Content Resources

This session consists of a panel of women physicians who have served or are serving long term in medical missions. They will describe their call to missions, their missions service, and answer questions from the audience regarding issues of particular interest to women medical students and physicians considering medical missions.

There is great concern about the extent to which certain microorganisms have become resistant to the antimicrobial agents to which they were once highly susceptible. At the same time, there has been a significant decline in the number of new antimicrobial agents being developed and marketed. This presentation considers the uses and most important characteristics of the new drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases. Where possible, the properties of the new drugs are compared with those of older drugs available for the same uses. A New Drug Comparison Rating (NDCR) is provided for each of the new antimicrobial agents. Selected infections (e.g., HIV/AIDS, malaria) that are of particular importance in parts of the world in which missions programs are based are considered, as are selected infections (e.g., MRSA, Lyme disease) that represent important challenges in the United States.

Anecdotal evidence points to a general uptick in the interest and participation of volunteerism, including medical volunteerism. In contrast to Christian and Christ-centered medical missions, many volunteers are secular and have no religious affiliation when they work abroad. Recent studies have also shown a significance interest in medical missions overseas in both undergraduate and graduate medical education. The aim of this workshop will be to review the literature regarding secular medical missions. Additionally, the role of medical missions in secular medical education will be considered. Finally, the motivations for medical volunteerism, its relation – either positive or negative – with Christian medical missions, and the lines of dialogue between secular and Christian medical missions will be discussed.

It has often been said that one of the greatest reasons for people not to enter long-term missions is short-term missions. Using my own example as a case-study, we'll examine the logic and rationale behind this statement, and how short-term medical missions can be both a boon and detriment to the case of long-term missions.

This session will address how the Church can be mobilized toward practical responses in the prevention of HIV/AIDS and for the care of people living with and impacted by HIV/AIDS. Biblically-informed approaches, examples and case studies from Food for the Hungry and other ministries will emphasize how grassroots efforts can be informed by proven strategies that have measureable and multiplicative effect.

The session will cover the current statistics of homelessness in America, the main approaches to addressing homelessness, and a case study of the “Service First” model where the homeless are invited to join service projects with other groups that benefit the community.

Malaria prevention and prompt treatment often requires the use of effective antimalarials that many practitioners do not routinely use. These medications are not benign and do have potential adverse effects and drug interactions that we should be aware of and proactive in preventing. This session will review potential adverse effects, drug interactions and the risk of developing resistance for the current prophylaxis agents and the current treatment regimens of malaria.

In this session we will be discussing almost every aspect of how to perform a short term health outreach: how to arrange travel, how to determine your formulary and where to find the cheapest medications, which dental equipment works best and where to obtain it, which optometry diagnostic systems are best in a portable environment, where to obtain the cheapest eyeglasses, and how to integrate evangelism into your health outreach. This session includes almost everything you need to know to effectively execute a short term health outreach in a foreign country.

The entry of counterfeit medicines into the USA has accelerated greatly as a result of illegal internet pharmacies. Some major changes have occurred in the policies of some website search engines that will impede the entry of counterfeit medicines into the US, but this will be probably only a temporarily reduce the size of the counterfeit market in the US. This presentation will cover the following issues:1. Examples of the impact of drug counterfeits in the USA and abroad. However, this is not a witch hunt of counterfeit medicines. The purpose of these examples is to get your attention as to the urgency of this problem. 2. Counterfeit medicines in general: The magnitude of the problem. 3. Examples of the impact of counterfeit medicines on mortality and morbidity. 4. Solutions: Levels of counterfeit prevention measures: Overt, Covert, and Forensic. 5. Examples of each of the above types of intervention. 6. Changes In US law and current CA law to mandate implementation of ePedigree and other counterfeit intervention and drug diversion protection measures. 7. How to know from which internet pharmacies are safe to order drugs.

Nurses from developed countries who have advanced degrees, such as MSN and PHd. are strategically positioned to meet the growing need of Nursing Leadership development of nurse leaders and the promotion of excellence in nursing care in developing countries. Today in many developing countries, nursing is still yet to be recognized for its significant impact on quality patient care. As a result, these nurses are seen more as subordinates to physicians and lack the opportunities to develop to their full potential as leaders in health care organizations and in the provision of quality patient care. This session will provide you with the knowledge of the presenter's journey in living & working as a missionary nurse in India, and her continued passion to work with nurses in India while now living in the USA.

In 2000 the global community through the United Nations adopted ambitious goals to improve the lives of especially the least advantaged in the world by 2015 – Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Since 1970 the Comprehensive Rural Health Project (CRHP), Jamkhed, India, has pioneered the philosophy, principles and practice of comprehensive, community-based primary health care. Through this approach, based on Christian values, communities have been empowered and transformed, especially the poor and marginalized, women and children. Community members have learned to work together across social divisions and solve problems together for the well-being of the whole village – and have reached all the MDGs. This sustainable approach addresses social determinants and other root causes, including the caste system, harmful traditional practices, status of women and poverty. Caring and sharing communities are formed living in harmony, health and peace – shalom.