Media Training Workshop Presenters
Bert Jones - "Talk Radio: The Power of
Radio"
Bert Jones joined CMDA in January 2005 as the Director of Leadership
& Church Ministries. Bert formerly was the lead and founding pastor
at Harvest Community Church in Kittanning, Pennsylvania.
Bert grew up traveling with his family in music and evangelistic
ministries. He was active in their family radio ministry with a program
called “A Visit with the Joneses” and “through
the hymn book” that was on the air for more than 55 years on more
than 50 different radio stations. His grandmother was the author of the
song In Times Like These.
Believing that radio is a very powerful medium for ministry, Bert was
the principle communicator on “The Source,” a weekly radio
ministry on WORD FM in Pittsburgh, PA. Using radio as a means of
advertising for the church, Bert has been involved in producing radio
spots and mini messages. As a youth pastor in Alabama, Bert
produced two weekly radio programs “Destine to Win”
and a Christian music call-in show on a local secular radio station.
Before planting Harvest Community Church, Bert was a missionary
evangelist with GO InterNational in Wilmore, KY. leading missionary
teams around the world. Bert was also the founder of REACH International
and is the author of the book Practical Youth Ministry.
Bert graduated from Asbury College in 1989 with a degree in Bible and
spent two years being educated at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in
Pittsburgh, PA. Bert and his wife Cheryl have three children: Joshua,
Allyson and Aaron.
Jonathan Imbody - "Persuasive Writing Clinic"
Jonathan Imbody serves as Vice President for Government Relations for
the Christian Medical Association.
A veteran writer of over 20 years, Jonathan's work has appeared in
national media such as the Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles
Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Sun-Times and many other
publications. He has also written numerous magazine articles,
commentaries, congressional testimony, marketing materials and
educational curricula.
Most of Jonathan's writing focuses on health-related ethical issues
including abortion, assisted suicide, human cloning, the role of faith
in health, abstinence, human trafficking, conscience protections for
healthcare professionals and HIV/AIDS. World magazine featured his essay
summarizing the major medical accomplishments and challenges of the past
millennium. As a result of his on-site research in the Netherlands,
which formed the basis for the No Mercy video, he served as a keynote
speaker at an international pro-life conference in The Hague.
Jonathan received his bachelor's degree in communications from the
Pennsylvania State University, a certificate in theological studies from
the Alliance Theological Seminary in New York and a master's degree from
Penn State in counseling and education.
Jonathan's wife Amy is an author and educator. They have four children:
Bethany, Daniel, Jeanne and David and live in the Washington, DC
suburb of Ashburn, VA.
Gene Rudd, M.D. - "The Tongues of Men & Angels or A
Clanging Cymbal”
Gene Rudd, MD serves as Senior Vice President for Christian Medical
& Dental Associations.
A specialist in obstetrics-gynecology, Dr. Rudd has extensive experience
as a director of a maternal-fetal medicine training program and in rural
healthcare practice. He has garnered several awards including the Gorgas
Medal, presented by the U.S. government for the most significant
achievement in preventive medicine. As a spokesman for Christian doctors
in America, Dr. Rudd has received national media coverage, including
appearances on National Public Radio, American Family Radio and Salem
Radio Network, as well as the Wall Street Journal, Christianity Today,
The Washington Post and People.
Dr. Rudd has also conducted international programs with World Medical
Mission, where he established the Christian Medical Mission of Russia.
He directed the rehabilitation of the Central Hospital in Kigali,
Rwanda. Dr. Rudd has also served in Belarus, Bosnia, Kazakhstan, and
India.
Dr. Rudd's experiences provide rich illustrations for inspirational and
educational presentations. He has communicated what God is doing
through Christian medicine by speaking at seminars, conferences and
churches.
He and his wife, Gay, have four children: Jonathan, Deborah, Joshua and
David and two grandchildren.
Margie Shealy - "Media Smart"
Margie Shealy serves as Vice President for Communications for the
Christian Medical & Dental Associations. She joined CMDA in
2002 with 22 years of experience in media and public relations.
She was previously employed as the director of marketing and
communications at Wellmont Health System in Kingsport, Tenn. Among many
of her responsibilities with the healthcare system, she produced the
Children’s Miracle Network Broadcast for 14 years.
Prior to her tenure at Wellmont Health System, she was the production
manager for WJHL-TV, where she was responsible for all aspects of
production for news, advertising and promotions.
In her role at Christian Medical & Dental Associations, she
assists in the production of Today's Christian Doctor, Christian
Doctor's Digest, Life Support and mulitiple newsletters. In her
tenure at CMDA, she has developed CMDA grassroot campaigns in the states
of California, Hawaii, Michigan, Missouri, Vermont and
Washington with CMDA members to stop physician-assisted suicide, cloning
and embryonic stem cell research. She has oversight of CMDA's web
content and development. Working with the media on a daily basis
provides her with great insight to becoming "media smart."
She is a graduate of East Tennessee State University, where she
received a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications.
Margie and her husband, Donnie have one daughter, Faith.
David Stevens, M.D. (M.A. Ethics) - "What I Have Learned from a
1000 Interviews"
Dr. David Stevens serves as CEO of the Christian Medical & Dental
Associations.
At CMDA, Dr. Stevens has helped develop an evangelism training program
that teaches thousands of doctors and others how to share their faith in
a healthcare setting. Prior to his service with CMDA, Dr. Stevens
served as medical director of Samaritan’s Purse. In Somalia, Dr.
Stevens led an emergency medical team that treated 45,000 suffering
Somalis in the midst of war. In the Sudan, medical teams under his
leadership treated over 25,000 villagers to stop the spread of an
epidemic. From 1985 to 1991, Dr. Stevens served as executive officer and
medical superintendent of Tenwek Hospital in Bomet, Kenya. Prior
to his service with the Christian Medical & Dental Associations, he
served as director of World Medical Mission.
As a leading spokesman for Christian doctors in America, Dr. Stevens
has conducted hundreds of television, radio and print media interviews,
including NBC’s Today Show, USA Today and National Public
Radio. Dr. Stevens has also appeared on national shows such as
America’s Health Network, Odyssey Channel, Family Network, Prime
Time America, and many others.
Dr. Stevens and his wife, Jody, have a son, Jason, and two daughters,
Jessica and Stacy.
