Continuing medical and dental education on the global stage: The nexus of supporting international Christian healthcare workers and developing educators

Lyubov D Slashcheva; Mark A Strand; Ruth E VanReken; Collin Sanford; J Dwight Phillips; Gloria Halverson

doi:10.15566/cjgh.v3i2.131

Lyubov D Slashcheva Resident/Fellow, University of Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Iowa City, IA
Mark A Strand rofessor, College of Pharmacy and Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND
Ruth E VanReken Co-Founder, Families in Global Transition
Collin Sanford Professor Emeritus, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT
J Dwight Phillips Professor of Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN
Gloria Halverson Professor Emeritus, Medical College of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15566/cjgh.v3i2.131

Keywords: Continuing healthcare education, International healthcare education, Medical missionary support

Abstract

One of the challenges facing international healthcare missionaries is that of maintaining up-to-date knowledge and staying current with professional certification. Since 1978, annual programs by the Christian Medical and Dental Associations have offered professional continuing education to thousands of US healthcare professionals serving as missionaries in the regions of Africa, Asia, and, in more recent years, globally. In addition, conference programming is designed to prepare, train, and support healthcare missionaries to, in turn, serve as educators in their places of ministry. The program is designed for both professional education and personal encouragement. Utilizing historical documents from program facilitation and interviews from those involved with its implementation, this paper describes the history, vision, and favorable quantitative growth and qualitative impact on participants. The program continues to grow as healthcare missionaries are educated near their places of service, while reinforcing their own roles as educators.

Author Biographies

Lyubov D Slashcheva, Resident/Fellow, University of Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Iowa City, IA

Lyubov Slashcheva is a Geriatric & Special Needs Dentistry Fellow and Dental Public Health Resident at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry. A Christian Medical and Dental Associations member, she has served as Academic Assistant for the CMDE program. She serves as Vice President on the board for the Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship and Secretary for the board of the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry. As a National Health Service Corps Dental Scholar, Slashcheva is committed to establishing a career in meeting the primary oral health needs of underserved communities.

Mark A Strand, rofessor, College of Pharmacy and Department of Public Health, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND

Mark Strand is a professor and public health researcher who is devoted to contributing to the knowledge and literature on healthcare professionals serving in cross-cultural settings.

Ruth E VanReken, Co-Founder, Families in Global Transition

Ruth VanReken has substantial cross-cultural ministry experience and has co-authored the book "Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds" and advocates for the children and families of missionaries through Families in Global Transition, an organization she co-founded.

Collin Sanford, Professor Emeritus, University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT

Collin Sanford is a dental professional and professor emeritus of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine.

J Dwight Phillips, Professor of Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN

J Dwight Phillips is a professor in the Pediatrics Department at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN who has collaborated extensively with healthcare professionals serving in cross-cultural settings.

Gloria Halverson, Professor Emeritus, Medical College of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Gloria Halverson is professor emeritus of the Medical College of Wisconsin in Gynecology and Obstetrics. She is committed to supporting healthcare professionals serving in cross-cultural settings.

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