Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters Podcast

This week’s episode is a special cross-over with CMDA’s Voice of Advocacy podcast, hosted by Dr. Brick Lantz, CMDA’s Vice President of Advocacy and Bioethics. Joined by Dr. Gary Ott, a renowned cardiac transplant surgeon at Providence Heart and Vascular Clinic, they explore the ethical boundaries of life, death, and medical innovation – examining how we define death in the ICU era, the differences between brain death and donation after circulatory death (DCD), and how emerging technologies like “heart-in-a-box” systems and normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) are reshaping transplant medicine. With decades of experience and deep faith, Dr. Ott challenges us to uphold the sanctity of life and reflects on the Gospel image at the heart of transplantation – one life given so another may live. Chapters (00:00:00) - Faith in Healthcare(00:02:43) - The fight over death in the transplant world(00:03:48) - Heart Transplant Doctor on the Prospects(00:04:57) - Heart Surgeon: Why I chose this career path(00:11:35) - Donor heart in brain death(00:14:28) - Donation after cardiac death or circulatory death(00:20:01) - Pre-Field Orientation and Saline Process Witness Training(00:22:24) - Heart transplantation 4, The heart(00:24:08) - How far can a heart be transplanted?(00:25:10) - Importance of extracorporeal perfusion in heart transplants(00:32:29) - Philosophical Questions about Heart Transplant(00:36:49) - The Right to Perfuse the Brain(00:39:58) - Heart Surgeon Gary Gross on Voice of Advocacy(00:41:05) - Christian Healthcare Ethics(00:43:40) - Faith in Healthcare

Fresh from his return from Cairo, host Dr. Mike Chupp shares reflections from his time at the Doctors with a Mission Conference and the powerful ways God is moving among healthcare professionals in Egypt. While in Cairo, Dr. Chupp sat down with Dr. Greta Gamal, a pediatric specialist and Director of Operations for the Christian Medical Fellowship in Egypt, who is leading teams that bring physical, emotional, and spiritual care to underserved communities across Egypt and the Gulf. Dr. Gamal shares how calling and courage intersect in the daily work of Christian clinicians serving in challenging settings. Also joining the episode is medical student Dara Love from Texas, who reflects on how public examples of Christian courage – like Charlie Kirk’s – have inspired her to stand firm in faith while still in training and to speak truth with conviction and grace. Together, these conversations remind us that no matter where we serve, God’s kingdom work in healthcare spans cultures and generations. Chapters (00:00:08) - Faith in Healthcare: Doctors With a Mission(00:04:53) - Christian Medical Fellowship of Egypt(00:09:10) - The story of the oral exam(00:10:52) - CMF Egypt(00:14:55) - Prayers for Dr. Green in Egypt(00:17:42) - CROSSING THE CREEK(00:19:05) - Faith and Healthcare(00:21:08) - Favorite Activities of the First-years(00:21:33) - Charlie Kirk's Assassination Prompts a Conversation(00:26:36) - Dara's Refusal to Become a Student Leader(00:28:57) - A Christian Medical Student's Advice for Second Year(00:33:12) - Crossover: Voice of Advocacy and Bioethics(00:36:15) - Faith in Healthcare

In this episode, we’re joined by two leaders from AdventHealth who have spent decades thinking deeply about the well-being of healthcare professionals: Dr. Ted Hamilton, family physician, longtime mission executive, and national voice on clinician well-being; and Dr. Carla Park, Vice President of Whole-Person Care, Education & Integration. Together, they led a new peer-reviewed study of CMDA members published in the journal, Religions 2025, that revealed something striking: Christian healthcare professionals reported significantly lower burnout than the broader healthcare population, and three factors tended to rise and fall together in those who were thriving: belonging, calling, and virtue. Through practical insights and personal stories, Drs. Hamilton and Park highlight how faith not only sustains healthcare professionals but also equips them to lead and care more deeply for their patients, colleagues, and themselves. Chapters (00:00:00) - Christian Healthcare Professionals: Faith in Healthcare(00:02:07) - Faith in Healthcare(00:03:52) - The CMDA Center for Well-Being(00:06:32) - Cmmda on the Burnout Survey(00:08:14) - The CMDA Membership Survey(00:09:01) - Dr. Park on physician burnout(00:11:47) - How religious people cope with anxiety and depression(00:17:03) - The issue of seeking help from a doctor(00:18:45) - The sense of calling in healthcare(00:20:41) - Healthcare professionals' sense of calling(00:22:19) - The Calling of Medicine(00:23:43) - CROSSING THE CREEK(00:25:12) - Forgiveness and the Well Being Survey(00:26:54) - Forgiveness in the medical profession(00:34:54) - Dr. Park on Faith and Burnout(00:38:31) - Dr. Hamilton and Pastor Burt Jones on Faith and Well-(00:42:17) - CMDA Conference and Study(00:43:38) - CMDA Global Missions Health Conference(00:46:26) - Faith in Healthcare

In this episode of Faith in Healthcare, Grant Hewitt, CMDA’s Southern Director, unpacks the powerful metaphor of “cut flower medicine”—a picture of modern healthcare severed from its Christian roots. From the influence of early Christians who pioneered hospitals, to chilling lessons from Nazi doctors, Grant challenges us to consider: What happens when medicine loses its moral foundation? Joined by Rev. Bill Reichert and host Dr. Mike Chupp, this conversation explores: • The Christian origins of hospitals and compassionate care • Why secular healthcare struggles to sustain true human dignity • Disturbing parallels between Nazi medical ideology and today’s ethical debates • How Christian students and professionals can stand firm in a spiritually dark culture • The importance of community chapters and mentoring for lasting impact Whether you’re a student, professional, or simply care about faith and medicine, this discussion will inspire you to reclaim the roots of healthcare that honor Christ and uphold the value of every human life. #FaithInHealthcare #ChristianDoctors #MedicalEthics #CutFlowerMedicine #CMDA Chapters (00:00:08) - Faith in Healthcare(00:02:21) - Celebrating the Life of Grant Hewitt(00:06:02) - Christian Healthcare: Cut Flower Medicine(00:13:01) - Peter Singer on the Problem of Humanity(00:14:06) - CMBBA Student Question(00:18:07) - Christian Healthcare and the Right to Mercy(00:24:02) - CMDA National Convention Announcement(00:25:12) - The Final Solution and Nazi Medicine(00:27:00) - Nazi Doctors: The Psychology of Genocide(00:29:58) - CMDDA Community Ministry(00:34:30) - CMD in Healthcare: Finding a Community Group(00:37:53) - What's the Next Step for a Community Chapter?(00:39:23) - Restoring Faith in Healthcare(00:41:46) - Mentoring and Discipleship in Healthcare(00:45:51) - Faith in Healthcare

Dr. Trish Burgess, CMDA’s Director of Global Health Outreach, and Dr. Andy Lamb, an internist, Army veteran, and longtime GHO team leader who recently reached the milestone of 50 mission trips, join host Dr. Mike Chupp. Andy shares how one trip to Guatemala reoriented his motives for serving, how praying with patients became part of his daily practice, and how years of overseas ministry softened a soldier-turned-internist into a more tender dad and mentor. Trish reflects on how GHO has matured over the years, strengthening logistics, pharmacy systems, and team leader preparation, so that healthcare professionals can focus on discipling teams and caring for patients. Whether you’re considering your first mission trip or wondering how to serve more effectively, this episode offers encouragement and practical next steps.

Dr. James Tour, one of the world’s leading nanotechnologists and a bold follower of Christ, joins Faith in Healthcare host Dr. Mike Chupp for a fascinating conversation at the intersection of faith and science. A renowned synthetic organic chemist at Rice University, Dr. Tour has authored more than 800 publications, holds over 140 patents, and launched multiple startups. His pioneering work stretches from “flash graphene” that converts trash into valuable carbon and hydrogen fuel, to groundbreaking approaches in cancer treatment and guiding nerve regrowth after spinal cord injury. Yet beyond the lab, Dr. Tour’s daily rhythm of Scripture and prayer over the past 47 years has fueled both his creativity and courage. In this episode, he shares how his walk with Christ shapes discovery, why the resurrection remains central to his witness, and his challenge to the next generation of academics and healthcare professionals to live and speak for Christ, even in environments that resist it, and even when it costs.

Dr. Amy Adamczyk joins host Dr. Mike Chupp and CMDA’s Vice President of Advocacy and Bioethics, Dr. Brick Lantz, to explore why views on abortion vary so widely across nations. A sociology professor at John Jay College and author of Fetal Positions, Dr. Adamczyk draws on decades of global research to show how culture, religion, economics, and policy shape public opinion. CMDA holds firmly to the biblical conviction that every life is made in God’s image and worthy of protection, and this conversation seeks perspective on eye-opening global data, offering insights that can sharpen our convictions and encourage Christian healthcare professionals in our witness.

In this episode of Faith in Healthcare, Dr. Steve Willing joins host Dr. Mike Chupp to explore the neuroscience behind what is often described as transgender identity. Drawing from his decades of experience in pediatric neuroradiology, as well as his work in apologetics and scholarship, Dr. Willing examines brain imaging research, neuroplasticity, and the impact of puberty blockers. He challenges healthcare professionals to seek truth in a field clouded by controversy, while reminding us to respond with courage, compassion, and conviction as followers of Christ.

Dr. Omari Hodge, CMDA’s new president, joins host Dr. Mike Chupp for an important conversation about faith, healthcare, and leadership. A board-certified family physician and the founding program director of AdventHealth’s Family Medicine Residency in Wesley Chapel, Florida, Dr. Hodge has served CMDA for years, leading Global Health Outreach teams with his wife, Kiera, and guiding committees with wisdom and grace. As CMDA’s first African American president, Dr. Hodge shares his inspiring journey of faith and calling into healthcare, his conviction that medicine is ministry, and his vision for equipping the next generation of Christian healthcare professionals. Together with Dr. Chupp, he explores the importance of diversity, the future of CMDA, and how healthcare professionals can live boldly for Christ in their daily work.

This week’s episode is a special tribute to Dr. James Dobson, whose recent passing marks the loss of a man who shaped generations of families and believers. A child psychologist by training, Dr. Dobson rose to national influence through bestselling books, Focus on the Family, and later Family Talk and the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. His legacy in Christian radio, cultural engagement, and defense of the family continues to endure. In honor of his impact, we’re returning to our very first podcast episode from January 2020 under the name CMDA Matters, where Dr. Dobson joined us as the inaugural guest. In this conversation, he speaks with honesty and conviction about family, faith, cultural pressures, and the courage needed to uphold biblical values in the public square. His words remain just as timely today, offering encouragement to live boldly for Christ and to raise the next generation with truth and love.

In this episode, Dr. Nigel Cameron – theologian, bioethicist, and author of Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon General – joins Faith in Healthcare host Dr. Mike Chupp to share the remarkable story of C. Everett Koop. From revolutionizing pediatric surgery and pioneering the NICU to serving as Surgeon General during the AIDS crisis, Koop united medical innovation with moral conviction, championing the value of every life. Drawing on years of research and interviews, Cameron highlights Koop’s bold leadership, deep faith, and lasting impact on American medicine, public health, and the pro-life movement.

In this compelling episode of Faith in Healthcare, host Dr. Mike Chupp and guest co-host Dr. Amy Givler sit down with Dr. Paul Offit—world-renowned vaccinologist, co-inventor of the rotavirus vaccine, and director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. To help us navigate these questions with both clarity and compassion, guest co-host Dr. Amy Givler, a longtime CMDA member, current CMDA Trustee and family physician who has written and spoken extensively on vaccine ethics. Together, they address pressing issues at the intersection of faith and medicine: vaccine hesitancy, public trust, COVID-19 lessons, misinformation in the church, and how Christian healthcare professionals can navigate these challenging conversations with compassion and clarity. From personal stories to global perspectives, Dr. Offit offers science-based insights while honoring the role of faith in patient care. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, church leader, or simply seeking truth in a divided culture, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.

In this episode, Faith in Healthcare host Dr. Mike Chupp is joined by Dr. David Hager, a longtime CMDA member, OB-GYN, infectious disease specialist, and award-winning educator whose decades of ministry span clinics, churches, and prisons. Dr. Hager shares transformative insights from his newest book, Restoring Your Temple: Seven Steps to Inner Healing and Peace, and how a quiet morning devotional led to the discovery of a biblical framework for recovery rooted in 2 Chronicles and 1 Corinthians. With deep wisdom and compassion, he unpacks the spiritual and physiological dimensions of addiction, offering a powerful vision of hope, healing, and lasting restoration.

This week’s episode features Dr. John Wyatt, a physician, ethicist, and professor emeritus of neonatal pediatrics at University College London, as he delivers a powerful plenary address from CMDA’s 2025 National Convention. As artificial intelligence accelerates change across healthcare, Dr. Wyatt challenges us to look beyond innovation and efficiency to the deeper ethical and spiritual questions at stake. From wearable tech to diagnostic algorithms, he explores the promise and peril of AI, urging Christian healthcare professionals to remain rooted in Christ and committed to preserving the sacredness of human connection. This message is a compelling call to embody hope, compassion, and faithful presence in a world increasingly shaped by AI and machines.  

In this week’s episode, we bring you a passionate plenary address from Ryan Bomberger, cofounder of the Radiance Foundation, delivered live at CMDA’s 2025 National Convention. With humor, heart, and unwavering conviction, Ryan shares his personal story of adoption and identity while calling believers to be “spokes in the wheel,” ordinary people God uses to create extraordinary impact. You’ll hear biblical responses to abortion and gender ideology, stories of bold faith in action, and a heartfelt reminder that every human life has purpose. This message will challenge you, inspire you, and equip you to live out your calling with courage and joy.

As we continue featuring powerful messages from CMDA’s 2025 National Convention, today’s episode brings a moving plenary address from Dr. Eric McLaughlin, a family medicine missionary with Serge, professor at Hope Africa University in Burundi, and author of Promises in the Dark. With deep honesty and insight, Dr. McLaughlin explores what it means to bring healing in a broken world. He speaks to the tensions many Christian healthcare professionals feel – between justice and joy, suffering and hope, burnout and purpose. If you’ve ever felt weary or wondered if your calling still matters, this message is for you.

This week on CMDA Matters, we bring you a powerful plenary address from our National Convention in St. Louis, featuring Erin Hawley, Senior Counsel and Vice President at Alliance Defending Freedom. A key figure in the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case and lead counsel in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, Erin shares a compelling behind-the-scenes look at the legal battles shaping the future of life and conscience in America. With clarity and conviction, she highlights CMDA’s ongoing role in defending the unborn, protecting pregnancy centers, and standing for truth in a post-Roe world. Whether or not you’ve attended a CMDA gathering in person, this episode offers a glimpse into the passion, purpose, and unity that defines our mission.

This week on the podcast, we bring you a compelling collection of voices in healthcare from the Colson Fellows Program. Recorded live at the Colson Center National Conference in Louisville, KY, this episode features Christian healthcare professionals — and one spouse — who are living out their faith in some of today’s most complex medical and cultural spaces. From gender ideology and end-of-life care to advocacy for the unborn, elderly, disabled, and spiritually poor, these Fellows are applying a biblical worldview with bold compassion and unwavering unity in Christ. You’ll hear their responses to two timely questions: why unity among Christ-followers in healthcare matters now more than ever, and what advocacy issue each is most passionate about in today’s public square. Whether you’re on the front lines of medicine or supporting those who are, this episode will challenge and encourage you to speak truth with grace and serve with steadfast hope.

On this week’s episode of CMDA Matters, we’re joined by Ryan T. Anderson, Ph.D., President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and Jamie Bryan Hall, EPPC’s Director of Data Analysis, for an important conversation about the safety of the abortion pill, mifepristone. Together, they unpack findings from a groundbreaking EPPC study analyzing more than 865,000 insurance claims – the largest-known study of its kind. This episode explores troubling trends in serious adverse events related to abortion pill use, including hospitalizations, infections, misdiagnoses, and coercion.