Breakout #1

Capture the zeal for altruistic endeavors through lively, inspiring, true accounts. Discover the documented outpouring of the holistic benefits (emotional, intellectual, physical, social, moral, and spiritual) obtained from Christian dental/medical services around the world. Drs. Bob and Diane will relate personal experiences gained through a lifetime of joyful, short-term missionary trips. The stories include spiritual highlights, cross-cultural features, triumphs over challenges, and adventures in our amazingly diverse world.

Robert is the Executive Director of the Christian Dental Society. He is a Retired Army Colonel, a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, Board Certified by the American Board of General Dentist, a Fellow in the Academy of Dentistry International, International College of Dentistry, and American College of Dentists. Dr. Meyer received his B.S. from West Point and his DMD from the University of Oregon Dental School. Dr. Meyer commanded the only airborne dental unit in the world deploying dental teams around the world and finished a 30-year Army career directing an AEGD-1 year residency program for six years before going into private practice. 

Diane is a Board Member of the Christian Dental Society. She is a Fellow in the International College of Dentist and the Academy of Dentistry International. Dr. Meyer received her BSN from the University of Oregon, her MST from the State University of New York College at Potsdam, and her EdD from Liberty University. 

Drs. Bob and Diane Meyer desire to be humble servants and have used their experiences and leadership abilities to organize, teach, and provide dental care and encouragement to teams serving under-resourced people on over 100 trips to 45 countries around the world for the last 30 years.  They have authored numerous articles, lecture on portable dental missions, and have written books on dental volunteerism, including Truth, Teeth, and Travel: Volumes I and II, Dental Mission Manual, and Encouraging Missions: Transforming Lives, Especially Yours!

As cannabis use skyrockets, fueled by legalization and commercial promotion, so do myths surrounding its safety and medical benefits. In clinical practice and community outreach, particularly in missions and low-resource settings, a growing number of individuals are misled by the allure of “medical” cannabis. Many believe marijuana is rigorously prescribed and evidence-based, but this is far from reality. We will shed light on risks associated with its use—especially among vulnerable groups like teenagers, pregnant women, and those in disadvantaged communities. We’ll dissect the process of obtaining “medical” marijuana and critically examine the lack of evidence behind claimed therapeutic benefits.

Linda is Professor and Chair of Behavioral Sciences at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Urban Health and Clinical Psychology from Old Dominion University, a master’s degree in social work and a BA in both Psychology and Communications from Western Michigan University. A national speaker, host of Faith Radio’s Dr. Linda Mintle podcast, a BeliefNet national blogger, bestselling author of 20 books, she has 27 years of clinical experience in eating disorders, obesity, and psychiatric treatment. Her current focus includes research in pain management, anxiety, addiction, and student wellness.

Assisted Suicide (AS) is currently legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Several states have pending legislation. In Canada, euthanasia (EU) is becoming a leading cause of death since the passage of Medical Assistance in Dying legislation in 2016. Healthcare personnel in Canada are “offering MAiD” and euthanizing patients who are depressed, disabled, chronically ill or impoverished. Proponents are pushing for a similar approach in the U.S. In this session you will learn how to approach AS/EU from a transcendent moral law perspective in order to care for the vulnerable and to promote a culture of life.

Richard is a graduate of Boston University School of Medicine and Waukesha Family Practice Residency. He completed an MA in Bioethics, and the Faculty Development Fellowship at Madigan Army Medical Center. He completed a 22-year career in the Navy. He is a Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia and Medical Director of Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home. He has 35 peer-reviewed publications and is a founding board member of the American College of Family Medicine. He’s married to his wife, Teri, for 35 years, and they have 5 children and 3 grandchildren.

As healthcare professionals, how can we do good work in our families, churches, workplaces and communities? We’ll discuss the concept of faith-work-family life integration for healthcare professionals, and share several key practices that enable us to live in faith-focused way in all areas of our lives. These include cultivating a personal and growing faith, committing to a community of believers, intentional involvement in local community activities, doing as many things together as a family as possible, seeking to share faith with others, and befriending and mentoring others. 

Larry is Chief Medical Officer at Rural Medical Services and Chief of Staff at Tennova Newport Medical Center in Newport Tennessee. He is a member of CMDA, AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) and ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists). Dr. Mathers earned his BS in Chemical Engineering and BA in Spanish from Carnegie Mellon University, and his MD from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed a family medicine residency at the Waukesha Family Practice Residency Program. He has authored an article in Medical Economics on work-life balance. 

Rachel is family nurse practitioner at Rural Medical Services in Newport, TN. She earned her BSN at University of Pittsburgh and her MSN at University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. 

Larry and Rachel minister through their medical work with the underserved, through various service and leadership roles in their church and community, and through supporting multiple overseas and domestic missionaries.

As healthcare professionals, how can we do good work in our families, churches, workplaces and communities? We’ll discuss the concept of faith-work-family life integration for healthcare professionals, and share several key practices that enable us to live in faith-focused way in all areas of our lives. These include cultivating a personal and growing faith, committing to a community of believers, intentional involvement in local community activities, doing as many things together as a family as possible, seeking to share faith with others, and befriending and mentoring others.