Plenary Speakers

Dr. Brooks is a physician who serves at COLM, a clinic staffed solely by volunteers on the Texas- Mexico border offering free health care in an underserved community.  She is the Chairman of the CMDA Human Trafficking Committee, serves as a medical liaison for the Rio Grande Valley Anti-Trafficking Taskforce, serves on the Amazing Grace Ministries anti-trafficking team, and founded an NGO that supports safe houses and trafficking awareness/ prevention efforts. Dr. Brooks received her MPH from John’s Hopkins in international public health, and also completed an Infectious Disease Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University. She has taught on human trafficking awareness for nearly twenty years in multiple venues, including at a prior Remedy conference. 

Ginseka is a Venezuelan physician with a Master’s in Public Health from FIU. Fluent in Spanish and English, she excels in leadership and communication. Dr. Castillo began her career in rural Venezuela and later worked with Pediatric Associates in South Florida, focusing on compliance and patient-centered care. She now serves as Director of the Master of Public Health Program online and as an Instructional Mentor at Liberty University. Her expertise spans medical practice, privacy administration, international health, preventive medicine and chronic disease management, making her a respected public and community health education figure.

Mike is a US Board certified General surgeon who completed his BA degree at Taylor University in 1984, his MD degree at Indiana University in 1988 and then completed a five-year surgery residency at Methodist Hospital of Indiana in 1993. He then joined Southwestern Medical Clinic in Berrien County, Michigan where he remained a partner in the practice through 2016. In 1996 Mike and his wife Pam began a 20-year career as medical missionaries at Tenwek Hospital in southwest Kenya. There he practiced general and orthopedic surgery and served as the Medical Superintendent for many years. In September 2018 the Board of CMDA selected Mike as the CEO of CMDA.

Nicholas  is President and Professor of INMED, the Institute for International Medicine. He is also part-time faculty at Research Medical Center Family Medicine Residency. Over a two-year period, Dr. Comninellis served inner-city citizens at Shanghai Charity Hospital. Over another two years, he led a healthcare ministry in the war-besieged nation of Angola in southern Africa. Dr. Comninellis next served for six years in the Kansas City public hospital before launching INMED in 2003. Dr. Comninellis is a classical guitarist and faculty advisor for Cru at University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Thomas is the Director of Global Health Strategies at International Mission Board, in Richmond, VA. His undergraduate studies were at Florida Southern College (BS in Biology), and he went on to obtain his MD from University of Alabama School of Medicine and his MPH (epidemiology) from UAB School of Public Health. His pediatric residency training was completed at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. He worked in a majority world context in the Far East for 26 years, and has now been overseeing global health strategies for a major mission sending organization where he helps oversee and coordinate the work of hundreds of healthcare missionaries working cross-culturally. He has unique insight into what it takes to prepare for effective service in this context. 

Ken serves as Vice President of Programs and Government Relations for Samaritan’s Purse. He has over 35 years of experience working in relief and development and has traveled to more than 150 countries, responding to dire emergencies and working in complex environments to assist millions afflicted by disaster, disease, famine, poverty, and war. In 2004, Isaacs was appointed by President George Bush to serve as director of the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) under the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where he led American responses to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. Isaacs has been called as an expert witness before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, House International Relations Committee, the Senate Subcommittee on Africa, the Global Human Rights Commission, and the Tom Lantos Commission on Human Rights. Isaacs has a proven track record in leading complex disaster responses and brings decades of experience and first-hand knowledge to the field of International Relief.

Katherine is an Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. She is a member of CMDA, AAPLOG, AAFP, MDAFP, MedChi, and the Baltimore County Medical Association. Dr. Jacobson received her B.S. Degree from University of Maryland, College Park and her MD from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Jacobson advises her campus Christian Medical Society and recently completed a clinical trial on Christian proximal (in-person) and virtual intercessory prayer for healing for pain and anxiety in her outpatient office.

Brenda is tenured faculty at Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee. She has taught courses in the School of Nursing (BSN and DNP) and the Emergency Management major. Dr. Jones earned a PhD in Public Health from Walden University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida. She has practiced as a Certified Nurse Midwife, Family Nurse Practitioner, and National Healthcare Disaster Professional. Dr. Jones serves on the Board of Directors for the Global Medical Research Institute and the Rural Health Association of Tennessee.

Tiffany is the Director of Equity and Engagement at Centra Health. She is also an advisor for the American Nurses Enterprise’s Foundation’s work on Well-being and trains top hospitals on peer support and well-being initiatives for nursing teams.  For the past 2 years, she has served as the Board Secretary for the Virginia Nurses Association and will be the Commission on Nursing Workforce at the end of this term. Locally, she serves as the Government Relations chair for the Hill City Chapter and for the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN /Pronounces like the bread/) DC Metro Chapter as Secretary. The American Diabetes Association has also appointed her to the Eye Council Board. She also serves on the Policy and Advocacy Committee of NAHN National. Covarrubias-Lyttle was appointed in June of 2024 to the Gubernatorial Board of Virginia Workforce Development Board and currently serves as the Board Secretary. Covarrubias-Lyttle graduated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Liberty University and Centra College of Nursing in nursing. In 2024, Covarrubias Lyttle received her Master of Nursing from Johns Hopkins University. Covarrubias-Lyttle has served for a decade on advisory and executive boards for health policy and helped write bills that have been promoted into policy. She has published multiple times on well-being, policy, rural health, access to care, and quality care. 

Tim is a richly blessed child of God, husband, and father who rejoices in God and His grace. Trained as a physician scientist, he has a spectrum of academic and medical service experiences both domestically and internationally in areas of medical and biomedical education and program development; medical laboratory development; advising and training for vocational living; and health care enhancement within rural, underserved populations. The unifying focus and aim in all of this is for a meaningful work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in the One who is worthy of all praise and devotion.

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. 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.

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.

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. 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!

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!

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.

Dave was born and raised in northwestern North Carolina, awarded a BS in Biology in 1974 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, served 2 years in the Peace Corps in Nepal, earned a Doctor of Dental Surgery from UNC – Chapel Hill in 1981. Practiced General Dentistry for 30 years in rural eastern North Carolina, then worked part-time in prison dentistry and nursing home care for another 10 years. Have been on 15 foreign dental mission trips and many domestic trips with the North Carolina Baptist dental trucks. Have been the large equipment manager for the Christian Dental Society for 14 years.

Rebecca Martha is currently pursuing her MPH in epidemiology at Liberty University. She received her medical degree from Makerere University in Uganda. While in medical school, she got the opportunity to work at the hospital level in Kalisizo & Rakai district where HIV/AIDS initially emerged in Uganda and remains a rampant problem. Following her graduation from medical school, she worked as general practitioner with a focus on pediatrics and neonatology at St. Francis hospital Nsambya. Dr. Nantale later evolved into the public health sector under Africa Humanitarian Action, the health implementing partner for UNHCR in Uganda for refugees at urban and tertiary level. She has a vast knowledge and exposure in the management of HIV/TB in resource limited settings.

Olubukola is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Lynchburg, Virginia. She is a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Pediatricians. Dr. Ojuola received her medical degree from University of Ilorin in Nigeria and her MPH degree from Harvard University. Dr. Ojuola has practiced pediatrics for over two decades, conducted clinical research at the UK Medical Research Council Laboratories in pediatric viral illness with several publications, and served as the technical adviser for USAID-funded maternal and child health programs across Southern Africa and Southeast Asia.  

Warren is a private practice dentist in Hampstead, NC.  Dr. Rich received his BA from Duke University (1978) and his DDS from UNC-Chapel Hill School of Dentistry (1982).  Dr. Rich practiced as a missionary dentist for 25 years in Kenya, East Africa.  He has spoken to multiple organizations through the years on all aspects of missionary dentistry.

Wadsworth “Skip” is retired after 51 years at WakeMed Health and Hospitals, Raleigh, NC. He continues to serve as a PT in a mission hospital in Kenya, East Africa. He is a member of the leadership team of Christian Physical Rehab Professionals at Christian Medical & Dental Associations, is the rehabilitation rhampion of the Friends of Tenwek Organization, and serves as the director on the board of the volunteers at WakeMed Health and Hospitals. He received his BS in pre-medicine from The Pennsylvania State University, his certificate in physical therapy from Duke University, and his masters of healthcare administration from Pfeiffer University. Mr. Roy has given multiple coference presentations on the topic of therapy in healthcare missions settings. He has personally taken 12 trips to serve at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Bomet, Kenya and has also served on a healthcare missions trip to Turkey. 

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.

Joshua is the Missions Development Coordinator for the Church of the Nazarene Melanesian-South Pacific Field in Papua New Guinea. He is the Field Personnel Coordinator, Nazarene Compassionate Ministry Coordinator, Immigration Officer, Work & Witness Coordinator, and Secretary to the Nazarene Health Ministries Board. Mr. Stewardson received his B.S. Degree from LeTourneau University and will complete his M.A. Degree from Northwest Nazarene University (2026). Previously he worked as Senior Director of Product Management for Meredith Corporation. Mr. Stewardson has been serving as a missionary in Papua New Guinea since December 2022 and has guided six Post-Resident Physicians on immigration and orientation at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital.

Kendall is an Emergency Medicine Physician and currently serves as a Missionary Physician at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in Papua New Guinea. She is a member of the Papua New Guinea Society of Emergency Medicine, the Medical Education Committee, the Nazarene Health Ministries Education Committee, Electronic Medical Record Implementation Team, Melanesia-South Pacific Spiritual Life Team and NHM International Grant Organizing Committee. Dr. Stewardson received her B.S. Degree from LeTourneau University and her MSA and DO from Des Moines University. Dr. Stewardson has been serving as a Post-Resident at Kudjip since December 2022 through the Samaritan’s Purse / World Medical Mission Post-Residency Program. She and her family are currently on deputation and will be returning to Kudjip in June.

Jennifer is the Executive Director of the Maryland Organization of Nurse Leaders Inc./ Maryland Nurse Residency Collaborative. Dr. Zipp has been a nurse for 24 years and has expertise in NRPs, Mentorship, Professional Development, EBP and Research. She was recently Faculty at the University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON). Dr. Zipp received her BSN (’00) Masters of Science in Health Services/ Leadership & Management (’12) and her DNP (’18) from UMSON where she also earned her Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions Certificate. Her DNP work focused on implementation of a mentorship program in augmentation of the Vizient/ AACN NRP.