Inter-America to Hold Virtual Health Symposium for Health Professionals

March 30, 2022 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

A special virtual health symposium is expected to draw hundreds of health professionals from across the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s healthcare institutions and clinics on Apr. 7-8, 2022. The event is the first territory-wide health symposium geared toward healthcare professionals and healthcare workers throughout the 14 Adventist hospitals and 21 clinics.

“We must ensure that all health professionals and their colleagues who are employed at our Adventist healthcare institutions understand the philosophy, the history, the accomplishments and specificities of the Adventist comprehensive health ministry,” said Franck Généus, M.D., health ministries director for the church in Inter-American and main organizer of the event.

It’s important to maintain the culture of promoting health and wellbeing on a systematic basis as an essential part of our beliefs as Seventh-day Adventists in continuing the mission of healing and compassion started by Jesus Christ on earth 2,000 years ago, said Dr. Généus.  The event is not only geared toward the more than 2,500 health professionals and workers at hospitals and clinics, but also for Adventist health professionals who work outside the church organization and their colleagues.

“As health professionals, we must translate our faith into actions while we provide healthcare services to people and colleagues we come across in our everyday life,” said Généus. “We must all understand the health message, its benefits, and the scientific evidence that supports the wholistic approach we put into practice is essential in ensuring we are on the same page.”

Themed “Achieving God’s Mission through the Comprehensive Health Ministry,” the symposium will delve into the beginnings of the church’s more than 150-year-old health ministry, review the network of Adventist institutions in Inter-America and worldwide, focus on delivering God’s mission through the health ministry, point to guiding principles and key values in Adventist Healthcare Service, a Q&A session, and more.

Keynote speakers include Peter Landless, MD, health ministries director for the Adventist world church, Richard Hart, MD, president of Loma Linda University, Lowell Cooper, former general vice president of the Adventist world church, Elie Honore, MD, former president of Adventist Healthcare Services Inter-America, Dr. Franck Généus, among others.

The event will be available online in English, Spanish and French.

To view Inter-America’s Virtual Health Symposium for Health Professionals, Apr. 7-8, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Miami Time, go to webcast.interamerica.org