ICMDA Recordings

Recorded on 24 July 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Dr Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Prof John Wyatt

The problem of suffering has been one of the most intractable and painful theological debates for centuries. But is it perhaps not a problem to be solved, but a deeper mystery to be journeyed through? How does knowing Jesus’ death and resurrection are not simply a response to pain but God’s Plan A from the start change things?John Wyatt is Emeritus Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, University College London, a Senior Researcher at the Faraday Institute, Cambridge and President of the UK Christian Medical Fellowship.

He has a clinical background as a paediatrician caring for sick and premature infants and also a medical scientist researching into the prevention of brain injury in newborn babies.

He has always been interested in ethical dilemmas raised by advances in medical technology and has frequently engaged in public and professional consultations and debates from the perspective of the Christian faith.

His book Matters of Life and Death – human dilemmas in the light of the Christian faith has been translated into more than ten languages. His most recent book is Transforming Friendship. He and his wife Celia are members of St Andrews Church in Oxford.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 17 July 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Dr Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Dr Beatrice Ambauen-Berger

Though many doctors in the West may have never treated female genital fistula, there are still an estimated 0.5 million women worldwide suffering from this preventable and treatable disease, mostly in African and Asian countries.

Sufferers are living with full incontinence of urine or stool and are often treated as outcasts. Where access to medical care has improved, the numbers of obstetric fistula have decreased, but sadly there is a concerning increase of fistula caused by low quality pelvic surgeries.

This webinar gives an overview of the causes and challenges of female genital fistula today, with focus on the example of Bangladesh.

Dr. Bea is a Swiss Obstetrician and Gynaecologist working at LAMB hospital in rural Bangladesh since 2010. Besides practising and training local doctors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology she lead and expanded the LAMB fistula project including performing and training nationals in fistula surgeries, consultancy for community projects, local and national advocacy work as well as fistula related research. She is a member of ISOFS (International Society of Obstetric Fistula Surgeons) since 2012 and has been a member of the ISFOS Executive Committee from 2022-24.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 10 July 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Howard Lyons chairs a webinar with Prof Annelies Wilder-Smith

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that global health is interconnected, and delayed action costs lives. Strong public health systems, early response, and equitable access to vaccines are critical. The rapid development of mRNA vaccines showed the power of well-funded, coordinated science.

However, science must remain apolitical - when politicized, it erodes public trust and fuels misinformation. Clear communication, preparedness, and protecting vulnerable populations are essential. The pandemic revealed the fragility of health systems and the urgent need for resilience. As Scripture reminds us, pestilences are part of a broken world (Luke 21:11) - COVID-19 was not the first and will not be the last.

Dr. Annelies Wilder-Smith has devoted her career to emerging infectious diseases, particularly those impacting low- and middle-income countries. Her path was shaped during two decades in Asia, where she was at the forefront of the SARS outbreak, and investigated the H5N1, dengue and Zika virus outbreaks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served as an external advisor to the World Health Organization, where she developed COVID-19 vaccine policies for the global use.

Annelies is Honorary Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Past President of the International Society of Travel Medicine, and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Travel Medicine. Her academic career resulted in 380 publications and many research grants. She leads the Lancet Commission on Dengue and was Principal Investigator of EU-funded research consortia.

Her awards include the Myron Levine Vaccinology Prize and the CDC Honor Group Award. Annelies is also the author of Travel Medicine: Tales Behind the Science and Grasping Heaven, a biography of Dr. Tami Fisk. She lives in Switzerland with her husband, a professor of neurology; both their children are physicians in training.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 3 July 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Dr David Randall chairs a webinar with Dr Emil Shehadeh

Discipling is a word which can cause confusion. Does it precede, or succeed conversion? My presentation will imply the term as meaning a post-conversion teaching. Others call this process “Christian Formation.”

How do we help Muslims once they become Christian? Do we need to use a different approach for Muslim-background Christians, or place different emphases on certain areas of discipleship? If so, how and what? I will try and answer these questions in my presentation entitled, discipling Muslim background believers.

Emil Shehadeh was born in Israel and educated mainly in the UK, achieving BSc Hons (Medical Biology), MSc (Biochemistry), MB ChB (Medicine), and a Diploma in Dermatology and MRCGP. Growing up in Israel, he accompanied his parents all over Galilee, spreading the Gospel amongst all communities including Muslims. He also worked with Child Evangelism Fellowship and OM.

In the early 1990s, he co-founded an Arabic Church in Cardiff, S Wales. He practiced as a GP (Family Physician and a trainer) until 2016. Upon retirement, he dedicated his time to writing and speaking on the subject of Islam and evangelising Muslims. He supports evangelistic work amongst Muslims in North Africa and Nigeria. Emil has a PhD in Islamic Studies from Logos University and is engaged in another piece of research at LST, Northwood, on the Causes and Consequences of Muslim Conversions to Christianity. He believes that the expansion of the Kingdom of God must be the chief concern of the people of God.⁠⁠⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 26 June 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Dr Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Dr Shari Falkenheimer

Athletes hoping to become Olympians need a coach to maximize their performance. Life coaching, like athletic coaching, helps a person or group improve in an area of interest or concern. It is based on the fact that the person or group knows themselves, their situation, and their options best. The life coach helps them explore actions to take to deal with the situation.

Individual and life coaching is increasingly being used by healthcare professionals and organizations to promote healthcare professional wellness, improve processes, and decrease the likelihood of burnout. ICMDA is exploring making life coaching available to Christian healthcare professionals and organizations who desire it.

Sharon A. (“Shari”) Falkenheimer, M.D., M.P.H., M.A. (Bioethics), PhD is board certified in Aerospace Medicine. She has over 40 years of experience in a variety of roles including teaching, applied research, clinical medicine, medical leadership and planning. She mentors the Albany (NY) Medical College CMDA group and has taught in 30 nations. Dr. Falkenheimer is an international advisory board member of the Christian Journal for Global Health, a member of the American Academy of Bioethics, a life member of the US Christian Medical & Dental Association, and the ICMDA Regional Secretary for North America.⁠⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 19 June 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Dr Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Prof Christoffer Grundmann

This webinar sketches the history of Christian medical missions from Jesus’ healing ministry to present day Christian medical services. First it will touch upon the beginnings of institutional care for the sick in the 4th century up until the middle of the 19th century, a time when not much could be done except providing compassionate care.

The second section will focus on the emergence of Christian medical missions as an epiphenomenon of the development of scientific medicine in the 19th century, while the third addresses the transformations of such work necessitated by changes in the overall framework during the 20th century, showing that such ministry represents a vital element in the proclamation of the gospel since it witnesses to the corporeality of salvation in Christ.

Christoffer-Hinrich Grundmann, (MTh, Dr. theol., Dr. theol. habil.) is Emeritus Eckrich University Professor in Religion and the Healing Arts of Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN, USA. Before he worked as Lutheran Pastor in Caracas, Venezuela, taught at the Tamilnadu Theological Seminary Arasaradi, Madurai, India, after which he joined the German Institute for Medical Missions at Tübingen, Germany, as theological consultant and hospital chaplain and briefly at the center for healthcare ethics at Hannover, Germany. Sent to heal! Emergence and Development of Medical Mission (2005) is one of the several books he authored besides numerous articles on topics of medical missions, health and healing, and on inter-religious dialogue. (https://faculty.valpo.edu/cgrundma).⁠⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 12 June 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Dr Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Dr Mathew George

The Kingdom of God is a foundational concept in Christian theology, deeply rooted in the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ. While traditionally associated with spiritual and eschatological dimensions, its relevance extends into every sphere of life—including healthcare.

The values and vision of the Kingdom offer a transformative framework for how care is delivered, how patients are treated, and how justice and compassion are integrated into medical practice.

This webinar explores the understanding of the Kingdom of God, its theological significance, its implications for healthcare, and how it can be practically applied in contemporary clinical settings.

Dr Mathew is a dentist by profession and served at Duncan Hospital in Bihar (1993–2013), a unit of Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA). With his wife, Latha, also a dentist, he pioneered dental work in EHA, establishing 14 dental units as Coordinator of Oral Health Services and later serving as Managing Director.

From 2013–2019, he led the Missions Department at EMFI, shaping healthcare mission programmes. Currently, he heads Companions of Grace International, empowering healthcare professionals for mission work. Passionate about teaching and mentoring, he has spoken globally for 30 years.

⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 5 June 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Dr Peter Saunders chairs a webinar with Dr Nicholas Herodotou

Palliative Medicine is the symptom management of any patient who has an irreversible, progressive, life-limiting condition and is not solely cancer patients. It aims to enhance quality of life, utilizing a holistic, multidisciplinary approach. Good symptom management of palliative patients is what every clinician should be able to deliver. This short webinar addresses the practical management of how to commence strong opioids, palliative surgical interventions, palliative emergencies and lastly, when do you stop treating a patient who is clinically deteriorating.Nicholas studied medicine at St Andrew’s University, Scotland, earning a BSc in medical sciences, then trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College, London, qualifying in 1994. After GP training, he worked as a locum in General Practice and Psychiatry before choosing palliative medicine. He completed specialist training in Warwickshire (CCT 2007) and became an NHS consultant in Luton in 2009, focusing on holistic care in acute hospitals.

His passion is to make a difference to palliative patients so that they die with dignity and respect.

He is the former president of the Motor Neurone Disease Association local branch and a UCL lecturer.

He is married to a former Dentist and they have four children. He enjoys playing squash player and running marathons.⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 29 May 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Howard Lyons chairs a webinar with Dr Daniel O'Neill

Addressing disease and suffering of individuals is a unique place where God’s comforting and healing presence can be experienced. Stories can be shared and narratives integrated with God’s grand healing narrative. Truth can be pursued with rational methods while the leading of the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. 

Ancient biblical wisdom remains highly relevant for modern disease processes and even cures. Transcultural, timeless principles can be effectively applied for both illness prevention and healing intervention. How do Christian clinicians integrate God’s word and presence into rational scientific medicine toward transformative healing in today’s pluralistic world?

Daniel O’Neill, MD, MTh is a physician-theologian and managing editor of Christian Journal for Global Health, Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and holds a master’s degree in biblical & theological studies from Bethel Seminary. He has served on health and development projects among impoverished or displaced populations. He is a co-founder of Health for All Nations and author and co-editor of the book All Creation Groans: Toward a Theology of Disease and Global Health.⁠To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Recorded on 22 May 2025 for ICMDA Webinars.

Howard Lyons chairs a webinar with Dr Steve Sartori

Leaving a career in medicine is often very challenging and stressful for physicians. For those who navigate this transition well, there awaits an exciting array of new opportunities and a rewarding sense of fulfillment.

Although much attention is focused on the financial aspect of retirement, a wholistic perspective yields far greater hope for flourishing during this stage of life.

In this webinar, Dr. Steve Sartori will present a framework designed to maximize life satisfaction in retirement. Whether you are approaching retirement, already retired, or simply wondering “Will I ever retire?”, you should find something helpful.

Dr. Steve Sartori is a retired family physician and certified life and leadership coach, who helps doctors and other healthcare professionals align with God, optimize well-being, maximize influence, and transition to retirement.

A graduate of The Medical College of Wisconsin, he has been chief of staff at two hospitals, faculty member for a family medicine residency program, and chief medical officer for a community health center. He has served CMDA as a board member and founding Director of the Center for Well-being. He is married, with two daughters and five grandchildren, and enjoys traveling and sports.

To listen live to future ICMDA webinars visit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://icmda.net/resources/webinars/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠