The History of CMMCJH
History of the Christian Medical Ministry to Cambodia/Jeremiah’s Hope
In November, 2000 Drs. Sheehan and Smith brought a team of fourteen to Cambodia for a two week period. The accomplishments of that trip were: 1. Medical supplies and medication were hand carried to support the CSI Clinic. 2. The CSI Clinic was organized and patients were evaluated and treated. 3. Small surgical cases were performed. Plans were made to raise money to remodel an operating room on the grounds of PKM Hospital. 4. Lectures were given to the senior medical students at the Phnom Penh Medical School, relationships were developed, and senior students were given stethoscopes and sphygmomanometers. 5. An outreach clinic was held in a northern province to meet the health needs of poor people in the rural areas. 6. Time was spent developing Cambodian governmental and local physician relationships along with local capacity building. The next eleven months were spent developing audiovisual support, telling the story to interested audiences, raising money via charitable donations, and recruiting for the next trip. Other activities: 1. 2. In August, 2001, a thirteen year old Cambodian girl, Gannya Soeun, was brought urgently to Denver, Colorado because of congenital heart disease with secondary bacterial endocarditis and successful cardiac surgery was performed. 3. In September, 2001, a 40 foot container of medical supplies was sent to Cambodia with the assistance of Project C.U.R.E. for distribution during the next medical trip. In October, 2001, Drs Sheehan and Smith led overlapping medical teams of 15 and 12 members in a 3 ½ week total trip. Accomplishments of these trips were: 1. Formal Memorandums of Understanding were established with the 2. The equipment in the 40 foot container was distributed to the CSI Clinic, Preah Bat Norodom Sihanouk ( Russian ) Hospital, Preah Kossamak ( Monk ) Hospital, and the National Pediatric Hospital ( NPH ). Supplies brought to Cambodia by team members were also distributed. 3. Patients were evaluated and treated at the CSI Clinic. 4. Surgical procedures were performed in the newly remodeled operating room at the PKM Hospital. 5. Lectures were given at the Phnom Penh Medical School, bedside teaching was done at the CSI Clinic and in the hospitals, and senior medical students were given copies of the Christian Medical and Dental Association’s (CMDA) “Handbook of Medicine in Developing Countries”. 6. Three out reach clinics were held in outlying provinces. From April through June, 2002, Sokchan Sim, a senior medical student at the Phnom Penh’s Faculty of Medicine, was brought to Denver for a three month clinical externship. This was done with support of the University of Colorado Medical School and the Robinson-Durst Scholarship Fund. In addition to enhancing his medical knowledge and skills, Sokchan was led to know the Lord and baptized before he returned to Cambodia. Following graduation, Sokchan was employed by Dr. Kahler at the CSI Clinic where he is giving good, compassionate medical care and witnessing to his faith.
In early October, 2002 two 40 foot containers of medical equipment and supplies, including 80 hospital beds, were sent to Phnom Penh for distribution by the next team, again assisted by Project C.U.R.E. Dr. Sheehan led a medical team of 8 people in late October with the following accomplishments: 1. The contents of the containers were distributed in addition to the hand carried supplies. 2. Patients were seen in the clinics and hospitals where relationships had been established. Teaching of local physicians and medical students was accomplished. This teaching included a lecture series on the interpretation of an electrocardiogam (ECG). 3. An outreach clinic in an outlying province was held. 4. Governmental and local physician relationships were solidified. Dr. Smith led a surgical team of 10 people in January, 2003 with the following accomplishments: 1. 12 surgical procedures (orthopedic and pulmonary) were performed at the PKM and Preah Kossomak Hospitals. 2. As on previous trips, hand carried medical equipment by the team was used and donated, teaching was accomplished, and relationships solidified. This included a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen. Another senior Cambodian medical student, Phalyka Oum, was brought to Denver from May though July of 2003 for a three month externship, again with the assistance of the University of Colorado Medical School and the Robinson-Durst Scholarship Fund. Phalyka had been brought to know the Lord through our previous visits and discipleship via the Campus Crusade organization. Her time in Denver was a joy to all who interacted with her and her medical knowledge and faith were strengthened. Upon returning to Cambodia, Phalyka qualified for a Fulbright Scholarship and is presently at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health working on a Master’s Degree in public health. In January, 2004 Drs. Sheehan and Smith led a team of 18 medical personnel for a 12 day trip with the following results: 1. Many patients were evaluated in multiple clinic and hospital settings by internists and surgeons, simultaneously teaching medical students and young physicians. 2. Many surgical procedures were performed daily at PKM, Preah Bat Norodom Sihaknouk, Preah Kossomak, and Calmett Hospitals in a teaching environment by a general surgeon, thoracic surgeon, neurosurgeon, urologist, and obstetrician/gynecologist. 3. Anesthesia was given and taught by the anesthesiologist on the team. 4. For five days, a four hour lecture series in multiple specialties was given to Cambodian medical students. 5. Again, medical supplies were hand carried to the country and appropriately distributed. 6. A meeting with the governor of Kampong Chhnang Province resulted in the promise of the donation of an old bombed out American hotel.
To read about our activities since 2004 please refer to our
|
At the request of Jim Groen of Global Connection International (GCI ) and Rev. Setan Lee of Kampuchea for Christ ( KFC ), Drs. Mark Sheehan and Daniel Smith traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia in June, 2000 to evaluate the medical conditions in Cambodia. They spent nine days visiting and evaluating multiple medical clinics and hospitals, visiting the Phnom Penh Medical School and its directors, visiting with government officials including the Minister of Health, and visiting with the Christian medical community and the Christian church leadership regarding the medical needs of the country.
The next four months were spent putting their findings and plans into a document, telling the story to interested supporters, recruiting other medical personnel to get involved, and some fund raising. It was decided to initially work as a subsidiary of GCI. During that time Dr. Smith met Dr. Nam Cho, a Christian physician and epidemiologist from Ajou University in Suwon, South Korea. Dr. Nam Cho became involved, putting together a Korean organization to support the project, and accompanying the USA teams on all medical mission trips with a Korean team.
Cambodian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health and government and local medical relationships were solidified.
In July, 2002 Dr. Smith, a cardiothoracic surgeon, went to Phnom Penh for two weeks to teach and do surgery in the newly completed Phnom Penh Heart Center. Ten open-heart procedures were done, supported financially by contributions to the organization (Cambodian Medical Mission = CMM).
Following that trip it was decided to form a new, independent, non-profit corporation registered with the state of Colorado and the United States Internal Revenue Service. This was legally accomplished on July 14, 2004 under the name of Christian Medical Ministry to Cambodia/Jeremiah’s Hope (CMMCJH). The Employer Identification Number is 30-0249090. A copy of the IRS letter granting us 501 © 3 or tax-exempt status is enclosed. A board of directors was formed which meets regularly to direct the long range planning of the organization.
