Fanning the Flame for Medical Missions
The global health sector is facing a significant deficit in trained healthcare professionals, one that is expected to reach a shortage of 10 million workers by the year 2030. This dire prediction, as made by the World Economic Forum, highlights a pressing need particularly in low and middle-income countries. In response to this challenge, organizations like Samaritan’s Purse and Cedarville University are playing a crucial role in addressing both the medical and spiritual needs of those who are underserved.
Samaritan's Purse, a Christian humanitarian aid organization located in Boone, North Carolina, along with Cedarville University, has been making concerted efforts to bridge this gap. For three consecutive years, they have sponsored Cedarville University nursing and, more recently, physician assistant (PA) students to take part in the World Medical Missions Prescription for Renewal Conference in Orlando, Florida. This conference aims to provide a platform where healthcare professionals and students can come together to rejuvenate, make connections, and explore their call toward medical missions.
Attendees and Opportunities
This year's conference saw the attendance of twelve nursing students, four PA students, and accompanying faculty members from Cedarville University. Participants benefitted from the knowledge shared by doctors, spiritual leaders, and medical missionaries from across the world. The conference was structured to include breakout sessions that delved into topics such as short and long-term service in medical missions, spiritual growth, and the challenges of raising a family while on mission trips.
Keynote speakers included distinguished figures in the medical field such as Dr. Richard Furman, cofounder of the World Medical Mission, and Dr. Lance Plyler, chief medical officer at Samaritan’s Purse. Furthermore, Franklin Graham, the organization’s founder and CEO, alongside Dr. David Jeremiah, a Cedarville University graduate and founder of Turning Point Ministries, inspired attendees with spiritual encouragement, reiterating the importance and impact of medical missions.
Aligning Missions
The initiatives taken by Samaritan’s Purse align closely with the mission of Cedarville University’s health care programs. The university’s nursing and PA programs are designed not only to educate students on medical practices but also to prepare them holistically by addressing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients.
Lisa Smithers, associate professor of nursing at Cedarville University, emphasized this goal, "Our mission is to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever we are, whether in the United States or overseas.” Smithers, who serves on the Global Outreach Fellows Committee, has been a key player in leading medical mission trips to the Philippines. These trips focus on providing care to mothers in labor and through postpartum, showcasing the real-world application of these students' education.
Personal Journeys
Each student attending the conference had previous involvement in medical missions, with many harboring aspirations to continue such work post-graduation. For example, Kassidy Applegate, a senior nursing student, had volunteered her services in both Guatemala and the Philippines with Global Outreach. Reflecting on her experiences, Applegate said, “The Cedarville nursing faculty prepared me well, and the trip to the Philippines proved to me I wanted to be a midwife and clarified the calling God had placed on my heart to be a missionary.”
In a similar vein, second-year PA student Julia Anderson's journey took her from a free healthcare clinic in her hometown to a two-week volunteer stint in Peru. Anderson attributes her readiness for mission work to Cedarville’s PA program, noting, "Cedarville’s PA program has played a crucial role in preparing me for this calling."
Institutional Support
Cedarville University, recognized for its authentic Christian community and rigorous academic offerings, has supported its students wholeheartedly as they pursue such impactful paths. With its large enrollment numbers and diversity of programs, Cedarville stands out nationally, particularly through its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) and Master of Medical Science in PA Studies (M.M.Sc.-PA) programs.
As Cedarville University continues to foster an environment where students can grow both in their professional expertise and spiritual journey, the support from organizations such as Samaritan’s Purse remains instrumental. The partnership not only brings students closer to their professional goals but also instills a deeper sense of service and mission within them, preparing them to make significant impacts wherever they choose to go.
Cedarville University's Importance in Expert Resources
Cedarville University is not only nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders committed to global missions but also providing expert voices that can speak on national and international matters. Those in search of specialized knowledge can benefit from the university’s comprehensive "Media Experts Guide," which offers detailed profiles and contact information of the university’s expert faculty.
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