Christian medicos told to look at job as "calling"

Christians in medical professions were exhorted to look at medical practice as a "calling" than just a career or job.

Speaking at the Biennial National Conference of the Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India (EMFI), Dr. Vinod Shah, former director of Emmanuel Hospital Association, called on Christian health care professionals to consider Medicine as a vocation and not a mundane job.

"When we view Medicine as a job it causes weariness and dehumanizes those involved. It only results in professional competition," said Shah, as he spoke to a large number of Christian doctors and medical students from across India.

"Christian Medicine is not about great performance, rather it is about relevance. It is not about competition with colleagues, but it is about competing with oneself," informed Shah.

A Paediatric Surgeon trained at CMC Vellore, Shah further stressed on the need for healing than just curing of patients. "A Christian doctor must focus on healing than merely curing. A cured person can still be hurt. But healing goes beyond the disease."

He urged those in health care profession to build an attitude of love to the uncared and marginalized. "A civilized culture is one that looks after the weak, poor, old, jobless, handicapped and socially-powerless," he said

He continued: "Christians must look at suffering as 'redemptive' and not 'punitive' like other religions. And always be prompt in giving glory to God."

Every two years the EMFI organises a National Conference for medical students and graduates from across the country.

This year's conference was held at Ranchi from 14-17 October, 2010. Over a hundred Christian health care professionals made it to the event where challenging speakers and moving testimonies inspired each to contemplate on their calling.

EMFI is an inter-denominational union of Christian doctors and health specialists that aims to provide fellowship to unite the medical fraternity and help them establish the highest standards of Christian life and professional ethics.