Practicing Catholic Medicine 15. Serving in Long-Term Medical Missions While Raising a Family, with Dr. Robyn Jennings, family medicine
12 snips
Aug 26, 2023 
Dr. Robyn Jennings, a family medicine physician with Mission Doctors Association, shares her inspiring journey of combining medical missions with family life. She recounts her experiences serving in Ghana, Honduras, and the challenges of practicing medicine in low-resource settings. Dr. Jennings discusses her Catholic faith's impact on her medical practice, the joys of raising children abroad, and the importance of community support. She offers valuable advice for aspiring medical missionaries, emphasizing the need for flexibility and simplicity.
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Resource Limits Highlight U.S. Waste
- Working overseas exposes how much defensive and wasteful medicine occurs in the U.S., like ordering MRIs because they exist.
- In resource-limited settings clinicians rely on exam and plan rehab without specialist backup.
Relationships Fuel Mission Joy
- Robyn finds deep joy in relationship-building and cultural exchange while serving abroad.
- She appreciates a simpler pace and the human connections medicine enables globally.
Use Formation Before Deployment
- Mission Doctors Association provides a multi-month formation program to prepare clinicians spiritually and cross-culturally before deployment.
- Use this preparation to build resilience and spiritual tools for challenging overseas work.
