MCCF Activities

View from Stanford

2008-11-27T21:13:00.004-05:00

A young medical student at Stanford University stood before the table of RZIM [Ravi Zacharias International Ministries] books and resources beaming. “We don’t see these things very often,” he said, clarifying, “Not books; there’s no shortage of books. I mean Christianity without the hostility.” He proceeded to describe students and friends who deride the possibility of possessing both faith and intellect, medical professors who actually apologize when the language of design inadvertently slips into lectures on the body, and the isolation that comes from trying to stand in the shadows of this increasingly antagonistic majority. When I inquired as to the availability of support from campus ministries or local churches, his response was equally dismal. “There are groups that speak to the emotionality of faith, but academically, there is no one.”

- from Jill Carattini's recent RZIM report from Stanford and Berkeley. How different are things here in Rochester, and what can we do to foster a more open forum in our own academic town square?

A thought experiment

2008-11-27T12:20:00.005-05:00

Our perfectly designed US healthcare system

The interregnum between a presidential election and the inauguration is a time of feverish activity, in which the president elect and his staff decide who will help them govern and what they will try to do first. The press and pundits speculate breathlessly on who will be appointed and what they will do first. As I write this, for example, we have just learnt that the new administration’s secretary of health and human services is likely to be a respected former US senator, Tom Daschle. He has written a book about healthcare reform, which is likely to be his assignment when he starts in January.

I’ve been musing about the United States and how perfectly designed our current healthcare system is. Perfectly designed, of course, as every system is, to achieve exactly the results it gets, as quality improvement guru Don Berwick famously said. In its own way, it is really rather remarkable. Here’s a thought experiment to illustrate what I mean.

Click here to read Doug (graduate of Rochester's Family Medicine Program) Kamerow's thought-provoking article about health care disparities in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal.

Be present

2008-11-08T22:20:00.000-05:00

Practice presence
Breathe in the squeaky cry of a too-thin infant
dirt blowing off the road in your eyes
the pain of having too little to give

Breathe out flaming bougainvillea
the sun fading behind the hill
magic of medicine on an infected hand

Breathe in poverty and pain and confusion
the ache of tip-toeing on another’s suffering
Breathe out fresh watermelon
Honduran coffee in the morning
a game of duck-duck-goose.

Breathe in the guilt of problems unanswered,
wasted time, a broken world
Breathe out a new friendship and a fresh coat of paint.

Practice presence –
learn to sit still, listen longer, absorb more than you
thought you could - or even wanted to.

Remember your gifts –
be the first one to smile when passing another
expand a few vitamins into hope for a village
try to turn chaos into a dance.
Learn to let go.

Be still. Be present.

Shoulder to Shoulder, Santa Lucia, Honduras

Martha C. Carlough, MD, MPH
U of Rochester Family Medicine (Class of ’92)

Trip to Honduras

2008-09-29T06:51:00.002-05:00

URMC to provide help in Honduras

by Justina Wang. Democrat & Chronicle Staff writer

Next month, about a dozen University of Rochester Medical Center doctors, nurses and students will travel to Honduras to repair water filters, build cook stoves, hand out school supplies and talk with impoverished families. It's not pure medical work, but they believe their helping hands could do more for the health of people in developing countries than any stethoscope or needle.

"It's so easy to see there that if you don't have clean water and your child gets diarrhea three times a year, then the intervention is clean water, not medicines," said Dr. Douglas Stockman, director of the university's global and refugee health program. "Prevention is probably more important than curative care." Since 2003, Stockman and residency program director Dr. Steven Schultz have taken a medical brigade down to the village of San Jose, where there's no running water, electricity, hospitals or clinics.

The project is part of the national Shoulder to Shoulder effort to help the poor in Honduras, and URMC has committed to helping the village for at least 10 years. In the last two years, the First Unitarian Church of Rochester has also joined the project, raising more than $70,000 for the San Jose area and sending one or two parishioners with the URMC team.

During the twice-yearly, two-week trips, the group has installed 140 ventilated stoves, built 4,500 gallon water tanks, supplied 578 pieces of PVC pipe to bring water to 30 homes, put water filters in 20 homes, helped construct latrines, trained midwives, and handed out fluoride rinse for schoolchildren. In between the community work, half the doctors and residents also see patients and write prescriptions in a makeshift warehouse clinic, where students learn that medical issues aren't isolated from daily problems.

Children who drink infected water come in with worm and parasite infections. Poverty takes the form of malnutrition and stunted growth. Open fires in homes without stoves lead to serious burns, bronchitis and asthma. Adults who have had no medical attention in their lives come in with advanced cancers, untreated diabetes and high blood pressure, schizophrenia and psychoses that have never been diagnosed.

"It's sometimes very difficult to see the causalities and linkages," said Schultz. "Violence is a huge concern in Rochester, but is it a medical problem? Maybe violence is having an issue on the health of many members of the community, and maybe as a physician I should be looking at that, and not just concentrating on what I'm doing in the exam room."

First-year resident Donald McLaren, a 26-year-old from New York City and a son of Haitian immigrants, said this is exactly why he went to medical school. He wants to work with diverse populations and is preparing for his first trip to Honduras on Oct.18 — brushing up on his Spanish and picking out a tent and sleeping bag to keep out mosquitoes and scorpions when he sleeps on the floor of an open cinderblock school. "This is going to be a very interesting experience," he said. "I expect to be shocked, and I expect to do a lot for the community in Honduras."

Fall MD Breakfast

2008-09-13T10:41:00.002-05:00

Our next Breakfast will be held on Saturday morning, October 18th, from 9-11 am at the Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Avenue. Christian counselor Charlie Coté will be speaking about “Coping with the Impact of Grief.” In addition to insights from his professional practice, Charlie has a deeply moving personal testimony to share. Please mark your calendars and RSVP using our Response page. Be sure to note location (click here for Directions to the Academy of Medicine).

Ravi and the Sheik

2008-07-20T20:40:00.003-05:00

Ravi Zacharias was the 2008 Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer. He told the following story, excerpted from his keynote address at The Cannon House in Washington, DC, on May 1, 2008:

Please forgive me if this illustration is a bit sensitive. I don’t say it with any ill intent. Three years ago, I was with the Archbishop of Canterbury. He’d taken five of us to the Middle East to talk to the leaders of all factions to bring together some kind of semblance of peace, some discussion. There were many of those appointments I chose not to go to because of our nation’s caution on whom to see and not to see.

But the last day, I saw one of the leaders of Hamas, one of the four founders. I went there for one reason; I had one question for him. He gave us a great meal, told us of eighteen years he’d served in prison, some of his children had been lost in suicide bombings, and this and that. And I had a question. I said, “Sheik, I may never see you again and forgive me if I’m asking you the wrong question. Please tell me, what do you think of suicide bombing and sending your children out like that?” I didn’t like his answer. I couldn’t say much. The room was full of smoke.

After he finished his answer, I said, “Sheik, you and I may never see each other again, so I want you to hear me. A little distance from here is a mountain upon which Abraham went 5,000 years ago to offer his son. You may say the son was one; I may say it’s another. Let’s not argue about that. He took his son up there. And as the axe was about to fall, God said, ‘Stop.’” I said, “Do you know what God said after that?” He shook his head. I said, “God said, ‘I myself will provide.’” He nodded his head. I said, “Very close to where you and I are sitting, Sheik, is a hill. Two thousand years ago, God kept that promise and brought his own Son and the axe did not stop this time. He sacrificed his own Son.”

I said, “Sheik, I just want you to hear this. Until you and I receive the Son God has provided, we’ll be offering our own sons and daughters on the battlefields of this world for many of the wrong reasons.”

It was quiet. We walked out and the Archbishop just put his arm around me. As I was about to get into the SUV, the Sheik came over and he just patted me on my face. He kissed me on both sides. He was a strong man; he pulled me to him. He said, “You’re a good man. I hope I will see you again someday.” That’s all he said.

Click here to read Ravi's entire address, which is well worth your time.

A Garden Bouquet

2008-06-29T00:36:00.006-05:00

Susan Morehouse Releases New CD

At an Open House for family and supporters today, Susan will be introducing her new harp CD Harpsongs II - A Bouquet from My Mother's Garden.

The album is a 65-minute "bouquet" of 22 classical, Celtic, and spiritual pieces, several of which feature Nicole Ferguson on the flute.

If you would be interested in obtaining a copy, please visit Susan's website or contact her directly.

Dr. Huang in Iraq

2008-06-01T13:45:00.006-05:00

URMC neurosurgeon saves lives in Iraq

Before Dr. Jason Huang became a major in the U.S. Army, he faced tanks at Tiananmen Square, served three years of house arrest, signed daily confessions to the Chinese police, was blacklisted by the government, had himself declared mentally ill, used a fake passport to enter the United States and became a political refugee, an American student, an American citizen and eventually a neurosurgeon at Strong Memorial Hospital.

To understand the story is to know that - behind his calm words and steady hands - there are pieces that can only be lived, not told.

"But here," says the 37-year-old, hands folded neatly Friday morning at the desk in his University of Rochester Medical Center office, "are the highlights.”

Click here to read the entire article by Justina Wang, Democrat & Chronicle staff writer.

Update: Dr. Guzick, Dean, School of Medicine & Dentistry, has recently written an even more extensive account of Dr. Huang's life in his July Newsletter.

News from the Seamans

2008-05-19T07:47:00.006-05:00

I imagine all of you are aware of the double tragedies unfolding in Asia – the Myanmar typhoon and the Western China earthquake. We had considered going to Myanmar – but the way seems blocked at the moment for Americans (and most everyone else, for that matter). Pray for a breakthrough in the spiritual strongholds that keep help from arriving. Then there was the earthquake in China almost 1 week ago. We received a call from friends in China who live and work in that area. They have been contacted by many national believers who want to help but have no training or experience. They have asked for our help. After praying, we knew that we should respond to this request.

This is a strategic opportunity to help the Christians in China reach out and demonstrate the love of Christ in a very practical way. Therefore we will be leaving this Friday, May 23rd, for Chengdu, China which is about 60 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake. Karen and I will be accompanied by our good friends and frequent companions in these efforts, Gerard and Maureen Haberstro and their son, Matthew. Our Singaporean “daughter”, Jolene, will also be joining us. We will be training local believers in disaster response and perhaps helping them get started with deployment, doing assessments, etc. As you might expect, we really have no idea what we may be getting into. We will be stopping in Singapore on the way over and back to make contact with our friends there who also want to be involved.

I know that many of you may want to be involved in this in some way. First we need prayer support. I’ll be updating you with items as often as possible. The first things we need you to pray for:

Visas. China is being very restrictive about granting visas right now, due to the Olympics. hey are also being very restrictive about people helping in the disaster response effort. Our visa applications and passports will be taken to the Chinese embassy tomorrow morning (Monday) for processing. Please pray for FAVOR with embassy officials.
Contacts. We need to meet and connect with the right people here, in Singapore and in China.
Wisdom to know what to teach and how to teach it as we prepare our materials. Wisdom for our hosts as they prepare for our arrival.
Flexibility as plans, schedules and circumstances change.
Grace and strength. We are already quite tired from the preparation of the last few days (with a wedding thrown in the mix). We have much to accomplish in the last few days before departure. The weather in Chengdu is hot and humid – quite oppressive – we will need extra grace to adjust to the climate.
Health and safety. With the stress and climate change, we need your prayer that we would stay healthy. Also that we would know when to rest and when to press on.

Our second need is for finances. Travel costs alone will be about $15,000 for the 6 of us. Not sure yet what we’ll need for supplies, etc. We’re thankful that a number of you have already started to offer support. We appreciate your help. If you would like to participate with us financially, you can send donations to Hope Extended, 1355 Paul Road, Churchville, NY 14428.

Some of you may want to actually participate directly in the relief effort. We’ll know a lot more after this trip about ongoing needs and opportunities. I will be keeping you informed about this after we have had a chance to be there and assess the situation. There certainly will be need for a prolonged time. It remains to be seen what the role of outsiders will be. So, stay tuned and be prepared. If there are opportunities for you to participate, we’ll let you know and probably design some training to help you get ready.

Blessings to you all,
Dr. John Seaman

A loss to our community

2008-05-17T08:44:00.000-05:00

Our dear colleague and friend Dr. Eric Cederstrom died on May 3 after a difficult battle with cancer.

After completing his Family Practice residency and serving in the Army Medical Corps for several years, Eric started working at Hilton Health Care in 1990 and proved himself as a kind and compassionate physician and a trustworthy and loyal friend. Although he was diagnosed with cancer over a year ago, he continued to see patients until the beginning of March. He was an inspiration to all with his compassion and concern for his patients, colleagues, and family. The medical community has suffered the loss of a physician of the highest caliber. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Eric is survived by his wife, Lin, and his two children Nathan and Lauren.

In lieu of flowers, Eric has asked that donations be made in his name to: Hope Lutheran Church in Greece ; St. Jerome ’s Church in East Rochester; Crisis Pregnancy Centers , CompassCare; Foodlink; Creation Research Society; or Medical Ministry International, POB 1339, Allen , Texas 75013

Click here for more information about Eric's clinical career.

Spring MD Breakfast

2008-04-04T09:38:00.006-05:00

The MCCF Spring MD Breakfast will be held on Saturday morning, April 26, from 9-11 am at the Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Avenue.

Drs. Dave and Mary Kay Ness will be back from Oaxaca Mexico to share with us about their commitment and recent missions experiences serving in Roca Blanca. For more background information about the ministry they've become involved in, check out their website and then come to hear an up-to-date report!

Please mark your calendars and RSVP using our Response page. Be sure to note our new location (click here for Directions to the Academy of Medicine).

The Jungles of Gabon

2008-04-01T17:20:00.004-05:00

Don’t miss great stories of God’s work in the jungles of Gabon!

Including photos of termites, bats, snakes and Bongolo Hospital!

Tuesday, May 6 at 7:15 pm
Browncroft Community Church - Fellowship Hall
2530 Browncroft Blvd., Rochester, NY 14625
Questions? Contact Diann Conquest - 585-381-5605

Winter Missions Breakfast

2008-01-02T08:29:00.000-05:00

Please set aside the date and sign up now for our Winter Missions Breakfast coming up on Saturday, January 19th, from 9-11 am at the Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Avenue. We're going to have a smorgasbord of local speakers (including 2 URMC residents and one faculty member) who'll be talking about missions experiences and opportunities from Honduras to Iraq, by way of Uganda and Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, so don't miss this one!

Please mark your calendars and RSVP using our Response page. Be sure to note change of location (click here for Directions to the Academy of Medicine).

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-22T13:42:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas
from the Morehouses!

As time goes by we are more and more grateful for our family and friends, our health, the Life we have in Christ, and our spiritual family at Joy Community Church. We’d love to hear from you and spend more time together! In the meantime, click here to read our annual letter to friends and family and check out some of our candid pictures.

Nesses in Roca Blanca

2007-12-12T08:17:00.000-05:00

We've just received a holiday newsletter from Dave and Mary Kay Ness about their mission work in Mexico:

We are quickly moving toward early January 2008 when we plan to return to the mission base Roca Blanca in Oaxaca, Mexico. Many of you have been faithful supporters and prayer partners in this mission activity over the past 5 years. Earlier this year we went for 2 months and this year we actually intend to go for 3 and a half months... Please do let us know if you will stand with us in your prayers day by day.

Click here to read their entire newsletter and here to visit their ministry on the Web.

URMC's Vega and Fugate

2007-11-29T16:32:00.000-05:00

Med students want to help minority communities

Joshua Vega, 23, sees a medical career as one way to break down cultural barriers that affect the Hispanic community. Thomas Fugate, 22, has always been concerned about the high incidence of hypertension and heart disease in the African-American community. As a doctor, he thinks, he'll be able to help solve the problem.

Vega, a St. John Fisher College graduate from Rochester, and Fugate, who's from Fairport and graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans, are first-year medical students at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. Fugate is one of six African-American males in this year's class of 103. Vega is the only student of Puerto Rican descent. Last year's freshman class of 101 had no African-American males (but seven females) and no students of Puerto Rican heritage (but four other Hispanic people). The UR, like other medical schools, is eager to increase the number of minority students, including African-American and Hispanic students. Medical schools in the United States accepted 18,858 applicants this year; 1,334 were black and 1,343 were Hispanic or Latino.

Vega and Fugate told me that some students don't identify their race when they apply because they don't want anyone to think they got in because of their race instead of their ability. But both students believe that their ethnicity will help them connect with disadvantaged populations and that better health care will open other doors. "A medical school isn't just the buildings or the faculty," Vega says. "It's the students, too." Doctors need to appreciate cultural differences in order to practice "patient-centered" medicine, and the students can teach each other about the cultures they come from.

It may well be that doctors from minority communities will spend much of their careers in underserved communities, says John Hansen, the medical school's associate dean for admissions and professor of neurobiology and anatomy. But the real advantage is just what Vega describes. The students, he says, "study together, work together, have lots of opportunities to interact" — and the different perspectives they share will enrich them as doctors.

Fugate was at Xavier when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast two summers ago. He fled with a pair of jeans, a couple of workout suits and the friends he could squeeze into his car. When he got back to school in January, he was stunned by the devastation. "The health care system collapsed," he says, "and that just shouldn't happen. I never want to see people die because they can't get their meds, or be left in hospitals because they cannot be evacuated."

"Medical school is not rocket science," Vega says."If you get in, you are capable of doing the work," Fugate adds."What's hard," Vega says, "is the amount of study every night if you're going to stay on top of it."

Vega's other passion is playing jazz trumpet. "I couldn't learn it on my own," he says. "I only got better by playing with and interacting with other musicians." As he sees it, med school works the same way. As he played jazz at various venues, Vega says, he'd notice that "so many Hispanics, especially from Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, barely speak a word of English. ... I can help bridge the language barrier" to the medical community.

And that's why med schools ought to be aggressive about recruiting minority students: Those doctors might bridge not just the language barrier but the health barrier, and in so doing they could help people who are poor and isolated find their way to success.

Mark Hare, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

Dean Guzick's Newsletters

2007-11-12T11:01:00.000-05:00

Dr. David Guzick, who has been Dean of the U of R School of Medicine and Dentistry for the past several years, writes a very informative bimonthly newsletter that goes out to the faculty. His most recent one is a fascinating essay about the life and career of Dr. Arthur Kornberg who died earlier this year and for whom the Kornberg Medical Research Building is named.

For those of you who may be interested, Dr. Guzick's newsletters are archived here.

Waseem Ghazoly 1962-2007

2007-10-29T17:26:00.000-05:00

In Memorium
Waseem N. Ghazoly, MD

August 4, 1962 (Cairo, Egypt) - October 25, 2007 Survived by his loving wife Sonia Ghazoly; children Mariah and Damian Ghazoly; sisters Nagua (Edward) Ibrahim and Nashua (Nashaat) ; father-in-law and mother-in-law Selim and Samia Serry; sister-in-law Sylvia Serry; brother-in-law Steve Serry; many friends and colleagues.

Visitation was held on October 28 from 2 pm until 6 pm. A celebration of Waseem’s life was held at 11 am on October 29 at Greece Assembly of God Church, 750 Long Pond Road. Interment Riverside Cemetery.

Donations may be sent to the Mary Cariola Center, 1000 Elmwood Ave, Rochester NY 14620.

Polly Lowry 1930-2007

2007-10-29T16:36:00.000-05:00

In Memorium
Mary Elizabeth "Polly" Lowry

October 18, 2007 at the age of 77. Predeceased by her sister, Sarah Zimmermann and brother, Will Robison. Mrs. Lowry is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Harold; children, Hal Jr. (Carol), Susan (Bill) Morehouse, Tom (JoAnn); grandchildren, Malcolm, Melissa, Dillon, Delaney, Sarah, Nathan (Kari), Johanna, Joel, Meghan and Julia; great-granddaughter, Zoya; brother, Charles D. (Betty) Robison; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Polly was an excellent tennis player and at the age of 17 she won the Nebraska State Title for Womens Tennis. She loved to swim and more importantly teach children to swim. Polly taught at the YMCA Backyard program for over 16 years. Polly had a love of gardening and was a strong supporter of the RPO. She was a member of the Rochester Yacht Club for 27 years, where she ran the duplicate bridge game. She enthusiastically shared her interests with family and friends.

Family received friends on October 26 from 7-9 pm at the Paul W. Harris Funeral Home in Irondequoit, where her memorial service was held on October 27 at 1:00 pm. In accordance to Polly's wishes her body will be donated to the University of Rochester Medical Center. Memorials may be directed to Lipson Cancer Center, 1425 Portland Ave., Rochester, NY 14621.

Medical Career Fair

2007-10-05T06:56:00.000-05:00

In Buffalo on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 6:00 pm

Following a free dinner there will be a formal presentation where over 20 physicians will have the opportunity to answer the question: “Why did you decide to go into your specialty?”

Throughout the evening, ample time will be provided for students to speak with the physicians and ask them about their specialty. Medical specialties represented:

Psychiatry, Infectious Disease, Ophthalmology, Ob/Gyn, Otolaryngology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Urology, Nephrology, Geriatrics, Cardiology, Vascular Surgery, Pediatrics, Pathology, Anesthesia, General Surgery, Physical Med & Rehab, Radiology, Endocrinology

Location: Christian Fellowship Church, 765 Niagara Falls Blvd., Amherst, NY (0.4 miles south of Sheridan Drive)

Click here for a PDF flyer. For further information, contact Lianne Reinhardt, Area Director CMDA of Western NY, (716) 636-1117.

David Whyte Lecture

2007-10-01T16:37:00.000-05:00

The Ben Sischy, M.D. Visiting Scholar in Humane Medicine Lecture, presents:

David Whyte - Life on the Frontier: Courageous Conversations in the New Healthcare.

Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 - Time 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Lecture: Memorial Art Gallery, 500 University Avenue, Rochester, New York
Reception: 7:00 pm. Please call the Highland Foundation at 585-275-0806 to RSVP.

Click here to read the full Invitation.

HOME Ministry Abroad

2007-09-17T18:07:00.000-05:00

Our friend Aubrey Beauchamp, USA Coordinator of Hospital Christian Fellowship, has recently written a report on the ministry of Health Outreach to the Middle East (HOME) for the ASSIST News Service. She concludes:

"As a nurse and HCF Coordinator, I feel privileged to know some of the dedicated members of this outstanding and unique ministry. I am also honored to see the interaction between Hospital Christian Fellowship members and those of the HOME ministries. It confirms the Scripture in Ephesians 2:21-22: "In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple of the Lord. And in Him, you too, are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit."

Click here to read Aubrey's whole report.

Corner Society Meetings

2007-09-11T19:27:00.000-05:00

The George Washington Corner Society for the History of Medicine, named after University of Rochester's first professor of anatomy, is a group of physicians, students, and other participants interested in the history of medicine. This year there will be five evening presentations on medical historical topics at the Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Ave. We will meet at the Academy between 5:30 - 6:30 pm for drinks and light fare; the presentation will follow from 6:30 - 7:45 pm.

The Corner Society is an important part of the tradition of medicine in Rochester, requiring ongoing support. Membership dues are $65 per year (waived for students but not for residents; couples pay $65 for a joint membership). Your dues allow us to invite out-of-town scholars as well as defray costs for medical students. In so doing, we hope to encourage their participation in the Society. If you would like to join, please send your check along with a completed membership form. Payment is by cash or by check payable to The Corner Society. If you know someone who is not a member, ask him/her to join with you. And, if your situation permits, please consider an additional contribution to the Society.

Click here for the lecture schedule and registration form. Please contact Andrea Ehmann or Dr. Stephanie Brown Clark in the Division of Medical Humanities at URMC (275-5800) with any questions about membership or about the meetings.

Dr. Fountain Workshops

2007-09-03T13:59:00.000-05:00

Dr. Daniel Fountain will be returning to the area to conduct 2 workshops on Whole Person Medicine this month.

The first is a five-hour workshop on Whole Person Medicine in Syracuse on Saturday September 15 organized by Dr. Tom Masten. Dr. Dan Fountain and his wife Miriam will be flying in to do the teaching. Over 36 have already registered, many of whom are pastors and church leaders. Dr. Fountain says, "I'm delighted to have pastors and church leaders come and will include considerable stuff relevant to the role of the church in healing." The event will take place at Grace Evangelical Covenant church in Clay NY (northwest Syracuse) from 8 AM through until 3 PM - five hours of CME approved sessions. If you missed Dr. Fountain when he was Rochester last year, this is your chance! Invite your pastor, register, and take the trek to Syracuse. For more info, contact Dr. Masten.

The second will be Dr. Fountain's full workshop at Elim Bible Institute spread out over five days from Monday-Friday September 24-28. This is designed for students in Elim's medical missions track, but might be able to accomodate a few partipants from the community. Click here to review the proposed schedule If you're interested, please contact me.

Fall MD Breakfast

2007-08-25T09:18:00.000-05:00

Our next Breakfast will be held on Saturday morning, September 29th, from 9-11 am at the Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Avenue. Dr. David Holmes, President of the Western NY chapter of CMDA, will be coming with a team from Buffalo to address the topic "To the Least of These." David has been instrumental in advocating for improved medical care for the underserved in his community, most recently through the establishment of the Good Neighbors Health Care center.

Please mark your calendars and RSVP using our Response page. Be sure to note change of location (click here for Directions to the Academy of Medicine).