Where Would Jesus Practice? A Conversation with Drs. Omari Hodge and Rick Donlon
In this episode, we’re sharing a special conversation from another CMDA podcast, R2ED Out Loud, on In this episode, we’re sharing a special conversation from another CMDA podcast, R2ED Out Loud, on what faithfulness to Jesus means when it comes to where we live and whom we serve. Dr. Omari Hodge sat down with Dr. Rick Donlon, CEO of the Christian Community Health Fellowship and co-founder of Christ Community Health Services in Memphis. Thirty years ago, Dr. Donlon and three colleagues he first met through a CMDA student chapter opened a health center in one of the most underserved neighborhoods in Memphis. A few years later, he moved his family into one of the communities their health centers served. What he learned there will challenge you, whether you’re a student choosing a specialty or decades into practice. Thirty years ago, Dr. Donlon and three colleagues he first met through a CMDA student chapter opened a health center in one of the most underserved neighborhoods in Memphis. A few years later, he moved his family into one of the communities their health centers served. What he learned there will challenge you, whether you’re a student choosing a specialty or decades into practice.
The conversation you’re hearing today first aired on R2ED Out Loud, CMDA’s podcast on racism, reconciliation, equality, and diversity. Grounded in biblical truth, R2ED equips Christian healthcare professionals to recognize inequities and pursue compassionate, competent care for every patient. Learn more about the R2ED Committee and podcast at cmda.org/outloud.
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Video Podcast:
Meet Our Guest(s):
Dr. Omari Hodge is a physician leader and long-time member of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), currently serving as President. He has participated in numerous medical mission trips, experiences that have shaped his conviction that Christ’s Kingdom and system of governance supersede worldly structures, and that societal divisions do not reflect God’s way of rule. Within CMDA, Omari is actively involved in the Racism, Reconciliation, Equality, and Diversity (RRED) Group, advocating for reconciliation and unity rooted in Scripture. As a Program Director and educator, he emphasizes gospel-centered leadership, teachability, and character formation, encouraging Christian healthcare professionals to live out Christ’s reconciling power in both word and practice.
Rick Donlon grew up in New Orleans, and graduated from LSU School of Medicine in 1990. He and three medcial school classmates founded a network of Christian primary care health centers in inner-city Memphis, TN that grew to include dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, and pastoral services. In 2003, many clinic providers and staff, including Dr. Donlon, began to move their families into the low-income communities where the health centers were located. From that base, housechurches were formed and students and residents were trained to provide similar care in other low-resource communities across the United States and in unreached locales in North Africa, the Middle East, the Arabian Penisula, and Central Asia. In 2024, Dr. Donlon was appointed CEO of the Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF).
