It started in Chicago in 1931 with a small group of medical students who met for Bible reading and fellowship. But dizzying advances in technology, unexpected medical ethical challenges and unrelenting emphasis on cost savings have changed medicine in unforeseen ways during the intervening 68 years. And the CMDS sees itself as well-positioned to address those changes. In fact, membership has grown from 8,000 to 13,000 over the past four years, and there are now more than 175 CMDS chapters throughout the country. The organization maintains a strong presence at medical and dental schools.
Patients are also more sophisticated now.
They don't expect us to have all the answers. But they do expect us to show compassion and to regard them as a whole person. Studies conducted over the past 10 years do seem to show that patients whose spirituality is an essential part of their lives recover faster than those without a belief system. According to Dr. Stevens, over the past two years the group has trained 4,000 of its members in dealing with patients' spiritual needs. But if the patient appears to be seeking spiritual help, the physician can offer ways to get the patient that help.