God Has My Yes: From VCU to Overseas, Why Two Dental Students Aren’t Waiting to Serve
In this episode of Faith in Healthcare, Dr. Mike Chupp and CMDA Senior Vice President Dr. Bill Griffin talk with Nathan Miller and Ethan Harris, fourth-year dental students at Virginia Commonwealth University, about building Christian community among their classmates and serving through dental missions in Rwanda and Jamaica. Their story shows what can happen when students step out in faith with the support of experienced professionals, reminding us that ministry does not begin after graduation. It begins with faithfulness wherever God has placed us today.
Ethan Harris and Nathan Miller are fourth year dental students at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. VCU previously had an active dental student group, but interest had waned in recent years. When Ethan and Nate met during their first year they committed themselves to restarting this group, and now there’s a good group of students meeting every Thursday evening.
In addition to their efforts to organize the VCU Dental Student group, earlier this year Nate and Ethan accompanied Dr. Bill Griffin and other dentists on a mission trip to Rwanda, where they developed their clinical skills and also evidenced the power of the Gospel through international dental care. In order to introduce their classmates to the profound blessing of dental mission trips, Nate and Ethan are currently preparing to lead a group of 15 VCU dental students on a mission trip to Jamaica later this Summer.
With nearly 400 CMDA student groups across the country, there may be one near you. If you are looking for a student chapter or would like to help strengthen a campus ministry, visit cmdacommunity.org. And if today’s conversation has encouraged you, please share it with a fellow healthcare professional or student and subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.
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Are you a dental professional looking for meaningful ways to use your God-given skills to share the love of Christ? Join CMDA Dental Ministries and the Christian Dental Society for the third annual Great Commission Dental Conference, September 11-12 in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Connect with dental professionals from across the country and discover how dental care can open doors for the gospel, whether you serve in private practice, a clinic, or on mission fields around the world. Visit cmda.org to learn more and register today. https://cmda.org/events/2026-great-commission-dental-conference/
And if you’re interested in exploring opportunities to serve through healthcare missions, join us for the Global Missions Health Conference, November 12-14 in Louisville, Kentucky, or online. Healthcare needs around the world are vast, but the need for the gospel is even greater. Through practical training, spiritual encouragement, and meaningful connections with missionaries, mission leaders, and sending organizations, GMHC will equip and inspire you to make an eternal impact for Christ through healthcare. Visit medicalmissions.com to learn more and register today.
Video Podcast:
Meet Our Guest(s):
Born and raised in the small town of Shamokin, Pennsylvania, Nathan Miller is a fourth year student at VCU Dental. He is in love with the Lord and desires to follow God’s will for his life in his future family and practice.
Ethan Harris is a fourth-year dental student at Virginia Commonwealth University. Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, he earned his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Virginia Tech before pursuing a career in dentistry at VCU. Ethan plans to practice general dentistry after graduation while remaining actively involved in dental mission work. His recent mission trips to Rwanda and Jamaica have deepened his conviction that dentistry is not only a profession but also a ministry through which he can share the love of Christ. These experiences have challenged him to embrace service, sacrifice, and discipleship, demonstrating the hope of the Gospel through compassionate patient care and meaningful relationships.
Co-Host:
William “Griff” Griffin, DDS, is CMDA’s Senior Vice President. He has been a member of CMDA since dental school and has served on the Dental Advisory Council since 2013. He is a 1983 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, and he has been practicing in Newport News, Virginia for 37 years. Dr. Griffin formerly served as Board Chairman and Dental Director at the Lackey Clinic, a Christian medical-dental clinic in Yorktown, Virginia.
