Christian Medical Society
Society’s Members Concerned with Treatment of Whole Man
The Christian Medical Society
is, as its name implies, an organi
zation which works on the prem
ise that Christianity should be
an integral part of the lives of
its members—all of wliom are in
the medical profession.
Membership in this national
organization is non-denomina-
tional and is open to physcians,
dentists, medical students, dental
students and others in tlie medi
cal profession.
The society’s purpose is to
“present a positive witness” of
the Trinity to its members’ pro
fessional associates and to “gain
mutual strength and encourage
ment to be attained in meeting
together.”
At the society’s meetings mem
bers discuss their own experi
ences as Christian physicians in
an attempt to clarify and make
more relevant the spiritual prin-
cii)les that are brought out
through prayer and Bible study.
“We try to transmit something
of vital importance to our col
leagues,” said Dr. James i\Ial-
lory, president of the Duke chap
ter of the society and third-year
resident in Psychiatry.
Christian physicians are in
vited several times during the
year to deliver lectures on issues
of concern to the Christian
medic. “Often,” said Dr. Mal
lory, “these lecturers discuss
problems that all doctors have
to face, but which the Christian
can deal with more effectively.
The lectures do not, however,
])resent perfect solutions for
everybody . . . for it must be a
personal resolve of issues.” All
interested persons are invited to
attend the lectures.
This ])ast year early morning
jirayer breakfasts were lield each
month and included a fellowship
period and a devotional. “At
these fellowship meetings,” said
Dr. Mallory, “the Christian
physicians tliemselves challenge
each other; it is a time for the
challenging of viewpoints.”
During the summer months,
only informal meetings will be
held, and notices of these meet
ings will be posted. All who are
interested in attending are in
vited to do so. The formal meet
ings of the society will be re
sumed in the early fall.
The treatment of the “whole
man” is of concern to the mem
bers of the society. One of
the society’s information pieces
states tliat the society exists for
the “pursuit of knowledge in
treating the whole man.” “I
believe that we have a Christian
obligation to be not only compe
tent physicians, but to also try
not to have just an austere rela-
tionslii]) with our patients . . .
but to look on the patient as a
spiritual being,” Dr. ilallory
continued.
With the close interplay of
physical health with mental and
spiritual concerns, the society
feels that “ready grasp” of tlie
patient’s needs in these areas is
mandatory. “It is important
that the Christian physician be
sensitive to certain spiritual
needs of his patient, and that he
not ignore these needs,” said Dr.
Mallory. “Even in getting the
patient’s history, often this sen
sitivity to the patient’s spiritual
state is important,” he said.
‘ ‘ The Christian physician does
in treating the whole man . . .
not evangelize his patients . . .
but because he has taken a stand
as a Christian he can listen to
the problems of the j>atient and
can often give counsel if the })a-
tient opens the door,” said Dr.
]\Iallory. Is the Christian phy
sician going beyond his profes
sional role when he does counsel ?
Dr. Mallory does not think so.
“In my experience, if any error
is made by Christian physicians
it is on the side of being exces
sively timid in this area,” he
said.
The society’s national ]>ro-
gram, with headquarters in Chi
cago, includes arranging for
(|ualified physicians and dentists
to do short term medical mission
work, and last year spent over
three million dollars in the
wholesale purchasing of medical
supplies to overseas hosj)itals
and clinics. CMS also ])ublishes
one ([uarterly and two monthly
publications. Other activities
include national and local con
ferences on themes such as the
meaning of suffering, tlie impli
cation of medical ethics, and the
relationship of psychiatry to
Christianity.
When Midnight Was
A Beginning
For Cinderella, midnight was
the end; but, for Mrs. Julia B.
Suitt, it marked the beginning.
Mrs. Suitt, was the main at
traction at a surprise party the
night of Iune 8 that was unusual
in this respect: It began at the
stroke of midnight.
The scene was here at Duke
Hospital, where Mrs. Suitt was
night nursing supervisor.
She came on duty at midnight
with other “night people.”
Ahead of her lay eight hours of
work.
Mrs. Suitt had no sooner set
tled down to the hospital routine
than her colleagues rolled out the
punch, a three-tiered cake and
other party tidbits.
For two hours, nurses, order
lies, interns, maids, secretaries
and others dropped by to pay a
special salute to Mrs. Suitt.
A few tears also were shed.
‘ ‘ It won’t be the same without
her,” commented one of the
nurses with a nod toward Mrs.
Suitt’s way.
Mrs. Suitt, a member of the
Duke staff for 30 years, retired
July 1. She is an alumnus of
the second graduating class of
the Duke University School of
Nursing.
A party in her honor could
easily have been arranged at a
different hour, but Mrs. Suitt’s
colleagues would have none of it.
“We’re night people,” said
one of the prime movers behind
the event. No other explanation
was given or offered.
As the assembled gathering
looked on, Mrs. Suitt was given
a piece of pewter that carried
the Duke emblem.
The inscription, a classic of
simplicity, read:
“From your night people.”
tc
i
Mrs. Julia Suitt, night nursing super
visor . . . retired after thirty years
MAY-JUNE 1966
Christianity Is an Integral Part of Their Lives
Newly elected officers of the Christian Medical Society discuss the society’s
summer calendar: June Pfautz, secretary-treasurer, Dr. Alan Whanger, pro
grams cliairnian, and Dr. James Mallory, president. Xot pictured is Dr. Jesse
McNiel, vice president.
INTERCOM - 9
For the pursuit of knowledge