About Us
TCMDA Beliefs, Vision, and Mission
While each of us holds fast to additional beliefs important to our relationship with God, the following statement outlines the tenets that provide a foundation for our fellowship and participation in the Christian Medical & Dental Associations.
We are the Triangle chapter of CMDA, serving Central North Caolina and connecting with the entire state through ministry, fellowship, encouragement and relatiuonships.
The Christian Medical & Dental Associations® (CMDA) is made up of the Christian Medical Association (CMA) and the Christian Dental Association (CDA). CMDA provides resources, networking opportunities, education and a public voice for Christian healthcare professionals and students.
Founded in 1931, CMDA provides programs and services supporting its mission to "change hearts in healthcare" with a current membership over 19,000. CMDA promotes positions and addresses policies on healthcare issues; conducts overseas medical evangelism projects; coordinates a network of Christian healthcare professionals for fellowship and professional growth; sponsors student ministries in medical and dental schools; distributes educational and inspirational resources; hosts marriage and family conferences; provides Third World missionary healthcare professionals with continuing education resources; and conducts academic exchange programs overseas. By being the "hands of Jesus" to needy people, CMDA seeks to fulfill His Great Commandment (Matthew 22:39; 25:36) and His Great Commission (Matthew 28:19).
We Believe:
In the divine inspiration and final authority of the Bible as the Word of God
In the eternal God revealed in Holy Scripture as Father, Son and Holy Spirit;
In the unique Deity of Jesus Christ, God's only Son, whose death and resurrection provide by grace through faith the only means of my salvation
In the transforming presence and power of the Holy Spirit
We Believe:
To create & sustain a community of Christian healthcare professionals who glorify God & bless those they serve by inviting Jesus – the Great Physician – into their training & practice.
Our Mission:
Discipling hearts in healthcare to be medical missionaries in our communities.
Our Core Values
We strive to fulfill our mission by our commitment to be:
- Christ-like
- Controlled by the Holy Spirit
- Committed to Scripture
- Communing in Prayer
- Compassionate
- Competent
- Courageous
- Culturally Relevant
TCMDA Board of Directors and Pastor Director
President: Dr William J Parsons
Bill and Darlene Parsons
Bill graduated from Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School. He completed internal medicine residency at University of Rochester-Strong Memorial Hospital, and cardiology fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. He was on the cardiology faculty at both Duke and UT-Southwestern in Dallas, after which he went into private practice at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Bill returned to the RTP area in 2001. Since then, Bill has been practicing cardiology with Duke Cardiologyof Raleigh. He has been a member of CMDA since 1978. Bill and his wife, have been married for over thirty years. They have three grown children and two rescue pugs.
Vice President: Dr. Craig Fowler
Dr. Craig Fowler is the Chief of Surgery abd Chief of Opthamology: Fayetteville VAMC and Wilmington HCC. He is also the Associate Medical Director of the North Carolina Eye Bank ("Miracles in Sight"). He is also a Tenured Associate Professor at the UNC School of Medicine.
Recipient of the 2014 R. Townley Paton, MD award from the Eye Bank Association of America
Dr. Fowler initially came to the Triangle area in 1992 as an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Duke, and started hosting monthly CMDA dinner meetings in his home with the help of Dr. Ron Halbrooks. In 1994 he married Dr. Amy Folwer, and they continued to host the monthly dinner meetings in their home. Shortly after this time the Duke and UNC CMDA chapters united for the larger group dinner meetings. Bible studies and outreach activities proliferated, and within a few years the meetings relocated to various Triangle church fellowship halls. Craig, Amy and her parents have been integral in hosting and serving the local TCMF chapter.
Dr. Amy Fowler, Director of Hospitality
Dr. Amy Fowler is an Associate Professor, Vice Chair and residency director for UNC's department of Ophthalmology. She received her medical school training at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. Dr. Fowler did her residency in Ophthalmology at Duke University Eye Center. She completed a fellowship in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UNC. Amy and her husband, Craig Fowler, have hosted CMDA and TCMF events since 1993.
Secretary: Dr. Charles and Rosemary Herbst
Charles is retired from UNC as professor of GI surgery. He completed medical school, surgery residency, and masters in physiology at the University of Mississippi Medical School in Jackson, MS. He has been a member of CMDA for over 30 years and of TCMDA since its founding. His wife , Rosemary, is a homemaker, but a schoolteacher by profession. They are members of the Chapel Hill Bible Church, where Dr. Herbst has served as elder, taught classes in Sunday School and small groups, while Rosemary serves on the Cross Culture Missions Committee. Both coordinate a senior adult ministry at the church. Charles continues to teach anatomy and physiology of GI surgery to medical students at UNC. He is a consultant on credentials for BC-BS. Rosemary is active in CH Homeless Shelter, and Durham Rescue Mission. They have two grown married children and five grandchildren. Their son is pastor of New Denver Church in Denver, CO and their daughter is an Occupational Therapist in Charlottesville, VA where her husband teaches at UVA.
Treasurer: Dr Alan Proia
Currently Professor of Pathology at Duke University, Dr. Proia received his medical training at Weill Cornell Medical College and completed his pathology residency at Duke University Medical Center. He also holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Rockefeller University. His research interests are focused on the pathology and genesis of diseases affecting the eye and adjacent structures.
Dr Stephen Boyce, Co-Director of Development
Dr. Stephen Boyce graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with honors in 1978. He received his medical degree with honors from the University of Florida College of Medicine in 1982 and completed his residency in Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Colorado in 1988. While in Colorado, he served on the Doctor's Ski Patrol at Breckenridge, Loveland, and Winter Park ski areas. He joined Raleigh ENT in 1989 and is a fellow of both the Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery and the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations. Dr. Boyce's practice encompasses all aspects of otolaryngology, but he especially enjoys pediatric ENT, thyroid and pituitary surgery, nasal and ear surgery, and care of voice disorders.
Dr. Boyce and wife, Tina, live in Cary with their Schnoodle, Jackson. They have 3 adult children. Dr. Boyce is actively involved with Kairos prison ministry. He has participated in mission trips to Appalachia and the Dominican Republic.
Dr. David Stein, Director of Education
Dr. David Stein is a family medicine doctor in Burlington, North Carolina. He received his medical degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Dr Joseph Caccioppo, Director of Missions
Dr. Joe Cacioppo is Chair of Community and Global Medicine and associate professor of emergency medicine at CUSOM. After graduating from Kent State University, he served in the United States Coast Guard and went on to earn his Doctor of Osteopathy at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Cacioppo completed his residency at Grandview Hospital.
He is certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Advanced Burn Life Support, Disaster Relief Grief Counselor, Leadership Disaster Response, and Emergency Medical Dispatch.
Dr. Cacioppo has served as Chief of Staff at Seneca District Hospital in Chester, California and has served as Medical Director in the Emergency Department at Doctors Hospital North in Columbus, Ohio, Humboldt General Hospital in Winnemucca, Nevada, and Humboldt County, Nevada.
Area Director/Pastor: Corey A Whittaker, MA
Corey Whittaker and his family have lived in Durham since 2001. He has been a Youth Pastor for 27 years and has also served as a preacher, retreat speaker, mission trip leader, and anything else that needs to be done. Corey attended Roanoke College and has a BA in International Relations. He also has an MA in Missions and Evangelism from Trinity School for Ministry and an MA in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. Corey has been married to his wife Lisa for almost 25 years and they have a son and a daughter who are both now young adults.
Corey's desire in this ministry is to get people connected as the Body of Christ at work and to help students and practitioners see their "Medicine as Ministry".
