Medical

In 2001, the United Nations formulated eight goals intended, by 2015, to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger and disease that affect billions of people. These goals touch on a web of interwoven factors that contribute to the needlessly desperate circumstances in which many in the world live. As we approach 2015, how are we doing? Why does this matter to medical missions? What might God be calling...

The crucial 1,000 days from the start of a woman’s pregnancy until her child’s 2nd birthday offer a unique window of opportunity to shape healthier and more prosperous futures. The right nutrition during this 1,000 day window can have an enormous impact on a child’s ability to grow, to learn, and rise out of poverty. It can also have a profound effect on the long-term health, sta...

God has called you to missions but how do you make a smooth transition from student to missionary physician? Join us as we look at steps to take during your education and training to prepare you for a career in medical missions. We’ll examine what questions you need to ask, what you should be aware of and what can you do over these next years to be equipped to move from training to ministry.

What is God's perspective on the role of health and healing in our world today? Does the Bible give us direction as medical missionaries? This break out session will give you a Biblical framework for understanding how your personal call to medical missions integrates with God's overarching promise to bring healing to the nations.

Have you longed to integrate your Christian faith into your patient care – both on the mission field abroad and in your work at home? Not sure how to do this in a caring, sensitive, and relevant manner? This “working” session will explore the ethical basis for spiritual care plus provide you with profession, timely, and practical methods to care for the whole person in the clinical setting.

Is it possible to equip indigenous believers to meet the needs of their own people so that the work continues when the short term team returns home? Jaime will share stories from the mission field regarding training and equipping indigenous Christ-followers with especially designed tools so that they can meet the felt needs of their own people, through which they develop relationships and have the...

Second Career Missionaries

Called to the mission field.

The life and testimony of Dr. Paul Brand.

A look at the life of Dr. Paul Brand, a pioneer in developing tendon transfer techniques for use in the hands of those with leprosy.

A Glimpse of Africa through the eyes of Dr. David Stevens and his mentor, Dr. Ernie Steury

This session will focus on the treatment of malaria both outside and within the United States. Time will also be spent on symptom control and the potential for a malaria vaccine.

Health Care ministry in inner city neighborhoods must be incarnational – embracing our communities. Living, working and serving within the context of the community we serve draws us toward God’s love for people and helps us identify with our neighbors. Should one try to move into communities of poverty in order to serve there? How can we encourage those who grew up in our communities to stay to se...

Description: Throughout the world bacterial infections remain a leading cause of illness and death. The introduction of new antibiotics on the market has lagged behind the increasing rate of resistance to many antibiotics to treat infections. This problem becomes magnified in developing areas of the world where resources are not as readily available. Good antimicrobial stewardship involves selecti...

A panel of US-based academic physicians discuss how they have cooperated with international institutions as well as on-the-field missionaries for quality research projects. They will also discuss ideas and opportunities for how they see research and projects developing in the future. Overview of their projects will be given, but much time will be devoted to answering questions from the audience.

While Communicable Diseases have traditionally been responsible for the majority of morbidity and mortality in low and middle income countries (LMIC), a rapid shift from rural, agrarian to urban, sedentary lifestyles has resulted in a dramatic rise in the burden of Non-Communicable Disease in these countries. Hence, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and other non-communicable diseases are r...

This session will review the many causes of cognitive impairment and provide detailed information about several of these causes, including early malnutrition, iron deficiency, diarrheal diseases, and prenatal alcohol exposure. The session will discuss the demographics of cognitive impairment and the negative effects on individuals, families, communities, economics and governments. The session will...

This session will review the missionary influence on WHO evidence-based international guidelines to achieve global development goals. Lack of implementation of these Biblically-based guidelines has resulted in a world-wide “Slow-Motion Disaster". The global epidemic of non-communicable diseases primarily due to obesity and smoking recently resulted in the second ever UN General Assembly on He...

This session will give an overview of the current picture of trafficking in persons within the United States focusing mainly on child sex trafficking, the major form of trafficking in persons within the U.S. In addition, the session will address specific ways that health professionals can become abolitionists.

There have been many major developments in HIV research in the past year. So much so that many are now talking confidently about the end of the disease, zero new infections, curing HIV, etc. This interactive session will explore the developments, including those presented at the International AIDS Conference in July to which the facilitator is a delegate. There will be opportunities to explore the...

In the wake of the AIDS pandemic and other disasters remain those least capable of caring for themselves. How do we best respond to their needs? Drawing from the speaker's international experience and using case studies and an interactive format, the session will explore the health issues of OVCs and the physical, mental and social components to their care.

How can a ministry continue after we leave? Drawing from the speaker's mission expereince and using case studies and an interactive format, participants will explore successful principles and strategies for sustainability in medical missions.

Disability: Displaying the Works of God in Wholisitic Development People with disability were a priority in Jesus' ministry while on earth. He even defined himself in terms of his disability ministry when questioned by John's disciples on whether or not he was the promised Messiah. By examining Jesus' ministry among the disabled, we will discover how His Body should prioritize ministry...

Using Stories for Wholistic Health Education Stories are proving to be an extremely effective way to communicate "truth that sticks." They naturally break down resistance, and create interest. They are more easily understood, remembered, and repeated. Stories change lives. Stories are best if they are short, clear, and relate to the listener's life experience. The impact of stories i...

Professional education programs are geared toward preparing students to do curative care in healthcare settings. In order to reach into the community with preventive healthcare requires an additional set of knowledge and skills. We will look at the principles that were operative in the 1978 Alma Ata and examine what needs to be included in the education of healthcare professionals to achieve Healt...