B.S.- Chemistry, Youngstown State University
M.D.- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 1978
General Surgery training:
1978-1980: University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY
1980-1983: Wright State University, Dayton, OH
Diplomate, American Board of Surgery
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Memberships:
American Medical Association
Christian Medical and Dental Society
American Scientific Affiliation
Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity
Research and Writing Interests:
Biomedical Ethics
Origins and Design
Cross-cultural Medicine
Exercise Physiology
Missionary Ministries:
Our family served as full-time missionaries with Baptist Mid-Missions
from 1985 to 1996. After a year and a half of deputation and a year of
intense French studies (in Quebec, Canada), we first served a three-year
term in the Caribbean country of Haiti.
In order to accomplish certain ministry goals, we changed our field of service
to Central African Republic, where we worked for three and one-half years.
Our medical ministry in that country was cut short by an intense and violent
military mutiny, which nearly led to civil war. We were forced to evacuate
the country in May of 1996.
Current Position:
I now serve as a Professor of Biology (Human Biology, Bioethics) at Cedarville
University. I am still very interested in encouraging students and health-care
professionals to consider mission service as a career.
I recently completed an MA in Bioethics from Trinity Graduate School (Deerfield,
IL). Courses I teach include human biology (Anatomy, Physiology, Pathophysiology,
Embryology), as well as two courses in Bioethics.
Family:
My wife Barbara is a schoolteacher by training, and now works part-time teaching English as a Second Language (Greene County). We have three daughters: Julie and Jenny (twins), and Joy.
Just a Word About the Most Important Thing in My Life . . .
I grew up in a religious home, and was active in church activities. Yet despite my upbringing, I never had a deep peace, that I really knew God. During my first year of medical school, I found myself asking a lot of deep questions, so I sought the advice of Gary, a classmate who was very vocal about his Christian faith. I was impressed by his courage and conviction, even though this sometimes earned him the scorn of more "sophisticated" classmates.
I began to attend a weekly Bible study that Gary had organized. After just a few weeks, I realized that there was something special about his life that I didn't have. One afternoon, I asked him how I, too, could have his peace and contentment. Gary showed me from God's Word that I was a sinner (Romans 3:23), and that God's righteousness demanded a penalty for my sin (Rom. 6:23, Hebrews 9:27). Yet, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, had paid that penalty by dying in my place (Rom. 5:8). I had only to acknowledge Him as Savior and Lord (Rom. 10:9, John 5:24). Shortly thereafter (April, 1975), I committed my life to Jesus Christ.
My Christian faith is the focus of my personal and professional life, and provides me with a worldview that informs all of my academic endeavors.