Christian Medical And Dental Associations

Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) is a national organization in the United States that serves as a professional home for Christian healthcare professionals, including physicians, dentists, and students pursuing these careers. Founded in 1931, CMDA seeks to provide resources, networking opportunities, education, and a community for its members to thrive both professionally and spiritually. The organization's mission is to "change hearts in healthcare" by promoting excellence in medical practice, healthcare ethics, and missions both domestically and internationally.

History

The organization was initially established as the Christian Medical Society (CMS) in 1931, with the aim of addressing the unique challenges and opportunities that Christian physicians faced in their profession. Over the years, it expanded its scope to include dental professionals, leading to a name change to the Christian Medical and Dental Associations. CMDA has grown significantly since its inception, now boasting a membership of over 19,000 healthcare professionals and students across the United States.

Mission and Vision

CMDA is committed to advancing biblical principles in healthcare within the context of the professional lives of its members. It emphasizes the importance of integrating faith into medical and dental practices, advocating for the sanctity of human life, and providing compassionate care to all patients. The organization's vision is to see transformed doctors touching the lives of patients with the love and healing of Christ.

Activities and Programs

CMDA engages in a wide range of activities and programs designed to support its members and impact healthcare:

• Education and Conferences: CMDA organizes numerous educational events, conferences, and seminars that focus on topics such as medical ethics, spiritual care in practice, and current issues in healthcare from a Christian perspective.

• Missions: Through its Global Health Outreach program, CMDA provides short-term mission opportunities for healthcare professionals and students to serve underserved populations around the world, offering medical care and sharing the Christian faith.

• Public Policy: CMDA advocates for policies that align with biblical values and ethics in healthcare, addressing issues such as abortion, human trafficking, and freedom of conscience for healthcare professionals.

• Community and Networking: The organization offers a platform for Christian healthcare professionals to connect, share experiences, and support one another through local chapters, special interest groups, and online forums.

• Resources: CMDA provides a variety of resources, including publications, podcasts, and online materials, to equip its members for professional and spiritual growth.

Ethical Positions

CMDA holds strong ethical positions on various healthcare issues, grounded in a biblical worldview. It has published statements and guidelines on topics such as end-of-life care, reproductive technologies, human sexuality, and physician-assisted suicide, advocating for practices that respect the dignity and value of human life at all stages.

Membership

Membership in CMDA is open to physicians, dentists, dental hygienists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and students in these fields. Members benefit from access to CMDA's resources, educational events, mission opportunities, and a community of like-minded professionals.

Criticism and Controversy

As with any organization that takes clear stances on controversial issues, CMDA has faced criticism from those who disagree with its positions, particularly on topics related to reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and end-of-life care. The organization maintains that its stances are based on biblical principles and ethical considerations.

See Also

• Healthcare in Christianity
• Medical ethics
• Religious aspects of medicine

‎

---

Translate: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, தமிழ், తెలుగు, Urdu, ಕನ್ನಡ, Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, বাংলা
European español, Deutsch, français, Greek, português do Brasil, polski, română, русский, Nederlands, norsk, svenska, suomi, Italian
Middle Eastern & African عربى, Turkish, Persian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, isiZulu, Kiswahili,
Other Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech, Swedish, മലയാളം, मराठी, ਪੰਜਾਬੀ, ગુજરાતી, Portuguese, Ukrainian