. No one prepares you for that part, and because healthcare culture prizes strength and competence, several couples suffer silently. They assume:

“This must just be us.” “We must not be doing it well.” “Everyone else seems fine.”

Isolation becomes the breeding ground for resentment, and resentment, left untreated, becomes distance. That is exactly why community matters so much to me personally.

Rounds That Tell the Whole Story

Recently in Tampa, Florida, Joshua and I helped launch a CMDA Campus & Community Ministries (CCM) chapter we are lovingly referring to as Healing Rounds. We set round tables instead of rows or rectangles because we believe heal-

ing happens in circles. At one table sat a 26-year-old residency wife asking quietly, “Does it ever get easier?” Beside her sat a 42-year-old mid-career mother navigating teenagers and private practice life. Across from them sat a 68-year-old retired physician’s wife who still shows up, still opens her Bible and still prays for young couples walking the road she once walked. The conversations are honest.

The single person needs hope. The mid-career husband needs endurance. The retired couple embody legacy.

In the same room, physicians, nurses, dentists, physician assistants, students and spouses talked long after the formal program ended. There was laughter. There was vulnerability. There was relief in realizing no one was alone. Joshua began that night by recalling something one of his mentors used to say before teaching rounds in the hospital: “The reason this door is closed is because in this room, I can correct you, I can praise you and I can do it all while you are protected.” That image stayed with him for years.

In medicine, closed doors mean privacy for care. In Healing Rounds, they mean something similar, a covering of grace and safety. A place where you can be encouraged, challenged, celebrated and known, all while protected. For me, the word “rounds” also brings to mind our kitchen table at home. A few years ago, we replaced our rectangular table with a large round one. It is so big I have to stand up to pass dishes across it. But around that table, stories are told. Prayers are prayed. Hard days are processed. No one sits at the head. Everyone can see everyone else. Healing happens in circles.

We are grateful for the way CMDA continues to champion the integration of faith, vocation and family through ministries like Side By Side. Our local CCM chapter is just getting started, but it reflects something deeper, a growing vision within CMDA to see faith and community woven into every stage of healthcare life—and that vision has long been at the heart of Side By Side.

Standing Firm Side By Side

Side By Side grew from a simple recognition: healthcare marriage is unique. Not more important, not more spiritual, just different—and different requires understanding. Side By Side gathers women married to medical and dental students, residents, fellows and attending physicians and dentists. With chapters in more than 95 communities worldwide, over 320 volunteer leaders open their homes and churches, gather women around Scripture and faithfully shepherd these communities week after week. Several of these leaders serve quietly while raising families and supporting demanding healthcare callings. We pray. We share honestly. We remind one another healthcare is not ultimate. Christ is.

Philippians 1:27 calls believers to be “...standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel” (ESV). That verse is not decorative for us. It is directional. Early in our marriage, I thought Joshua’s calling was his alone and my job was to endure it. I often measured how well he loved me against how tired he was from loving everyone else. That comparison did not go well. Over time, the Lord gently shifted my perspective. I am not on the sidelines of his vocation. I am woven into it, and he is woven into mine. Joshua has faithfully served alongside this ministry for several years, often reminding healthcare professionals and spouses alike that marriage and calling are not competing priorities, but companions in the work God has entrusted to us.

When he carries the emotional weight of patients, I can either resent what medicine takes or become a place of restoration. When I feel unseen, I can either demand he fill what only Christ can or allow Jesus to be my source. That shift changes everything. Side By Side is not a place to criticize our husbands or their callings. It is a place to become women who stand firm in Christ so our marriages can stand firm too.

Growing the Vision

This season marks meaningful growth for Side By Side. What began as a small gathering of women supporting one

another has become a global network sustained by a deeply committed leadership team. Our executive team and regional directors faithfully shepherd chapters, mentor leaders and ensure no woman carries this calling alone. Behind the scenes, our Administrative Assistant Margaret Joseph, keeps our growing network organized and moving forward with remarkable faithfulness. Several of our leaders know if something is functioning smoothly, Margaret has likely already touched it.

As our chapters expand across the country and around the world, we have strengthened our leadership structure to ensure no woman leads alone. Under the leadership of Director of Ministry Development Lindsay Ilgenfritz, we are investing intentionally in leader coaching, discipleship rhythms and sustainable chapter health.

We are also growing in new directions. This year, Side By Side launched several new initiatives, including a prayer ministry and a virtual group for husbands of female healthcare professionals. These men often support women in demanding clinical roles while navigating their own callings. Through the leadership of Arturo Villanueva and the support of our team, this new space offers brotherhood and understanding for men who might otherwise feel overlooked. We are also preparing to launch Healthcare Marriages in Christ (HMC), refreshed Marriage Enrichment Weekends under the Side By Side umbrella. These intentional experiences will allow physician and dental couples to invest in their covenant, deepen their love for the Lord and strengthen their connection to the broader CMDA community.

The vision is widening. Prayer ministry, women’s chapters, men’s community and marriage enrichment. Strong marriages do not happen accidentally, they are cultivated.

Every Season Matters

One of the most beautiful aspects of our community in Tampa is watching generations speak into one another. Side By Side serves women at every stage, from those navigating anatomy exams and call schedules to those walking through retirement transitions and grandparenting. We see retirees who still attend, still mentor and still intercede for young couples. The gospel never times out. Covenant never retires. Formation never stops.

Healthcare life changes shape over decades. Training ends. Practices evolve. Schedules shift. However, the need for Christ-centered community remains. We do not drift toward intimacy. We cultivate it.

To the Healthcare Professional Reading This

The strength of your marriage is not separate from your calling; it sustains it. Investing in your home is not a distraction from ministry, it is part of it. Your spouse is not competing with your

patients, they are partnering in your calling. When homes are healthy, hearts are steadier, and steadier hearts practice healthcare with clarity and compassion.

You Are Not Alone

If you are reading this and feel the quiet strain of medical or dental life, know this:

You are not weak for finding it hard, you are not alone in the tension and you are not invisible to God. The call to healthcare is weighty, but so is the call to covenant, and you do not have to carry it alone. That night in Tampa, as people lingered at round tables long after the formal program ended, Joshua leaned over and said quietly, “This is why we do this.”

Not for applause, not for programming, not for expansion alone—but because healing happens when people gather in circles, look one another in the eye and bring what they have: questions, fatigue, wisdom and hope, laying it before the Lord together. Our prayer is that healthcare marriages would not merely survive the demands of healthcare but flourish in the midst of them; physicians would rise each morning grounded in Christ; wives would know they are seen, strengthened and equipped; husbands of female healthcare professionals would find brotherhood; retirees would continue to mentor the next generation; through steady, faithful marriages, the gospel would quietly advance in exam rooms, operating rooms and communities across the world.

Standing firm, striving side by side, for the faith of the gospel. One simple tradition in Side By Side gatherings has become especially meaningful to our team. Before we leave, we pause to speak a blessing:

A Blessing for the Medical Marriage

May your home be a place where weary hearts find rest. May your table hold honest conversations and faithful prayer. May your marriage grow deeper through every season of healthcare. May Christ be the One who holds you both steady through it all.

Rebecca Lehman serves as Executive Director of Side By Side, a ministry of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations supporting women married to medical and dental professionals worldwide. She and her husband Joshua, a family practice physician, live in Florida with their four children.

GET INVOLVED

Side By Side focuses on supporting, challenging and uplifting healthcare marriages to bring glory to Jesus, while positively impacting daily life and fostering deep relationships with each other, our husbands and our Lord. To learn more about CMDA’s Side By Side ministry, find a local chapter or subscribe to the monthly On The Side newsletter, visit cmda.org/side-by-side.

IN THE TRENCHES

A Physician-assisted Suicide Battle is Won

ThomasW.Eppes,Jr.,MD;DonaldR.Stern,MD,MPH;andNikhilChandravel

Thomas W. Eppes, Jr., MD

Virginia’s General Assembly has been a physician-assisted suicide battleground for the last five years. With a Republican governor from 2021 to 2025 there was always a back stop of a veto consistent with his Catholic faith. The Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) for years had a policy following the American Medical Association’s (AMA) policy against physician-assisted suicide. Therefore, it was easy to testify that the MSV was against physician-assisted suicide. In 2023, a passionate group of physicians convinced the MSV to go neutral on physician-assisted suicide, neutralizing the MSV’s effect on individual legislators. The dramatic shift in Virginia politics in the fall of 2025 seemed like a perfect storm to legalize physician-assisted suicide in Virginia.

Years of AMA experience have taught me coalitions are where battles can be won. Working with the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) and the Patients Rights Action Fund since 2016, our coalition has fought off efforts to change the AMA’s strong statements against physician-assisted suicide. The biggest key was getting students involved in an issue several do not understand or even care about. Their strong counterbalance to the majority of student AMA delegates turned the tide in 2019’s reaffirmation of AMA policy and efforts on three occasions since, the last in 2025. It was clear preparation is the key in reference committees and the floor of the AMA and MSV House of Delegates to sway votes. Consistently the AMA has voted approximately 70 to 30 to remain as the original 1992 statement in the AMA Code of Ethics.

“We must stay in the trenches to win.”

Anticipation of the political shift in the General Assembly led to a strong effort to obtain a MSV policy reversal back to opposing physician-assisted suicide. Donald Stern, MD, MPH, offered his services and unbounding energy to get physicians to become representatives to not only obtain delegate status but to speak out. His story below is remarkable in what retired physicians can do for the public good. The same key with students was led by Nikhil Chandravel, whose story below follows his efforts in conjunction with the CMDA student section at Virginia Commonwealth University. CMA, CMDA and Virginia Alliance Against Assisted Suicide (VAAAS) were key in activating members. In October, the MSV returned to a policy against physician-assisted suicide by a 55 percent vote.

That same coalition testified in the subcommittee of the General Assembly during the January 2026 session. The cards were stacked against our efforts to vote down the bill. Nothing can be stronger than having the MSV policy chief

start by firmly stating the MSV policy opposition opinion to the bill. Testimony was to be 90 seconds maximum by everyone. There was a cap set by the chair on how many people could speak. The room was loaded with students in white jackets as well as practicing physicians as a great visual. The legislators were also individually lobbied.

The proposed bill was brought in honor of a former Virgina senator who now had a neurodegenerative disease that caused her to resign from the U.S. House of Representatives. Her party had a firm majority of votes. However, something happened that I had never seen before. One of the senators was visibly shaken to the point of abstaining from the vote. Questions asked from another were strained. Although the subcommittee voted out the legislation, it failed in full committee 7 to 8. On the House side, a House committee passed by the bill until next year.

This was a battle won, a miracle of changed hearts. However, we cannot kid ourselves, because it is not over. Those who support physician-assisted suicide never give up, whether it be the AMA, MSV or the General Assembly. There is a war to be won. Preparation is the key. We must stay in the trenches to win.

Donald R. Stern, MD, MPH

As a believer and physician, I was troubled by the MSV’s neutral policy position on physician-assisted suicide, especially since I knew this would influence the Virginia General Assembly. Wanting to change this, I started diving into the literature, starting with CMDA’s Ethics Statement on Medically-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia (MAS & E) and combing through its bibliography.

When we line up with the Lord, we can march in great confidence. And I found numerous compatriots with whom to march. I soon fell into company with Tom Intorcio with Virginia Alliance Against Assisted Suicide (VAAAS) and Dr. Eppes. At Dr. Eppes’ recommendation, I joined my local medical society and became a delegate to the MSV. In the summer of 2025, Dr. Eppes and I prepared a resolution that would establish MSV opposition to physician-assisted suicide. My encouragement grew, sensing God was moving.

Through Dr. Eppes, I came into contact with CMDA’s Virginia State Representative for Campus & Community Ministries Dr. Bill Angus, CMDA’s Director of Federal Public Policy Nicole Hayes and President of the Catholic Medical Association Richmond Guild Dr. Dan Markley. With their help, I started recruiting CMDA and CMA physicians and students

from CMDA local chapters. At Viriginia Commonwealth University (VCU), I met Nikhil Chandravel, a remarkably bright fourth-year medical student who joined us in our effort. Our goal was to contact all CMDA and CMA physicians in the state, encourage them to join their local MSV chapters, become delegates, offer testimony and vote in support of our resolution against physician-assisted suicide.

We encountered multiple obstacles. Our local medical society declined to sponsor our resolution, and we submitted it directly to the MSV. At the October 2025 MSV Annual Meeting, the Reference Committee also recommended non-adoption despite forceful and near-unanimous testimony from numerous physicians across the state. Several of the physicians in favor of physician-assisted suicide did not look beyond patient autonomy and failed to understand the dangers of unconscious bias and discrimination against the elderly and disabled and the corruption of the profession of medicine.

Still not sure if victory in this battle was on our side, we prayerfully awaited the vote after the final debate…the resolution passed 55 percent to 45 percent! Hearts were being changed!

Having been granted this victory, we were presented with a challenge at the 2026 Virginia General Assembly. Two bills were introduced in the House and the Senate, HB 886 and SB 359, that would legalize physician-assisted suicide.

Alongside disability rights advocates at VAAAS, local CMDA physicians and VCU students led by Nikhil Chandravel and Richmond Area Director, Dr. Scott Armistead, blanketed the assembly with persistent messaging against this legislation. All told, we met with nearly 50 legislators or their staff over the period of a month. At the Senate Committee on Health and Education, we witnessed

a miracle: SB 359 died 8 to 7. In light of the death of its compatriot, HB 886 was quietly shelved away for the next year lest it suffer a similarly humiliating defeat. Keep praying. God is listening!

Nikhil Chandravel

As students, our time is stretched so thin it can be hard to commit to anything for long. The fight against physician-assisted suicide inspired my attention because of the heroes of my faith before me. Growing up, I was a voracious reader and tore through Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, partly out of morbid curiosity, partly out of reverent awe. The martyr Telemachus always struck me. A rugged, simple hermit, when confronted with the bloody spectacle of the gladiator fights, he leapt into the arena and implored two gladiators not to murder each other. Enraged by this buzzkill, the crowd condemned him, and he was stabbed to death. As he fell to the sand, their eyes were opened in horror, and they abandoned the spectacle in disgust. The church from its earliest days has never shied away from these issues. Rather, to echo Theodore Roosevelt’s stirring words, we are called to be “men in the arena,” fighting the good fight with the gospel of mercy.

The voice of students made a noticeable impact. Students were able to express their concerns as constituents, future healthcare professionals and advocates. Scenes of crowded hallways filled with young faces in white coats illustrated where the future of the house of medicine stands on this issue. We see physician-assisted suicide as a cruel gallows, dressed up in the saccharine pieties of autonomy, that will only choke the poor, the needy and the disabled. In an age whose zeitgeist is apathy, young Christians still hum the old hymn: “As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free!”

“Our whole lives lead up to moments where we are called to do God’s will.”

Indeed, I believe we are positioned by God to best leap into our appointed arenas. An exhortation I have often come back to during this fight is Mordecai’s words to his niece Esther: “… And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14, ESV)! Our whole lives lead up to moments where we are called to do God’s will.

As Esther faced uncertain times before the rulers of her time, this past legislative session we were faced with a similarly unfriendly political arena. Two bills were presented to legalize physician-assisted suicide, in a potentially friendly majority caucus. The narrative was dominated by the proponents of physician-assisted suicide with scarce pushback, and they were fresh off a series of victories in states like Illinois. We had to play catch-up. Our local CMDA members were charged with this: if not us, then who?

“He who shows up, wins.” That is my biggest advocacy takeaway from this session, and that is what we heard from countless legislative aides and staff members. Local CMDA students and physicians were consistently the only health professionals showing up every day to engage legislators on this topic on both sides. We were able to saturate the information space in statistics, facts and carefully tailored talking points that fit each legislator.

Thomas W. Eppes, Jr., MD, is a native Virginian who graduated from William and Mary in 1974. He graduated from University of Virginia Medical School in 1978 and then joined a family practice in Forest, Virginia in 1981. He still continues to work at this practice today, which has grown to a group of nine physicians with three urgent care centers, a diagnostic center and an increasing affiliation with Liberty University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was the founding physician of a local free clinic in the 1980s, in addition to serving as the team physician for the local high school. His practice also actively teaches medical students from three schools. He served as president of the Medical Society of Virginia in 2008-2009, and he is currently chair of the American Medical Association’s Integrated Physician Practice Section.

Donald R. Stern, MD, MPH, is a resident of Hanover County, Virginia and a retired physician following 36 years of service with the Virginia Department of Health. He is married to Debbie, and they have five children and 12 grandchildren. He is a member of Freedom Fellowship Church, and he loves spending time with his grandchildren and riding his Harley.

Nikhil Chandravel is an incoming emergency medicine intern at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System. He studied at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and obtained a bachelor of arts in philosophy from VCU (he’s a Richmond native and loves it!), and is interested in the intersection of policy, faith and human flourishing.

GET INVOLVED

If you would like to get involved in CMDA’s advocacy efforts on this and other issues, please contact us at advocacy@cmda.org. To keep up with the latest updates from CMDA’s Advocacy team, by listening to The VoiceofAdvocacypodcast or reading The Advocacy Report newsletter, visit cmda.org/advocacy . To learn more about CMDA’s position and ethics statements on this and other issues, visit cmda.org/ethics .

“Every

week, more people walk through the doors of hospitals than through the doors of churches.” Francis Grim

This powerful quote is featured in the Saline Process Witness Training workbook and is an excellent reminder of how important this training is for Christian healthcare professionals.

I came to saving faith in Jesus midway through dental school. The glory and power of the gospel filled a 24-year void, and God’s grace made me a new creature in Christ. Two years later as I graduated, I remember thinking, “Now that I have been entrusted with this amazing gospel, how can I spend my life working on teeth?" This false dichotomy between faith and healthcare lingered in my brain for several years.

It took a while, but eventually I realized God can even use a dentist for His glory. Caring for dental needs gave me numerous opportunities to talk with patients—not just about their oral health, but also about their relationship with the Lord, or lack thereof. I took an apologetics class and read everything I could get my hands on regarding sharing the gospel, yet my efforts to connect healthcare with the gospel were often awkward and disjointed.

Then in 1995 I heard about a new CMDA seminar being offered in Asheville, North Carolina called Saline Solution. My wife Linda and I drove seven hours to hear Dr. Walt Larimore and Pastor Bill Peel show the strong connections between physical and spiritual health, and how natural it could be to have gospel conversations with patients. It’s amazing I didn’t get a speeding ticket on the way home, because I couldn’t wait to combine two of the greatest loves of my life: dentistry and the gospel.

This initial Saline Solution program was followed by several more such events across the nation, and I attended three more times at various locations, enjoying the insightful teaching and sweet fellowship each event provided. What I didn’t realize at the time, however, was that an international version of the Saline Solution had been created and was beginning to influence healthcare offered by Christ-followers around the world. This international effort, founded by Dr. Bob Snyder and currently led by Executive Director Dr. Gabor Gyori, leaned heavily on the principles taught in the Saline Solution, and it was called the Saline Process.

Since its inception about three decades ago, the Saline Process has been taught to more than 57,000 healthcare professionals in 133 different countries! This program is highly adaptable to a wide variety of cultures, and only the Lord knows how many patients have been influenced for Christ by those who have attended. And now, having been taught to Christians in healthcare around the world, the Saline Process Witness Training is being imported back to the United States through CMDA.

Throughout 2025, the 30th anniversary of Saline Solution, we at CMDA worked hard to make the Saline Process Witness Training program available to CMDA members across the country and beyond. In May 2025, 10 individuals were trained to help lead the program, and during the second half of 2025 they were involved in teaching the Saline Process to Christian healthcare professionals in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Angola, Toronto, Louisville and Fort Worth, Texas. Only the Lord could orchestrate the development of a powerful program like Saline Solution, send it around the world for cultural adaptation and then bring it back to the U.S. as a boomerang blessing!

To give you a taste of how the Saline Process Witness Training is equipping healthcare professionals for ministry in the U.S. and

beyond, check out the following Saline Process Witness Training events our new trainers were involved in during 2025:

Tulsa, Oklahoma

The In His Image Family Practice residency program has been training residents to address both physical and spiritual patient needs since 1976. During the last few years, their residents have been receiving annual training in the form of Grace Prescriptions, a follow-up version of the Saline Solution program. This year, faculty member Dr. Jacob Greuel, one of our new Saline Process trainers, decided to instead use the Saline Process Witness Training. This switch was based in part on the fact that several graduates of the In His Image residency program end up serving overseas, where the Saline Process training is so prevalent. Ten residents, four faculty and seven spouses received this training in June 2025, and there are plans to make this an annual event in Tulsa for future residents, faculty and Tulsa area healthcare professionals.

Jos, Nigeria In September 2025, recently trained U.S. physician Dr. Greg Kirschner joined two trainers from Nigeria— including their International CMDA President—in leading a Saline Process event. Approximately 55 healthcare professionals were trained during 10 hours stretched across two days. Several types of healthcare professionals were present, including several family medicine residents involved with the Christian Academy of African Physicians (CAAPS).

Mount Darwin, Zimbabwe — Pastor Brian Vander Ark, our only non-medical Saline Process trainee, singlehandedly led two separate groups of 25 healthcare professionals and chaplains at Karanda Hospital in Zimbabwe. One unusual aspect of this training was the fact not all of the attendees were Christians, so this provided a great opportunity for Brian to communicate the beauty of the gospel during the training. A second unique element of the training was the need to discuss the spiritual reality of evil spirits and the role they can play in disease. We don’t talk much about this topic in the U.S., but this is a hot topic in Africa, as it is in the Scriptures.

Toronto, Canada Two of those who became Saline Process trainers in the U.S., Drs. Alvin Loh and Leevin Mah, live in the Toronto area. They were anxious to share with their Canadian colleagues what they had learned, and 30 enthusiastic healthcare professionals enjoyed the mixture of lectures, role playing and small group discussion opportunities that make the Saline Process such a unique, powerful opportunity. Dr. Mark Topazian, a gastroenterologist in Ethiopia and a highly experienced Saline Process trainer, was a great mentor to Drs. Alvin and Leevin, who are likely to return the favor to numerous others (2 Timothy 2:2)!

With 109 new graduates of the Saline Process Witness Training and a growing roster of certified trainers, the momentum behind the Saline Process Witness Training is undeniable. The true success of this program isn’t found in the numbers;

it’s found in the fellowship and the skillsets being developed at each event. See what a few of our recent participants had to say:

“The tools and explanations were incredibly helpful. The training broke ideas down into clear next steps and emphasized God’s sovereignty—reminding me to be sensitive to Him rather than putting pressure on myself.”

—Medical Student, Midland, Texas

“I really appreciated hearing the stories and experiences of other participants. Learning their techniques for connecting with patients gave me new ideas, and reviewing the available tools was very helpful.” —Dentist, Hayden, Idaho

“The material is so practical yet powerful. It’s easy to put into practice, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, it’s exciting to see how God can do big things through it.”

—Nurse Practitioner, Milford, Connecticut

“Seeing and hearing from other Christian doctors who want to impact their patients in a Christ-like way was incredibly encouraging and refreshing.” Emergency Physician, Crowley, Texas

I simply cannot recommend the Saline Process Witness Training highly enough. Participation in this program is the best way I have ever found to ensure the “salt” of my patient care doesn’t lose its flavor.

As we prepare for upcoming events in Hawaii and Alabama, we encourage you to take the next step. Sharing the love of Christ with confidence is within your reach. Join us for this life-changing opportunity to more fully embrace God’s eternal purposes in your care for patients. Visit cmda.org/saline to learn more or reach out to me at bill.griffin@cmda.org to help plan a training event in your city.

William T. Griffin, DDS, serves as CMDA’s Senior Vice President. A member of CMDA since dental school, he has been a part of CMDA’s senior leadership team since 2019. He averages about four dental mission trips each year, and he also serves as the Director of CMDA’s Faith Prescriptions and the Saline Process Witness Training, designed to helps Christian healthcare professionals address the spiritual needs of their patients. Dr. Griffin enjoys opportunities to communicate the love of Christ, domestically and internationally, through healthcare.

Bioethics

The Dr. John Patrick Bioethics Column

THAT WE MAY

Of course, I was teasing you with the title, which is from Thomas Cranmer’s opening prayer in the Anglican communion service, Book of Common Prayer.1 To work well and to serve well is encouraged by remembering God is watching. For a Darwinian, by contrast, the only rational motivation is dependent on benefit to his or her genes. Ethics lectures do not seem to consider motivation, and we, who claim to love the Lord, are not always better than unbelievers.

For the administrative world, it is an act of faith to believe procedural rules will work as expected, but they have little evidence that they do. Edmund Pelagrino, MD, said several years ago at a conference celebrating 25 years from the formulation of the Georgetown Mantra (autonomy, justice, beneficence, non-maleficence) as ethical principle that these principles guide only those who wish to be guided. Thus, the only true protection for the patient is the ethical character of the healthcare professional, and this depends on a long obedience in the same direction.

Behavior is not primarily the result of top-down management but of bottom-up culture. Until the time of the First World War, a British citizen could travel anywhere without dependency on any government documents or bureaucracy. Nowadays the insatiable bureaucratic desire to control reaches further and further into our lives, destroying local behaviors that have been part of the local culture for hundreds of years. I am not exaggerating. A few short years ago in rural Ontario you could buy home baked goods at the farm gate. Now public health demands those who wish to sell such goods must have a separate commercial grade kitchen, which they can’t afford. Mrs. Smith’s superb apple pie has gone. So also has the honor system for paying for corn, apples, etc. at the farm gate. Teaching ethics may produce amateur ethicists, but it does not produce ethical

people, only locally enculturated norms do that. The daily Bible readings in school were very important.

It has been over 25 years since Robert Fogel wrote The Fourth Great Awakening and the Future of Egalitarianism and convinced me that the most dire shortage in the 21st century would not be power, rare earth minerals or a shortage of people with degrees but of people who could be trusted.2 Real trust within a medical school class is limited to one or two people for most students, and obviously the growth of cheating has been a dramatic effect of the digital age. “High trust” cultures are disappearing rapidly. Fogel had watched this happen with his economics students at the University of Chicago. In effect, he predicted the 2008 financial crisis.

As Christians, we ought to be reflexively skeptical of rulebased approaches to moral problems. Conversion makes you redeemed, it does not make you good. Goodness emerges over time, often centuries, when the dominant culture provides a rational basis for this to happen. Thus, the Torah ultimately produced the behavioral practices of the Jews, which made them the culture that underpinned the development of banking (Read Niall Ferguson, The Ascent of Money). In contrast, Islam makes usury a sin, so banking cannot flourish and large-scale development cannot happen. The oil wealth of the Islamic world would not have happened without the technical capacities of the “infidels” and the ability to raise startup funds.

Primary loyalty to family and clan are normal human responses in all tribal cultures. Truth trumps loyalty only in Judeo Christian societies where there is a rational base to place truth above loyalty. By contrast Raymond Ibrahim, Middle East, Arabic scholar and academic, has written extensively about the challenges facing Christian communities. He quotes frequently from the Quran and other Islamic books, “We reject you. Enmity and hate shall forever reign between us until you believe in Allah alone.”3 And again, “O Prophet, wage war on the infidels and hypocrites and be ruthless. Their abode is hell - an evil fate.”4 “We consider this as justice and kindness to them.”5 Raymond Ibrahim’s work can be found at raymondibrahim.com.

The Western world needs to recognize its historical roots. Here is a comment of intellectual elite Jurgen Habermas: “For the normative self-understanding of modernity, Christianity has served as more than just a precursor or catalyst. Universalistic egalitarianism, from which springs the ideals of freedom and the collective way of life in solidarity, the autonomous conduct of life and emancipation, the individual morality of conscience, human rights and democracy are the direct result of the Judeo ethic of justice and the Christian ethic of love.”6

Our liberal elite are ignorant and need to read some history instead of assuming migrants coming into our country need to be coddled and looked after. The culture they bring tells us what they will do, and then we complain when they are doing it! A little more attention to cultural norms would teach us what is normal and indeed a duty in tribal societies. The fiasco of Minnesota is not immoral in Somalian eyes; it is simply an outcome of putting Somalia first. Lying to and exploiting the Christian is not merely condoned in Islamic culture, it is a duty.

We are now in a post-Christian, increasingly nihilistic world. We are less and less rooted in the biblical narrative. What are we to do? Here are a few suggestions. Describe your own life to others in Paul’s words, “For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing” (Romans 7:19). That reality does not magically disappear with conversion. Our problem is not lack of knowledge but a lack of will.

If you encounter pushback, ask whether your opponent could walk around for the day like a cartoon character with a caption over their head displaying to the world their inner life.

The difference faith makes is that it sensitizes conscience and invigorates our will by the work of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8). Our Lord also tells us when He sets us free, we are free indeed. The pretense that everything is accounted for by social construction is clearly not true. The development of science came before significant economic progress and is the product of societies formed on Judeo Christian faith. Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Boyle, Newton, Faraday and Maxwell were all Christians.

The next step is that we must, in Paul’s words, give attention to reading. If you have a role in your church, you must have serious reading in your life so you can teach with authority. Traditional services ought to begin with confession, assurance of faith, Bible reading from the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament and epistles followed by expositional preaching and lastly singing. This is because church should give you something to sing about. We use singing for psychological lift. The hymn “Amazing Grace” was generated by being saved!

Here is Thomas Cranmer’s prayer in full:

“Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy Name; through Christ our Lord Amen.”

Endnotes

1 Episcopal Church. (1875). The Book of Common Prayer: According to the Use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. New York: T. Whittaker.

2 University of Chicago Press. (2000). The Fourth Great Awakening and the Future of Egalitarianism. Chicago: R. Fogel.

3 Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60.4.

4 Quran 9:73 and 66.9.

5 Surah Al-Mumtahanah 60.8-9.

6 Polity Press. (2006). Time of Transitions. J. Habermas.

John Patrick, MD, studied medicine at Kings College, London and St. George’s Hospital, London in the United Kingdom. He has held appointments in Britain, the West Indies and Canada. At the University of Ottawa, Dr. Patrick was Associate Professor in Clinical Nutrition in the Department of Biochemistry and Pediatrics for 20 years. Today he is President and Professor at Augustine College and speaks to Christian and secular groups around the world, communicating effectively on medical ethics, culture, public policy and the integration of faith and science. Connect with Dr. Patrick at johnpatrick.ca. You can also learn more about his work with Augustine College at augustinecollege.org. To hear more from Dr. Patrick, visit johnpatrick.ca to listen to the Dr. John Patrick Podcast.

Classifieds

To place a classified advertisement, contact communications@cmda.org.

Associate Dentist — Naples Family Dentist, a privately owned, faith-guided dental practice in beautiful Naples, Florida, is seeking a motivated associate dentist who values clinical excellence, strong ethics and patient-centered care. Our practice blends comprehensive restorative and cosmetic dentistry with a growing emphasis on biological and whole-body health principles. We are looking for a dentist who is open to learning, values continuing education and desires to practice dentistry in an environment that respects both science and faithdriven compassion. This is an excellent opportunity for a dentist seeking long-term growth, mentorship and the ability to practice with a high degree of clinical autonomy in a supportive, team-oriented environment. About our practice: privately owned (non-corporate); modern technology including CBCT and digital scanning; strong, well-trained team and positive office culture; established patient base in a high-growth community; opportunity to expand skills in biological/holistic approaches if desired; and located in one of the most desirable coastal communities in the United States. We are

character and integrity, values servant leadership and teamwork, has excellent communication skills, is clinically confident or growth-oriented and appreciates treating patients with compassion and purpose. Naples offers an exceptional quality of life with year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches and a strong professional community. If you are seeking more than just a job and desire a place where your skills, faith and purpose can align, we would welcome a confidential conversation. Please submit your CV and a brief introduction to NaplesDentalResumes@ gmail.com. All inquiries will be handled confidentially. naplesfamilydentist.com

Chief Executive Officer — Crossroad Health Center is a faith-based, federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving the people of Cincinnati, Ohio. In partnership with FaithSearch Partners, the Board of Trustees seeks its next Chief Executive Officer to build on more than three decades of trusted community impact and provide honor to Jesus Christ by providing accessible, comprehensive healthcare in partnership with our patients and community leading to healthy, changed lives. If you therndon@ ) and Kimberley Wiedefeld

FaithSearch Partners is pleased to announce the launch of our search for Calvin University’s new Dean for the School of Health. The new Dean will serve as a high-impact, transformative leader and will focus on elevating the School of Health’s visibility and reputation. The new Dean will join the university at an exciting time, leading strategic efforts to establish a robust regional and national profile for the School of Health. , Calvin University offers a beautiful campus environment and access to one of the region’s most dynamic healthcare hubs. The local community features major systems like Corewell Health and Trinity Health, creating a strong foundation for clinical partnerships, education and innovation. This powerful synergy between academia and a thriving healthcare ecosystem makes Grand Rapids an ideal place for a leader committed to shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals. If you know of anyone you can recommend for this unique role, please let us know. We have a comprehensive document further describing the opportunity if you’d like to have it sent to you. All inquiries are confidential. Brian Jensen, Senior Vice President, FaithSearch Partners; 13355 Noel Road – Suite 1100 - Dallas, TX 75240 – USA; bjensen@faithsearchpartners.com www.faithsearchpartners.com

Disciple-making Physician Assistants — Do you long to see God work through your physician assistant practice? We are the largest vasectomy reversal practice in the U.S. Our two-fold mission is to help all our patients multiply physically and help some multiply spiritually. Thus, we train spiritually and medically. If you proficiently enjoy simple skin suturing; if you want to make disciple-making disciples of Jesus among your patients; and if God is calling you to this work, we can train you in this medical ministry to fulfill the Great Commission. Come join us at our  Warwick, Rhode Island or Fort Gibson, Oklahoma locations. Contact drdavid@thereversalclinic.com

Endodontics Associate — Compassion Endodontics is seeking an associate who is quality minded, ethical and eager to provide the best care to our patients. We are a busy, referral-based practice with state-of-the art equipment: Zeiss microscopes, designer ASI carts, CBCT, EdgePRO Laser, digital imaging and TDO software. Potential opportunity for partnership for the right candidate. The office is located proximate to Baltimore, New York City and Philadelphia. Interested candidates provide resume to compassionendo manager@gmail.com or call 610-484-4222.

Executive Director — mPower Approach is an international Christian non-profit based in Louisville, Kentucky. Our mission is equipping indigenous leaders through training, strategic partnership and sustainable ministry development across Africa, Asia and other underserved regions. We seek a visionary Executive Director to lead organizational growth, advance fundraising strategy, cultivate donor and church partnerships and oversee operational excellence. The ideal candidate is a proven non-profit leader with strong financial acumen, crosscultural intelligence, exceptional communication skills and a passion for global discipleship and kingdom impact. If interested, please email your CV to info.mpowerapproach@gmail.com

Multiple Specialties — Bon Secours Coastal Virginia — Medicine with a Mission — Fifth largest faith-based health system in the U.S. has open practice positions in coastal Virginia Beach, Virginia region including primary care, cardiology, sleep, nocturnist, radiation oncology and colorectal surgery. Our mission, vision and values live beyond words on a wall.  www.bsmhealth.org Contact Senior Physician Recruiter Deb McCarthy at Debra_mccarthy@bshsi.org

CMDA PLACEMENT SERVICES

Bringing together healthcare professionals to further God’s kingdom

“It’s a valuable source for

colleagues

who

recognize that their calling to medicine is a calling to ministry.”

— The Jackson Clinic

“Absolutely

amazing! I would not have found my job without CMDA Placement Services.”

— Rachel VanderWall, NP

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 healthcare professionals and practices. We have an established network consisting of hundreds of opportunities in various specialties.

You will benefit from our experience and guidance. Every single placement carries its own set of challenges. We help find the perfect fit for you and your practice.

P.O. Box 7500 • Bristol, TN 37621 www.cmda.org • 888-230-2637

Are you passionate about your work... and the nations? Talk to us about how healthcare opens doors to make Christ known in places where there are few, if any, followers of Jesus.