Healthcare on Mission: Remedy conference returns to Liberty’s campus March 1-2

Students at Liberty University are taught to use their careers as opportunities to serve and represent Christ wherever they go in the world. For those studying for futures in the medical field, being the hands and feet of Jesus is paramount as they treat those in need.

For the second year, the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) will be bringing professionals in Christian healthcare to Liberty’s campus to speak about missional medicine as part of its Remedy East 24- Healthcare on Mission conference, held on March 1 and 2.

The two days will feature plenary and breakout sessions with speakers representing a variety of roles and experiences, all with the theme of sharing what serving Christ through missional living looks like. The event will be held primarily in the Montview Alumni Ballroom. Over 20 exhibitors will present ways to enter into missional living, and representatives from organizations like Samaritan’s Purse, MedSend, and Medical Education International will be on hand to speak with conference attendees.

The conference is open to all undergraduate students, graduate students, trainees, and healthcare professionals from Central Virginia and beyond. The cost for students and trainees is $25 (general admission is $75). Registration information is available at remedy.cmda.org.

Professors and students from Liberty’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM), School of Nursing, and School of Health Sciences will attend, with some faculty serving as plenary and breakout speakers.

Liberty President Dondi Costin will speak on March 1. Dr. Gineska V. De Castillo, MD, director of Liberty’s online Master of Public Health program, will speak on March 2. Several Liberty faculty members will also be leading breakout sessions throughout the conference: School of Behavioral Sciences Dean Dr. Kenyon Knapp and Counseling Professor Dr. Jeannee Brooks, John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Professor for Theology and Global Studies Dr. Chris Gnanakan, School of Nursing Professor Lisa Gazan, LUCOM Chair of Behavioral Sciences Dr. Linda Mintle, and School of Law Assistant Professor of Law Natalie Rhoads.

Joseph Bantseev, an OMS-III LUCOM student who attended Remedy last year, said the experience not only inspired him to practice medicine around the world, but also to approach it with his faith at the forefront.

“I have always wanted to know what it means to be a true Champion for Christ, but it wasn’t until I went to remedy where I finally understood what that truly meant,” he said. “At Remedy, I learned from medical professionals who have mastered how to share the Gospel with their patients not only here in the U.S., but all around the world as medical missionaries. I used to see myself as an aspiring physician who happened to be a Christian, but now I can confidently state that I am a Christian who happens to be a future physician. Having that mindset dramatically changes the way I see my patients and the way I practice medicine.”

Founded in 1931, CMDA provides programs and services supporting its mission to “change hearts in healthcare” with a current membership of over 13,000 healthcare professionals. CMDA addresses policies on healthcare issues, conducts overseas medical education and evangelism projects, coordinates a network of Christian healthcare professionals for fellowship and professional growth, sponsors student ministries in medical, dental, PA, and other healthcare training schools, distributes educational resources, hosts marriage and family conferences, provides developing world missionary healthcare professionals with continuing education, and conducts academic exchange programs overseas.

Plenary Speakers

Friday, March 1

• Dondi Costin, Ph.D. (6 p.m.)

Dr. Costin began serving as Liberty University’s sixth president on July 1, 2023. He is a retired Major General with more than 32 years of commissioned service in a military career that culminated as a senior leader in the Pentagon, where he served as the 18th Air Force Chief of Chaplains.

• David Kim, MD (8 p.m.)

Dr. Kim is a physician, co-founder and currently CEO of Beacon Christian Community Health Center, which missionally serves an underserved, diverse population in Staten Island, New York City.

Saturday, March 2

• Gineska V. De Castillo MD, MPH (8:30 a.m.)

Dr. Castillo serves as director of the online MPH program at Liberty University. Prior experience has included a rural medical practice along with public and community health education.

• Margaret Kamalini Kumar, Ph.D., M.A., BSN (1 p.m.)

Dr. Kumar retired after a 47-year career in nursing education having taught at several universities in India, Canada, and the United States. She serves on several international boards and in connection with these organizations has traveled extensively throughout the world speaking on professional and spiritual issues that impact nursing practice.

• David Stevens, MD, M.A. (Ethics) (3 p.m.)

Dr. Stevens is the CEO Emeritus of CMDA, having served previously as CEO from 1994 through 2019. He is a family physician and served from 1981-94 at Tenwek Hospital where he was the Medical Superintendent and Executive Officer. He then worked for World Medical Mission prior to returning to the U.S. in 1994 to begin working for CMDA.