Commemorating the 80 Years of Changing the World

Eight Decades ago CMDA set one main goal -- To transform the lives of healthcare professionals. To transform the world, CMDA have pursued this main goal through student ministry, medical missions, creating unified voice on public policy and more. They have been thedriving force in ethical, Christian medicine -- touching hundred thousand lives every year. We're inviting you to join us in celebrating 80 years of God's blessings and praying for another 8 decades of effective support for a cause. 

On celebrating the eight decades of hard work and effective change let us recall the past experiences of CMDA that made a huge change to the world. 

1931 

George Peterson and Kenneth Gieser meet at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL. Struggling to find Christian fellowship on campus, the two begin meeting regularly for prayer at the small John Timothy Stone Chapel at the Fourth Presbyterian Church. Others soon joined, and the Christian Medical Society (CMS), the movement that became CMDA, was born. 

1949 

The group grew rapidly, and began networking with groups of Christians on other campuses. As students graduated, they maintained their interest in and support of the movement. By 1949, there were 25 local CMS chapters and the first domestic mission opened. 

1959 

By 1959, CMS had expanded its horizons to aid missionaries with donated medical supplies and support.

That year, the First International Convention on Missionary Medicine (ICMM) was held at Wheaton College, near the CMS headquarters.

1968

In 1968, CMS’s Medical Group Mission, the forerunner of Global Health Outreach, sent its first team to the Dominican Republic. By this time, CMS was also hosting regional conferences for members, and had

published its first major scholarly work on medical ethics, Birth Control and the Christian. 

1979

Outgrowing its headquarters in Illinois, CMS sought a new home base close to a major airport and medical centers. The new headquarters was built in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas, TX. 

1995

By 1995, CMS had grown exponentially, and also changed its name to the Christian Medical & Dental Society (CMDS) to better reflect the full range of members. After moving the headquarters to Bristol, TN, CMDS captured media attention by placing an emphasis on getting their clear ethical positions out in the public square and speaking for its members. The first Washington D.C. office was opened in 1999.

 2000

The year 2000 brought another name change, to the current CMDA name, and reemphasized our commitment to five areas of ministry: evangelism, discipleship, service, resources and voice. Global Health Outreach was formally established, and accomplishments that year included placing a Mobile Medical Unit in Honduras. The following year saw the establishment of the Steury Scholarship for Medical Missions and the launch of www.cmda.org. 

2002

In 2002, CMDA moved into our current multi-functional building, which includes a satellite link for National  TV interviews, complete audio and visual production studios, storage for equipment and supplies for missions and a fully equipped conference room for 250 people. Located on 50 acres, the new location has plenty of room for expansion for the future. 

2004

In 2004, CMDA established Church and Leadership Ministries, with the goal of linking CMDA to churches and equipping members for leadership. 

2008

Medical Education International (MEI) sent out 14 teaching groups to train medical professionals in developing nations. Over 2,200 people attended our Global Missions Health Conference and our Center for World Missions mentored 850 students and residents called to career missions.

2009

In an increasingly hostile ethical environment, CMDA offered support to healthcare professionals at our

Empowering the Embattled Doctor conference in 2009. More than 2,000 students, doctors, dentists and nurses participated in 46 Global Health Outreach (GHO) trips in 2009, treating a total of 70,358 patients and rejoicing as 24,081 men, women and children accepted Christ. 

2010 

2010 saw CMDA step up its efforts to end human trafficking, and provide care for the victims. Setting an example, in January CMDA’s Board of Trustees met and cared for hundreds of sex trafficking victims in

These are the events of CMDA that made a great change to many lives and we are looking forward to many more decades and to continue the legacy of changing the world. Please Join us and start making a change.