CMDA Western Region Report - May 2010
By Michael Mclaughlin, Western Regional Director
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It has been a very busy year since August 2009, especially when
measured by air miles traveled on the 20 flights I took. I pray that the
investment engendered encouragement, education, training and motivation
for the students and docs I met and talked to and with along the way. I
learned long ago not to evaluate my effectiveness by what I feel or how
I think you responded to my visit. We all know that God measures things
differently than us humans do.
The real heroes in this ministry, the most valuable and influential folk
are many of you who invest your time and energy regularly in the lives
of students and doctors where you live. I simply blow into town on a
plane, rent a car, drive to half a dozen cities in that state, give a
talk or three at each location, drink a lot of Starbucks, listen to your
stories and get back on another plane only to do it again in a few
weeks.
For me, one of the great joys of my travels is lodging with you and your
families, especially year after year. I get to watch your families grow
up. This privilege is mine as I get to know you, talk with you, share my
stories and glean from yours. “Pastoring” such a unique
flock, some 3,000 of you, spread out over the two million square miles
of the western region, is hardly possible. But that’s the nature
of the CMDA Regional Director’s role. Except where asked, I tend
to focus on the 44 medical & dental campuses in the west, and visit
with grad groups along the way when invited. Now I don’t pretend
to cover a fraction of this region. In fact, I don’t even hit all
the high spots every year. But you get the picture.
This coming year looks pretty much the same, with some exceptions. At
this point, we are not planning a winter staff meeting in Bristol. We
are moving it to July or August next summer, in order to facilitate
better attendance. Also, I hope to serve as the pastor for a two week
GHO team going to Nepal in Oct – Nov. Also, occasionally I
plan to bring other regional directors along with me for training,
fellowship and expediency. J Scott Ries, MD, our new Vice President of
Campus & Community Ministries will be out here in the west with me
on one or two occasions this coming year. I hope you get to meet
him.
Thank you for your prayers – if only when you read these
bi-monthly Progress Notes or my monthly Heart Changer letter. I treasure
them – and need them truly.
Thanks for doing your part in this important ministry. God sees the
investment you make in secret and will reward you openly someday. I hope
to see you along the road I as travel throughout the West.
Blessings,
Michael
michaelm@cmdawest.com
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Winter Conference - February 13-20, 2011
We invite you to join a wonderful group of docs (and allied
health professionals) for several events every year. Our flagship event
is our winter conference in Buena Vista, CO where we lodge, eat and meet
at Trailwest, a beautiful Young Life Conference Center. We offer a
creative slate of activities everyday, including dog sledding, downhill
skiing, snow shoeing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, cross country
skiing, hiking, etc.
Our next winter conference takes place Feb 13-20, 2011. Jean Wright,
MD is our speaker. She is so popular among our group that this is her
third time in 15 years. Jean has testified before congress, the Vice
Premier of China and us! her specialty is Pediatric Anesthesia and she
is three board certified. In addition, she has a great sense of humor
and is a glutton for punishment. After all, did I mention that this is
her third trip back to speak to our group?
Jean adopted three girls from China will be bringing them with her.
We hope you will join us for this great week.
CMDA Singles on GHO Mission Trips
Also, we encourage CMDA single members who are doing GHO trips to inform
us when they plan to serve on a GHO team, so that other single
docs who desire to serve together can consider joining the same
team.
Also, from time to time, single docs vacation together as they plan
their own events, again using our network to inform others of their
plans.
We hope you take advantage of the single's network in CMDA to meet
and serve along side other single docs.
Questions? Comments? Contact Michael McLaughlin, Singles Advisor
(503-522-1950 or cmdawest@gmail.com).
Western Staff
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Sacramento Area Update
Darilyn Falck, MD
Darilyn Falck, MD is taking a break from her role as the CMDA Sacramento
Area Director for a year or so as she and her husband Troy have
recently adopted a beautiful little girl they named Micala. (For some
reason, I am partial to her name.)
Darilyn has faithfully served the Lord in the ministry of CMDA ever
since she was in medical school more than a decade ago, leading a
student group, serving as a student trustee on the CMDA Board, mentoring
students and residents, and training mentors to do the same. For the
past several years, she has ministered on the field staff as the
Sacramento Area Director. Now is a good time for her to take a break
personally, but also ministry-wise, as she has invested well, training
and encouraging the docs who serve on the Sacramento Council.
She will continue as a member of the local council and they will no
doubt still rely on her expertise as they trust her excellent
leadership. I so appreciate Darilyn’s faithfulness and friendship
as we have served together for many years. May her tribe increase.
Michael McLaughlin, MDiv.
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Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus.
-I Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Email Dr. Darilyn Falck at dcfalck@pol.net or find out more about the Sacramento
Area here.
San Francisco Bay and Redding Area Update
Ken Jones, the SF Bay and Redding Area Director
actively coaches several docs on the phone and in person, speaks on he
Bay area campuses, speaks at The Embattled Doctor Symposium with Al
Weir, MD and leads a study groups in Danville and Redding. Please
continue to pray for his financial support as this is a perennial
struggle. Humanly and personally, CMDA needs to keep this man on our
staff. To a person, Ken is highly valued by all who know and love him.
He brings another keen dimension to our staff that has been lacking
– a market place perspective of service to struggling docs and
docs who have yet to come to faith.
Southern California Update
Mike Roberts, DDS resigned in June as the SoCal Area
Director, but continues to speak on campuses and lead several mission
trips to Mexico and Guatemala each year.
Co-Chairs, Southern California Council for CMDA
Dr. David Campbell
Dr. Paul D. Holtom
Dr. Harry Drummond
Find out more about the Southern California Area at www.cmdacouncil.com
Southern California Update
From Dave Campbell, DDS
World Impact is working with CMDA members Arnie Balber, DDS and David
Campbell, DDS and the Los Angeles Christian Health Centers to open a
medical and dental facility at their Watt's Christian Center amidst a
blighted federal housing neighborhood. Local resources are very meager
since the Martin Luther King Jr.-Harbor Hospital is set to close
after repeatedly failing federal inspections. The grand opening of
the World Impact Medical and Dental Clinic is being planned in the
coming months. For those interested in volunteering or supporting please
contact dcampbell@lachc.com.
Parker, CO Update
Eddie & Linda Graber, Associate Staff in Parker,
CO lead the new student group at Rocky Vista University.
Western
Regional Events
