Medical Center Agape and Medical Education

Every year young doctors, who have just finished their residency programs and who strive to become professionals in their field as quickly as possible, come to work in our Agape clinic. This allows us to begin the process of sharing the love of God by building relationships between them, our clinic's employees, and other Christians. 
 
Last year I heard a comment from a young doctor, who said: "Agape doctors are different!”  I have always been interested in finding the answer to this question: "How do Agape doctors differ from doctors from the state and from other private clinics?” After thinking through various answers from many young doctors that I have collected over years, I can share the answer with you.
 
“Passion for excellence in profession and compassion towards a patient”
 
The Bible says, “Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord!”, so we are called to experience the presence of the Lord in our profession in the middle of daily storms, tragedies of life, burnout, and all of life’s circumstances. 
 
Agape missionaries teach that when a patient stands in front of the Agape doctor, it is necessary to imagine that it is the Lord standing in front of the doctor. Agape has been teaching this principle for 28 years.
 
Sometimes we use these secular terms to present this principle to medical students, residents, and medical educators – “compassionate medicine”, or “holistic approach in medicine”. By teaching this principle, we strive to change the face of the medical profession in Russia and use this principle for evangelism.  In the public health system, the doctor works 12 hours a day and a doctor has about 15 minutes to interview the patient, examine the patient, make a diagnosis, and prescribe treatment.  When a young doctor asks me: "Is it possible to see the Lord in every person during the crazy rhythm of the day?" I reply: "Start with one patient."