Posts by Christian Medical & Dental Associations®
On the Side: May 2022
I’m in my early 60s. This means I have about 50 years of clear memories of news events, politics, fads and fashions, stemming from the early 70s. I even remember when JFK died, although I was just a little girl; the reactions of the adults around me were so remarkable that I still remember exactly where I was. In all of that time I will tell you what I have learned: God is the only One we can trust to tell us the truth and the only One who can give us peace.
Read MoreReal Estate: Flexible, Powerful Giving
Ready to sell your vacation home, rental property, farm land or other real estate? Before you go to market, you may want to consider a tax-wise gift instead.
Read MoreNow and Later: Tax-wise Giving from Your IRA
Many CMDA supporters increase the impact and tax-efficiency of their generosity by giving now or later from their individual retirement accounts.
Read MoreGive and Receive Income for Life!
The Not-Too-Good-To-Be-True Giving Option
Support CMDA in a major way and receive steady income payments for life!
Sound too good to be true?
Read MoreFive Ways to Maximize Your Giving
Savvy giving to stretch your dollar AND reduce your taxes
Whether shopping, investing or giving, you’re always trying to get the most out of your money. To you, this just makes sense!
Read MoreOn the Side: April 2022
The dog groomer took some sort of hiatus. And while I don’t begrudge her time off, away or whatever she needed, we have three dogs in this house. Two fairly large, all fairly fluffy dogs. And furthermore, finding a good groomer in our area is like finding gold at the end of the rainbow. It eludes most and did us for a long time. Finding a replacement was impossible.
Read MoreOn the Side: March 2022
My middle daughter has a problem with trust. She often asks me, “Mom, are you going to take me to dance today?” or “Mom, are you going to pick me up from school?” She frets over small things like have I signed a permission slip yet, or have I made that orthodontist appointment yet. It is frustrating as a parent to feel like my precious girl doesn’t know that I am taking care of her, that I am here for her.
Read MoreOn the Side: February 2022
As I write this, I am on Day 8 of a self-imposed quarantine for COVID-19. Dr. H and I managed to come down with it at almost the same time; so have several of our family members. No one seems to know just who gave it to whom, but at this point it doesn’t much matter. All of our happily vaccinated and boostered selves are doing better now, by God’s grace, and we are very thankful about it.
Read MoreOn the Side: January 2022
I knew I’d broken it before I hit the ground. I heard it snap. Breathing hard on the concrete, between cries for help, my mind moaned, “not again!”.
Yes. Again.
9 years ago I broke the same ankle, my right one. It was early Christmas morning and I was sleepily walking down the stairs to get baby Tylenol for my teething son. One wrong step and down I went. This time it was December 23rd. I think next year my family may cocoon me in bubble wrap and prop me up in the corner until New Year’s.
On the Side: December 2021
The joke in our house is that Tigger married Eeyore. I bounce from idea to idea with romantic notions of how perfectly photographic and memorable things will turn out. My husband does the actual research to determine if the event/location/idea is actually something we can do, achieve, make happen. I want to jump at the idea and be spontaneous, and he wants to research the idea and be prepared for every contingency. My girls and I took a road trip this summer with only a tenuous sketch of a plan. More than once, one or three of us commented on how we wish Dad was with us and had planned the trip. My Tigger needs his Eeyore.
Read MoreWoes of the World’s Wealthiest Man: The Missing Possession We All Need
Once deemed the world’s wealthiest man, Howard Hughes seemingly had it all. But at the time of his passing, one missing possession unraveled a lifetime of accumulation.
Read MoreWhere There’s a Will (No really…Where IS Your Will?)
Congratulations! If you have a completed, legal will, you already understand the peace of mind that comes from having a plan in place.
Read MoreThe Gift of a Lifetime: Legacy Giving to CMDA
“I wish I could do more!”
It’s one of the most common sentiments we hear from supporters who are passionate about bringing the hope and healing of Christ to the world through healthcare professionals.
Read MoreHuddle Now to Eliminate Chaos Later: Sharing Your Plan Through a Family Meeting
Did you know the average play in football takes just four seconds? But the huddle before the play often takes much longer.
Read MoreOn the Side: November 2021
Sometimes we hear that Christians are the hands and feet of Jesus here on Earth. It sounds saintly, but it’s not actually in the Bible anywhere. I know, because I checked. I’m not sure where the saying came from originally, and perhaps we don’t need to know. But we do know this: As Christians we are part of the Body of Christ and it makes sense that putting Christ’s love into everyday practice with the people around us is like being the hands and feet of the Body of Christ.
Read MoreOn the Side: October 2021
I recently found a love note from a young wife to her medical student spouse. I’ll warn you; it’s mushy with ignorant glee. See for yourself:
“I love you. I’d love you the same if you were a park ranger. I’d love you the same if we had nothing because even then, we would have each other and God’s blessing and love for our marriage. We are so richly blessed by agape love. Everything else is details—icing on the cake. The way you’ve used the intelligence God blessed you with over the past two years of medical school is astounding. Today you are crossing into unknown territory. I feel so privileged to be sharing the experience by your side….”
The Long Shot That Paid: Three Tax-Wise Reasons to Give Cryptocurrency
Some investors take a long shot with a small amount of their money—and every once in a while, it pays off.
If you were among those who took a chance on Bitcoin, Ethereum or other cryptocurrency a few years back, you’ve probably seen some extraordinary gains.
So, now what?
Read MoreWho’s That in the Spotlight? – Living Rich Toward God
You know this person. We all do.
No matter the conversation, they always steer the topic back to themselves. It’s predictable. Annoying. Sad.
Read MoreBlessing CMDA Through Your IRA: A Smart and Satisfying Solution for Seniors
Many generous seniors bless the ministry of CMDA by giving directly from their individual retirement accounts. For those who qualify, IRA gifts offer a convenient, cost-effective and powerful way to bring the hope and healing of Christ to the world through healthcare professionals.
Read MoreThree Big Gifts That Won’t Break the Bank
Considering a year-end gift to CMDA? Here are three tax-wise options that allow you to give in a substantial way without affecting your cash flow.
Read MoreOn the Side: September 2021
The census taker arrived just as Wade was pulling in from a long stretch at the hospital. He told me to go on doing what I was doing—cooking supper with three toddlers at my ankles—and he would answer the questions. When the census taker asked Wade how many hours he had worked the week before, I stuck my head out of the kitchen to hear his answer. “All,” I wanted to scream. He worked all the hours. Wade answered 130. I watched at the gentleman looked at his form, looked at Wade and looked back at the form. “Sir, we are only given two squares. Is it ok if I just put 99?”
Read MoreOn the Side: August 2021
“I’ll just sleep while it’s red,” I reasoned. At the time, this made perfect sense to my sleep-deprived brain. Happily, I woke up a few seconds later with my foot still on the brake and the traffic light now a lovely shade of green. I thought I was the only intern this had ever happened to, but I soon learned my husband had once had a similar experience. After a different long night on call at the hospital, he had been awakened at a green traffic light by the horn of the driver behind him!
Read MoreOn the Side: July 2021
I love genealogies. Thanks to my beloved Grandpa Sam, I have a detailed genealogy going back to 1690 on my father’s side. It traces our family’s journey from the Isle of Mull in Scotland to the East Coast of the U.S., and eventually to Colorado. Looking at its 300-plus years of history, I wonder who these ancestors were and what they were like. If each one could tell their story, what would it include? I do know one fought in the Revolutionary War, and one had 18 children!!! I also know that none of them had any clue that their great-great-great…granddaughter would be writing this from a laptop computer in Palm Desert, California.
Read MoreIn The Blink Of An Eye: Choosing God’s Promise Over The Moment
Most people understand the importance and power of having a completed will or trust in place. Through your will, you can provide for the needs of your loved ones and give meaningful support to CMDA and the other causes close to your heart.
Read MoreTop 3 Estate Plan Sticking Points (And How to Get Un-Stuck)
Most people understand the importance and power of having a completed will or trust in place. Through your will, you can provide for the needs of your loved ones and give meaningful support to CMDA and the other causes close to your heart.
Read MoreLeaving Your IRA to CMDA: A Smart and Simple Way to Give
Many people make the mistake of leaving their IRA, 401(k) or other retirement funds to family, and then giving entirely different gifts from their will to charity. In most cases, this is the exact opposite of what should happen.
Read MoreAvoiding the Cliffhanger: How Your Will Reveals What Matters Most
Cliffhangers might be an amusing way to end a novel or sitcom, but it’s hardly the way to conclude your own life’s story.
Yet, this is exactly what will happen if you don’t complete or communicate your estate plans. Your loved ones will face the ultimate “cliffhanger.”
Without completing and sharing your will or trust, your family will be burdened with uncertainty about how you wanted your belongings to be distributed. They won’t have any clarity about the provisions you wanted to make for your family or for the causes close to your heart.
Read MoreOn the Side: June 2021
The snowstorm out my window made a rainbow of white as we towed our 23-foot travel trailer down the mountain pass. We hoped all would stay in order: truck first, trailer second. Ironically, in those white-knuckle moments, I was telling my medical man what the Lord had been teaching me recently—to hold loosely.
Read MoreHow Generous Christians Save Taxes
Savvy Giving Options You Should Know
Care to know a secret?
Generous Christians just like you are giving to CMDA in savvy ways that have tremendous kingdom impact AND reduce their taxes!
Read MoreThe Cure for Your Real Estate Headaches
Reduce Taxes and Burdens by Giving Property
Sometimes the cost and hassle of owning real estate outweighs the benefits your property once offered.
Can you relate to any of these ownership headaches?
Read MoreThe One Thing that Keeps Us from Gloating
For many, the iconic, self-made millionaire is the epitome of American life. The familiar, if not trite, mantra goes something like this: “Work harder than everyone else now and collect your millions later.”
Read MoreHard Seasons and Future Grace
“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24b, NIV).
Dentistry has the capacity to cause low morale. This has been evident not only personally, but I hear it from colleagues/former classmates and social media. Low morale can be attributed to all the dynamics of being a dentist, including clinic responsibilities, staff/co-workers and personal matters. Feelings of anger/frustration, despondency, diffidence, anxiety, self-doubt, depression, fear, worry, loneliness, burnout and all the like, a dentist will experience. However, the truth is that everyone will experience it throughout the course of life, and it does not matter the profession. My wife is an emergency room nurse, my dad is a small business owner, my brother is a director of strength training and my mother is a customer service agent. Over the years, I have heard them all express what is described above. However, it was those seasons and the help of my brother that led to the message of this blog.
Read MoreOn the Side: May 2021
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” – Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
Peace seems scarce these days. In fact, we seem to be living on a peace spectrum that runs anywhere from shaky armistice to literal dumpster fire. Even as I write these words, which you may read later, I am sure that if there isn’t something disastrous going on today, there will be tomorrow.
Read MoreOn the Side: April 2021
The call came maybe five months after we moved into the house I had dreamed of my whole life. Big front porch. Two porch swings. Rockers. And the icing on the cake—azalea bushes circling the big huge trees in my new front yard. I was anticipating the first of many, many years of Easter photo sessions in front of those bushes. But for that phone call.
Read MoreSeeing the Purpose Behind the Virus featuring Drs. Greg and Ali Tsai
CMDA members Drs. Greg and Ali Tsai live and practice medicine in Manhattan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis when the pandemic initially broke out in the United States. Greg is an ENT physician, while Ali is an OB/Gyn who works part-time with a homeless shelter.
Read MoreOn the Side: March 2021
The season of Lent has begun. Raised in the Baptist church, Lent wasn’t something that we celebrated, but I have always thought it was a beautiful way to prepare for Good Friday and Easter.
Read MoreOn the Side: February 2021
As I have said in the past, “As wives of doctors, we are the people, who take care of the people, who take care of everyone else.” Since 2020 has now mercifully drawn to a close, I think it’s okay for us to take a moment to look back and take stock of how we are doing and think about what we need to do going forward to help take care of ourselves.
Read MoreOn the Side: January 2021
The May Day pictures from my daughter’s fourth grade moving up ceremony are some of my favorites. The girls are dressed in matching white dresses with ribbons around their waists and flower crowns in their hair. Those flower crowns alone made them appear angelic. But the fact that those little friends had skin tone ranging in every color made the photos seem like a little slice of what heaven will be. In hindsight, I was feeling pride about that. I thought we had found the way to move race relations forward in this next generation. I thought we had reached a better place—these girls cared far more about what they had in common than the skin tone that might otherwise separate them. Oh, what I was feeling was definitely pride bordering on smugness in the ease with which this could be “fixed.”
Read MoreOn the Side: December 2020
We don’t watch It’s a Wonderful Life every Christmas—it is always on our must-watch list, but I am pretty sure that is because it is my favorite and so the family tries to appease me. But trust me, if schedules are too busy, and we don’t get through our entire Christmas list, this is definitely the one that doesn’t get watched.
Read MoreOn the Side: November 2020
In a few days, we will be voting on who will be the President and Vice President for the coming four years. To say that this is important to us all is an understatement. It is not only important to the United States of America, but it is also important to the entire world, especially in light of COVID-19 and its subsequent fallout. Countries all over the world have been affected by the pandemic and by the economic consequences of it as well.
Read MoreOn the Side: October 2020
I once finished the Chicago Marathon. I ran right through the city uninhibited by the two million people who lived there. It was really something. I ran freely through a maze of normally congested streets. There were people pressing in on every side, yet I was unrestrained to work toward my goal. Do you know why?
Read MoreOn the Side: September 2020
The meeting with my co-leader was held two weeks before the start of the new Side By Side session. I had my planner, my Bible and the study book. She had the same. But Deb also had a box of organized, color-coded, individually-bagged Scripture reminders for each student, for every week of the semester. On top of all of this, she also had already written meticulous notes on each lesson in her beautiful penmanship.
Read MoreJennifer Fischer, PA-C
Human Trafficking | Sex Trafficking | Pornography
Read MoreOn the Side: August 2020
I haven’t been able to write for weeks. The peace of mind, which I so typically enjoy, has eluded me recently. Every time I’ve tried to put pen to paper, I have found horrible angry things drying in the ink on the page. I almost despaired of writing this article, but my husband, good man that he is, suggested I write about “peace of mind.” He figured I’d have to walk through some Bible verses and pray a bit to regain my peace of mind, so I could effectively write about it, and he was right…thankfully. I hope you will walk through this exercise with me.
Read MoreWhat if Christians Led the Way Out of This? – Redefining our Freedom According to the Cross
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free…You…were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself…’” (Galatians 5:1a,13-14, NIV 1984).
Read MoreNever Too Late to Learn
Last month, one of my Side By Side sisters, Christon Sawatsky, pushed me out of my comfort zone. Christon asked me to post a statement for Side By Side surrounding racism and the death of George Floyd. I am not proud of my initial response to her. Frankly, I was just not sure what to say. I am thankful, however, for her insistence I write the statement. To begin, Christon urged me to examine my own life by looking in my heart for the presence of racism. She had already done this and had been doing research to more fully educate herself. Christon was gentle but insistent with me, pointing out she did not believe that I, a white woman, understood the real truth about the plight of my black sisters. She also said she had heard that Side By Side was not a welcoming place for our black sisters. I did not know why this was the case, and I truly believed it was not true. I never imagined it because I thought I welcomed and loved everyone. Didn’t everyone else?
Read MoreOn the Side: June 2020
“Mom, Tatonka is the only chick who wants to be held,” my eldest observes. Yes, the smallest of our chicks is often perched on a shoulder, held in a hand or hiding under someone’s knee as they sit crisscross apple sauce. The chick knows my kids are safe and, of course, she wants to feel safe.
Read MoreFinding Precedent, Perspective and Our Place in the “Unprecedented”
Renowned British journalist Malcolm Muggeridge once said: “All news is nothing more than new people experiencing old things.” Over the last weeks accumulating into months, the word “unprecedented” has quickly become a favorite and frequently used description of the COVID-19 times we are living in.
Read MoreAn Approach to Outpatient Screening, Treatment, and Community Health Outreach during the Coronavirus Epidemic in New York City
Beacon Christian Community Health Center (www.beaconcchc.com), in conjunction with personnel from South Korea and Europe, created a first-of-its-kind comprehensive outpatient protocol at the start of the height of COVID-19 cases in New York City.
Read MoreOn the Side: May 2020
Let’s face it, I would never be “voted off” the island. I tell my kids this all the time, and they are smart enough to agree with me. Mostly it’s because I can cook, but also because I’m good in a crisis and have a working knowledge of first aid. My husband says that out of our entire family I would be the one person voted “Most Likely to Survive if Dropped Alone in a Wilderness Area.” He actually tells people that I don’t think a campfire is big enough, unless it can be “seen from space.”
Read MoreBe Contagious | Leading Through the Crisis
He does not recall where he may have been exposed. While he works in a medical setting, every precaution was taken from the time (and perhaps a little before) it became a common mandate. Could it have been in the community?
Read MoreOn the Side: April 2020
One of the perks of moving around the country is that we have added a beautiful cast of friends to our family. We often joke that the “writer” of our family sitcom thought the cast needed to be jazzed up a bit when he brought certain characters into our storyline. We love the variety of loved ones who are brought to live life alongside us!
Read MoreShare a Devotional
CMDA has provided this online forum to share devotionals for encouraging and uplifting a community of members and believers.
Read MoreShare Your Prayer Requests
CMDA has provided this online forum to express your prayer requests to a community of members and believers who can pray for you and bring you encouragement.
Read MoreMy Story | by a Healthcare Professional Working in a Central American Country
Of course, everything is a bit on hold right now. So far I’ve only seen an official count of two cases of the coronavirus documented here, and so we’re several weeks behind most of you. The country has had a bit of a different approach to the virus.
Read MoreAn Encouragement by a Family Medicine Physician
I’m working the respiratory screening clinic at our critical access hospital/clinic. Personally, this medical crisis has actually acutely resolved my feeling of burnout.
Read MoreOn the Side: March 2020
My life hasn’t always been busy. My husband’s residency, for example, was not a busy time for me. He, of course, had an overloaded schedule, but I had left the workforce and entered life as a stay-at-home mom. Difficult? Yes, beautifully difficult. Rushed? Not so much.
Read MoreOn the Side: February 2020
I have spent the majority of my adult life trying to be perfect. That is a terrible admission to make, but those who know me will say it’s true. Never able to relax, and hardly ever able to lean back and rely on Jesus to be good enough for me.
Read MoreLet’s Talk Strategy: Tackling Student Loans
If you’re reading this, you already know this is a big and extremely relevant problem for the vast majority of dental and medical graduates under the age of 45. It’s not uncommon these days to graduate dental school with $300,000+ in debt. Heck, I have friends who graduated with close to $500,000 in debt (and when I say friends, I may or may not be referring to myself). This isn’t news.
Read MoreHelp Me See What I Cannot See
“Whatever you do, work at it with all you heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24, NIV 1984).
Read MoreOn the Side: January 2020
After training for a few months, I met some of my dearest girlfriends for a Side By Side reunion weekend in Minnesota a few years ago. We ran a 10K together, and by “together” I mean we were all either IN the 10K or the sister-5K but our paces were varied, so the together part was definitely at the beginning and the end.
Read MoreRegardless of the Opposition
Last year I read a book by Os Guinness entitled Impossible People. I read something that really set me back on my heels:
“The truth is that the world, as Christians have known it for many centuries, has gone—gone and gone for good…gone so decisively, any simple return or reclamation is out of the question—Christian culture warring has been in vain” (p. 45).
Read MoreRobert E. Cranston, MD, MA (Ethics), MSHA, FAAN, CPE, ICF
Physician-Assisted Suicide | End-of-Life Decision-Making | Research ethics | The Importance of Palliative Care | Right of Conscience | Medical Ethics
Read MoreFor Glory and Glorification: Part 2
“Everyone who is called by name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made” (Isaiah 43:7, NIV 1984).
In Part 1 of this blog series, a search for the meaning of life was presented. That was due to observations of recent events suggesting a concern for humanity’s appreciation for life. In that search, a scientific basis for the meaning of life was presented, but then it was argued to be self-limiting. In contrast, a Christian worldview was presented, and a clearer meaning for why God created us was introduced. Simply, God created us for His glory. As I mentioned in Part 1, being informed that our existence is for some known or unknown God’s glory may instill negative emotions. However, the purpose of this blog is to grow in greater understanding of what it means to be created for God’s glory. To better understand that meaning, let us first look at the biblical meaning of the word “glory.”
Read MoreAllen Roberts, MD
End-of-Life Care | Biblical Anthropology | Medical Ethics
Read MoreOn the Side: October 2019
Paddington and Winnie, I know them well. As a mom, I’ve read a few chapter books aloud and these bears, Paddington Brown and Winnie-the-Pooh, are two favorites. And what’s not to like? The epitome of their problems revolves around honey and marmalade. As I read, I have confidence it’s going to be okay. Chapter after unfolding chapter, everything is hunky-dory.
Read MoreOn the Side: September 2019
When Wade and I were going through our pre-marital counseling, our beloved minister had us take a personality test. It was more than just our thoughts on ourselves, though. I had to fill one out on Wade, and he me. We had to have several friends fill out the test and mail them in, and then all the results were sent to our minister who carefully went through a weekend retreat with us and two other couples to discuss how our unique personalities would affect our relationship, our interactions with each other, our view of the world. It was amazing. And a bit jarring.
Read MoreFor Glory and Glorification: Part 1
“…To Him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11, ESV).
Everywhere I go I carry a little brown NIV Bible. This particular Bible possesses significant sentimental value to our family. Firstly, it is the Bible my father used during my wife’s and my wedding. In between the pages are love notes from my wife, drawings from son, an ultrasound of my daughter, our wedding vows and other cherished memories that are all used as bookmarks. Furthermore, inside the cover is a note written by my father. This note details some of his emotions regarding his role as a first-time officiant of our wedding. Despite his fears, he found comfort in the fact that his role was ultimately “all about God.” In other words, it was a moment for God’s glory and our glorification of Him. That is the ultimate message that will be discussed in this blog series.
Read MoreOn the Side: August 2019
By now, some of you have just finished your first month in a new job, which also may have meant a new home and a new city.
I empathize. My husband and I moved 3 times in 6 years in between med school and career. Each location seemed more remote and further away from family than the last. Finally, we reached the exotic location where we would live for the next 30 years; Lincoln, Nebraska. When we got here, we told our real estate agent that she was our best friend in town. (She was the ONLY person we knew in town!)
Read MoreFollow the Lord
As you practice your faith, the words “follow the Lord” are often heard and shared. The direction of the Lord does not have a yellow brick road. The words are meant to send you to prayer and develop your sense of discernment. As a dentist, dozens of people will ask you to follow them. These requests are loud and clear and often do have a yellow brick path. Some follow their golden paths before them. God blesses each of us with guidance, and for some it is easy to determine the guidance because many of us in the dental profession can use wise counsel and success to guide our steps. There are roles in every community for successful dentists. I respect the best in my community and love all my colleagues for their shared commitment to excellence. The dangers of greed and ethical challenges are to be lifted up to the Lord likewise to turn our steps to bless those around us. We are guided by the Lord’s work in our hearts, often to avoid missteps as often as we discover blessings.
Read MoreTouched with the Feeling of Our Infirmities
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, KJV).
Read MoreOn the Side: July 2019
Our new home is not exactly a new house. It has been standing here for almost 100 years. Never having owned an old home, I was concerned about the home inspection prior to our closing. My girlfriend looked at me and said, “Relax. That house has been standing forever. It is fine.”
Read MorePreaching to Myself
Like most of my writings, much of what I have to say is me preaching to myself. Recently I have been struck by several encounters with patients who were either very irritated or irritating. Either way, what should our response be? When someone is being demanding or has unrealistic requests and is upset when we cannot fulfill them? Or maybe they are just plain rude? What do we do?
Read MoreEmerging Leaders Pass on the Ministry of Dentistry
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10, NKJV).
Read MoreRichard A. Swenson, MD
Richard A. Swenson, MD, received his B.S. in physics (Phi Beta Kappa) from Denison University (1970) and his M.D. from the University of Illinois School of Medicine (1974). Following five years of private practice, in 1982 Dr. Swenson accepted a teaching position as Associate Clinical Professor within the University of Wisconsin Medical School system where he taught for fifteen years. He currently is a full-time futurist, physician-researcher, author, and educator. As a physician, his focus is “cultural medicine,” researching the intersection of health and culture. As a futurist, his emphasis is fourfold: the future of the world system, western culture, faith, and healthcare.
Read MoreWarren Kinghorn, MD, ThD
Warren Kinghorn, MD, ThD, received his MD from Harvard Medical School and his ThD from Duke University Divinity School. He is assistant professor of psychiatry and pastoral and moral theology at Duke University Medical Center and Duke Divinity School. He teaches and mentors divinity students, medical and other health professions students and psychiatry residents at Duke.
Read MoreWilliam P. Cheshire, Jr., MD
William P. Cheshire, Jr., MD, is professor of neurology at the Mayo Clinic and an expert on disorders of the autonomic nervous system. At Mayo Clinic in Florida he chairs the Ethics Committee and leads the Program in Professionalism & Values. The neurology department chose him as teacher of the year in 2015. At CMDA Dr. Cheshire chairs the Ethics Committee.
Read MoreDónal P. O’Mathúna, PhD
Dónal P. O’Mathúna is Senior Lecturer in Ethics, Decision-Making & Evidence in the School of Nursing & Human Sciences at Dublin City University (DCU), Ireland, and Chair of the Academy of Fellows at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity in Chicago. He is a member of CMA and the Paul Tournier Institute speaker’s bureau. He is the Chairperson of the DCU Research Ethics Committee and a member of the St James’s Hospital Ethics Committee in Dublin.
Read MoreDale A. Matthews, MD, FACP
Dr. Matthews practices general internal medicine in McLean, Virginia and is a staff physician in the Primary Care Division of the Virginia Hospital Center Physician Group (Arlington, VA). He conducts research and lectures nationally and internationally on the doctor-patient relationship and the psychological and spiritual dimensions of medicine, including the role of faith, religion, and prayer in clinical care and healing. He has served on the general internal medicine faculty at three medical schools: Yale University, University of Connecticut and Georgetown University. He also teaches continuing medical education courses for the Continuing Medical Education, Inc. University at Sea program. He is the author of The Faith Factor: Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer (Viking, 1998).
Read MoreReginald Finger, MD, MPH
Reginald Finger, MD, MPH received the Doctor of Medicine degree in 1981 and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology in 1983 from the University of Washington in Seattle. For much of his career, Dr. Finger has worked in disease prevention and health promotion in state and local health departments. Dr. Finger has been a CMDA member since 2003.
Read MoreKenneth M. Dudley, MD
Kenneth Earl Dudley, MD teaches Ethics and Epidemiology at Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine as an associate professor. His PowerPoint presentations have been outreach events for medical and college students, or tailored to CMDA and church audiences. He has a BA in Bible-Theology from Moody Bible Institute, a BS in Biology and an MD from MSU. He has practiced as a board certified Family Physician since 1983.
Read MoreJeffrey Barrows, DO, MA (Ethics)
Dr. Jeffrey Barrows is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist who in 1999 joined the staff of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations to help administrate a medical education mission outreach called Medical Education International (MEI). While working with the Christian Medical Association, he was asked by the U.S. State Department in 2004 to research the health consequences of Human Trafficking. From 2005-2008, he compiled and submitted an annual report to the Director of the State Department’s -Office to Monitor & Combat Trafficking of Persons. This research resulted in the article Human Trafficking and the Healthcare Professional published in the May 2008 Southern Medical Journal.
Read MoreAutumn Dawn Galbreath, MD, MBA
Autumn Dawn Eudaly Galbreath, MD, MBA is an internist in San Antonio, Texas, where she lives with her husband, David, and their three children. Though they met in medical school, David now owns a restaurant in the San Antonio area. Between the two of them, they have experienced multiple career transitions, and weathered the resultant stresses on their marriage and family.
Read MoreSam Molind, DMD
Team Leader, Global Health Outreach
Dr. Sam Molind left his Montpelier, Vermont practice in 1998 to begin Global Health Outreach (GHO) and directed it for 12 years. Prior to his work with GHO, Dr. Molind served as Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Vermont Medical School and had a private oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in Montpelier.
Jonathan Imbody
Jonathan previously served as CMDA’s Federal Policy Analyst and as CMDA’s liaison with the federal government in Washington, D.C. A veteran writer of more than 30 years, Jonathan authored Faith Steps, which encourages and equips Christians to engage in public policy issues. He has published more than 100 commentaries in The Washington Post, USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Sun-Times and many other national publications. Jonathan’s writing focuses on public policy issues including freedom of faith, conscience and speech; human trafficking; abortion; assisted suicide; stem cell research; the role of faith in health; international health; healthcare policy; sexual risk avoidance and HIV/AIDS. Jonathan received his bachelor’s degree in journalism and speech communications from the Pennsylvania State University, a master’s degree from Penn State in counseling and education and a certificate in biblical and theological studies from the Alliance Theological Seminary in New York. Jonathan’s wife Amy is an author and leads the Redemptive Education movement. They have four children and four grandchildren.
Read MoreWalt Heyer
Walt Heyer was a husband, father and corporate executive who underwent gender reassignment surgery at the age of 42, going from man to woman.
Read MoreOmari Hodge, MD
Omari Hodge is originally from Brooklyn, New York but moved to Stone Mountain, Georgia in his teens. He attended college at the University of West Georgia where he met his wife Kiera Hodge. Through his wife’s hard work and support he was able to attend Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. By the time medical school was finished there were a total of four kids in the Hodge family. He spent three years in Greenwood, South Carolina for residency and has since relocated to Marietta, Georgia. He and his wife have served on a number of trips with CMDA and have recently decided that God was calling them to lead an annual trip in Ethiopia.
Read MoreRyan T. Anderson, PhD
Ryan T. Anderson, PhD, is the William E. Simon senior research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, and he is the founder and editor of Public Discourse, the online journal of the Witherspoon Institute of Princeton, New Jersey. He is the author of When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Momentand Truth Overruled: The Future of Marriage and Religious Freedom, and he is the co-author of What Is Marriage? Man and Woman: A Defense and Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination.
Read MoreAndré Van Mol, MD
André Van Mol, MD is a board-certified family physician in private practice. He serves on the boards of Bethel Church of Redding and Moral Revolution (moralrevolution.com), and is the co-chair of the American College of Pediatrician’s Committee on Adolescent Sexuality.
Read MoreAllan Josephson, MD
Allan Josephson, MD, is Professor and Chief, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Pediatrics with a joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.
Read MoreWalt Larimore, MD
Walt Larimore, MD, Award-winning Family Physician and Best-Selling Author, Nationally-Recognized Family Physician and Educator Dr. Larimore has been a practicing family physician for over 30 years (delivering over 1,500 babies).
Read MoreRobert Orr, MD, CM
Dr. Robert Orr received his MD, CM from McGill University in 1966, did residency training in family medicine and practiced in Vermont for 18 years. He was named Vermont Family Doctor of the Year in 1989.
Read MoreOn the Side: June 2019
With the weather warming, I now can wear my favorite sun visor. The words “Missoula Marathon” are written across the headband with a silhouette of a moose that has running shoes dangling from his antlers. It’s super cute. But as I wear it like a trophy, people don’t realize the backstory.
Read MoreSpirit of the Everlasting God
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV).
Read MoreWhy Do We Follow Jesus?
Why do you follow Jesus?
These are answers I hear a lot: The Bible says so. I grew up in a Christian home. I had an experience with God.
But we are told our lives will be more difficult. That does not sound good. There will be a reward, but not necessarily in this lifetime. Jesus is not always a “nice guy.” Do we want to believe what is pleasant and easy, or what is true? Even though I don’t like my phone bill, I know it is true.
Read MoreOn the Side: May 2019
“Doctors make the worst patients,” or so the saying goes. Being trained as a physician myself, I refuse to comment, because I am a little biased. But, since I am also married to a physician, I can say that doctors are often non-compliant patients. I could tell you stories that would prove this, but I won’t do so here. You probably have your own examples!
Read MoreGethsemane’s Light on Transitions
“And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them” (John 17.10, NKJV)
Resurrection Sunday blesses the calendars of our lives uniquely this Sunday. It lifts up the life of our Lord as a model for so many transitions we face along the journey into which Christ has commissioned us. The passion of our Lord’s heart – poured out in His high priestly prayer of Gethsemane’s Garden – reveals how Jesus evaluated the preparations He made for the transition He would face.
Read MoreOn the Side: April 2019
Her eyes met mine as she poured out her heart: “I have a great husband. A wonderful child. We matched and already sold our house. So, why do I feel so depressed?”
Read MoreChasing the Wind
In dental school, several of my instructors would mention their theory of why the suicide rate among dentists was so high, sometimes as a joke or some for serious reasons. One professor’s theory made the most sense to me: Work itself can become very redundant and most restorations eventually fail. You can feel like you’ve worked so hard to bring someone’s mouth into health and restore their smile, but if they don’t take care of their mouth, all of your hard work can fall apart. He also mentioned that if you’re in it for the money, that will fail you too. If all you’ve built your life on is your work and your things, then it’s going to be a big disappointment.
Read MoreOn the Side: February 2019
The Bible talks about the Keys to the Kingdom.
After Peter’s confession that Jesus is “…the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus told him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:16, 17-19 (NASB)
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