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Jesus likened Himself to a physician when He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." (Luke 5:31, ESV) While He was speaking of His primary mission to save the lost ("I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance"), healing the sick was an INTEGRAL part of Jesus' ministry.
At the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law, who was sick with high fever. After her healing, all the sick in Capernaum flocked to Jesus, and "he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them." (Luke 4:40, ESV) Indeed, as He was healing, Jesus was fulfilling the messianic prophecy of Isaiah 61: "The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." (Luke 4:18, ESV)
Jesus commissioned His disciples and "sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal." (Luke 9:2, ESV) Indeed, healing of the sick was the evidence that "the kingdom of God has come near to you." (Luke 10:9, ESV)
The first doctor following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ was none other than St. Luke, a Gentile physician from Antioch. He is best known as the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Indeed, he was a historian and an educator. Even as Luke wrote "an orderly account" of all that the eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered to the early Christians, he was also an eyewitness of "the things that have been accomplished among us." (Acts 1:1-3, ESV)
Luke's ministry as a faithful companion of Apostle Paul throughout Asia Minor began during Paul's second apostolic journey, when Luke's narrative subtly changed to "we sought to go on into Macedonia …" (Luke 16:10, ESV) Luke was there to dress Paul and Silas' wounds when they were miraculously freed from jail in Philippi. (Luke 16:33) His faithfulness was the reason why Paul referred to Luke as "the beloved physician." (Col 4:14, ESV) Even to the end, Luke was there with Paul who was imprisoned in Rome awaiting execution - "Luke alone is with me." (2 Tim 4:11, ESV)
Chartered as the Metro New York Area chapter of the CMDA (formerly CMDS - name change May 2000) by local members. The preamble to the Founding Charter Constitution for CMDA NYC 2000 included this quote from Dr. Thomas Sydenham:
"It becomes every man who purposes to give himself to the care of others, seriously to consider the four following things:
- First, that he must one day give an account to the Supreme Judge of all the lives entrusted to his care.
- Secondly, that all his skill, and knowledge, and energy as they have been given him by God, so they should be exercised for his glory, and the good of mankind, and not for mere gain or ambition.
- Thirdly, and not more beautifully than truly, let him reflect that he has undertaken the care of no mean creature, for, in order that he may estimate the value, the greatness of the human race, the only begotten Son of God became himself a man, and thus ennobled it with his divine dignity, and far more than this, died to redeem it.
- And fourthly, that the doctor being himself a mortal man, should be diligent and tender in relieving his suffering patients, in as much as he himself must one day be a like sufferer."
Dates of service: 2007-2013
Dates of service: 2015 - present
Dates of service: 2020-2021
Although it has been serving healthcare professionals across the tri-state area for many years, in February 2022 the CMDA NYC Council changed its chapter name from CMDA NYC (Metro New York Area) to CMDA Greater NYC to reflect membership extending to surrounding areas of LI, Westchester, Rockland, Northern NJ, and Southern CT. The Council also updated its bylaws to align with National CMDA bylaws, policies, and procedures.
In honor of Dr. Elaine Eng's service to the CMDA Greater NYC Council from 2008 to 2022, the Council created the Dr. Elaine Eng Scholarship for Health Students and Trainees. Applicants can receive up to $1000 for health missions opportunities and related conferences.
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