The Summer Medical Institute

 - Training a new generation of healthcare providers -

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SMI was a tremendous blessing as it was a gushing fountain of water in a dry desert for me. My first year was a tremendous struggle as not only was school tough, but spiritually it was very difficult. I found a lot of times my devotionals were dry and I fell a lot to the fear of man. Daily being surrounded by non-Christians in the medical field took a toll on me. However, SMI was such a breath of fresh air. I was in constant fellowship with believers who all had similar struggles and was being blessed by awesome role models. What an amazing sight to see residents and attendings so passionate for the Lord!  Although learning the medical skills was great, definitely the focus on our spiritual growth made this such an awesome summer. In the end, SMI renewed and strengthened my passion for Christ and transformed how I view medicine as a Christian.

Terry Kay - SUNY Downstate 2nd year medical student

I look back at those four weeks and am so thankful to God for all that He accomplished in my life through SMI. It's tough to think of a more productive rotation: take 40 medical students of diverse backgrounds and personalities, throw them together in tight quarters for four weeks, give them the opportunity to minister Christ in word and deed, and watch how the Spirit works the gospel into people's hearts. Indeed, more than any other time in medical school, God used SMI to show me my utter depravity and need for Christ, and simultaneously gave me a vision for the type of medicine that Christ calls all Christian physicians to practice. These lessons will undoubtedly stay with me and impact my career and life for years to come.

Jerry Jacob - UPenn 4th year medical student

SMI opened up a new world to me. A world were physicians are more than walking textbooks, but rather Christ-driven worshippers who prayed with their patients, shared the gospel, found their joy in reaching the lost, while still taking time to rest and enjoy the Sabbath (I’m learning how to do that). Christian physicians were nothing more than an illusion to me before this trip. They were just doctors that were Christians when their shifts ended, but to think that you can be a kingdom builder with your vocation was a wild surprise to me. I Praise God for the physicians, leaders, and community of students he has blessed me with, it was far more than I deserved and depiction of God’s abundance.

Sarun Thomas - PCOM 2nd year medical student

I have just finished one month on a family medicine rotation in Flemington, NJ where I have already begun to put some of the lessons I learned this summer into practice. A couple weeks ago I found out thru conversations that one of my patients was a believer and so every morning when I went to pre-round on my patients, I would not only talk and examine her but also prayed with her that God would heal her and grant us the wisdom in how to treat her. It was the first time I had ever prayed with someone while wearing a white coat besides the many experiences I had to do so at SMI. The day the patient was supposed to be discharged, after I prayed with her she then went on to pray for me that God would use me as his daughter in medicine. I was totally blown away!

I realized that Christ is ever-present while I walk thru the hospital hallways. He is present in every single one of my patient encounters and he walks with the doctors and myself as we go on hospital rounds. The realization of Christ's presence has redeemed my view of medicine and helped me understand my calling to share Christ at all times, including while wearing a white coat.

Amanda Farag - UMDNJ-MS 4th year medical student

First Texas Outreach: Friday, July 6
I left this outreach in wonder and awe. Wonder in the working of the Holy Spirit and awe in the way God uses common people to deliver his message of hope. In three hours, we were invited into the lives of three individuals. Our team of five left changed because what God did. It was not by accident that we came to Texas, even more so that this afternoon we knocked on these specific doors. God had begun his work before we arrived. He had planned already how we would be used to speak life and truth by bearing Jesus Christ's name. It was an incredibly humbling experience to be used by God in this way. This project I'm learning is about medicine and service. Service to God using medicine as the avenue.

Nathan Tilghman - Penn State 2nd year medical student

In the beginning of the summer, I found myself trying so hard to please God. I was so intent on having prepackaged words and scriptures. The goal was to be prepared to convict people through what I was doing and saying. I have learned however that I have no power at all to convict anybody of anything, the power rests with God. It is by His grace that people come to know Him. He may or may not use us as facilitators, but all of the power comes from Him. I have learned to recognize how self-motivated I am. In all aspects of life, I have placed Him in the back seat, failing to cherish that it is by His grace that I have anything. I have learned that I deserve nothing. But because of His unfailing love, I have been given everything.

Adeline Abraham - SUNY Downstate 2nd year medical student

I had an amazing summer at SMI! I feel SO blessed that the Lord brought me here this summer. I know that HE brought me here and that it was a part of His plan because I could not have found this on my own. I have especially enjoyed the fellowship with other believers. I have hardly ever felt more included and part of a group than I did this summer at SMI. I was also challenged more this summer to put words to my faith with patients in the clinics and in Texas than I really have been challenged anywhere else. I was pushed out of my comfort zone; I really didn’t have a choice!  But it was so good for someone to force me to do that. I am so thankful for these past four weeks, and I pray that the Lord will continue to use all that I have learned while I’m at home.

Paige Luttrell - pharmacy student

During our time at SMI, the Lord has been present and teaching me many things. He used one of our Texas outreaches to teach me about how His way of working is not always what we expect. It was my turn to share at one of the houses, but I ran into some difficulty. The women whom we visited, Maria, had recently lost her son to suicide. I was taken somewhat by surprise and really froze up. I didn’t know what to say to this mother who was obviously still mourning the loss of her son. Thankfully, one of my teammates, John, stepped in and encouraged Maria. He shared some scripture with her and tried to offer her the hope of the Lord. I felt weak in that moment, but the Lord used it to display Christ’s power in another way. One of my supporters sent me some encouraging words in response to my story: “The best way He can use us is when we are stripped of any strength in the flesh and we are humbled enough to realize that He may choose to work through someone else rather than ourselves (and differently than what we expected.) Any part we have in His purposes, whether it's just beginning a conversation or praying, is part of His sovereign design.” The Lord used this time with Maria to show me some of His power. His word was revealed to Maria, regardless of my weaknesses. Praise the Lord for His great power and love that allows Him to involve us in His work in spite of our limitations!

Kevin Koo - UMDNJ-MS 4th year medical student

On one of our outreaches in Mexico, a mother brought her 16 year old daughter to the clinic because she hadn't had a period in two months. Both denied any possibility that she could be pregnant. Her mother said that she was very focused on school, and in fact had been under a lot of stress because she did not pass an important exam. We explained that stress could be the cause of her problem, but recommended doing a pregnancy test just to be sure. As we waited for the results of the test, we continued to talk and get to know this mother and daughter better. As we began to talk about spiritual matters both the doctor and I glanced at the test sitting behind us and noticed that it was positive. The doctor discretely said in English that in his practice he generally will ask the parent to step out so he can first speak with the daughter on her own. Since I spoke Spanish and the doctor did not, he led the mother to the pharmacy to get the vitamins we had recommended and left me to tell this 16 year old girl hat she was pregnant. After I told her the test was positive, she stared at me for a moment and then began to cry. I gently touched her hand as she hid her face in shame. She had few words, so I move beside her onto the living room couch that was serving as our exam table. I put my arm around her and asked if I could pray for her. I prayed for God to give her courage and that she could turn to Him in her despair. I thanked God for loving her no matter what and for sending his son Jesus to die so that our sins could be forgiven. I thanked Him for the new life within this young woman and prayed that she would look to Him for guidance as she struggled with the many challenges and decisions this created.

When the girl's mother returned, she continued to sob and was unable to answer when her mother asked what was wrong. The mother then looked to me. I encouraged the girl to speak, but ultimately had to tell the mother the news. Then the mother also began to cry tears of shock, betrayal, hurt and fear. It was at this time, when as doctors and the bearers of unwanted news, we had little from our medical training that could provide consolation. It was at this time that I was so thankful for God and the knowledge that, as Christians, the Holy Spirit works through us to open eyes to our great Heavenly Physician who provides true comfort and healing to the lost and hopeless.

The church pastor spoke with the mother and daughter in private for a long time. Later, when reflecting on this emotionally intense experience with the doctor, he helped me to see that although we would not know the outcome for this young girl and her child, God's gentle, loving hand was at work. Given the girl's denial and secrecy, along with the disconnection in her relationship with her mother, it was very fortunate that her pregnancy was revealed in a supportive environment among people who could care for both her and her mother, while pointing to Jesus as the ultimate rock where they could find rest and unload all of their burdens and sins.

Much of SMI has been about planting seeds, in both others and myself. I am very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this amazing ministry and look forward to the day in heaven when I will learn how our seeds took root and grew.

Richelle Hammond - PCOM 4th year medical student

(C) 2005 The Summer Medical Institute