SPEAKERS

Dr. Al Weir is a practicing MD in Memphis Tennessee, where he was born and raised. He works as a professor of medicine in the division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Tennesse Health Science Center, Chief Hematology and Oncology at VA Medical Center and Program Director for the UTHSC Hematology and Oncology Fellowship program. He has spent his life dedicated to missions : Nigeria 1983 – 1985  and Albania – yearly for 25 years. Dr. Al is a contributing author for the Handbook of Medicine in Developing Countries and he has authored two books as well: When Your Doctor Has Bad News and Practice by the Book.

Catherine is a Registered Nurse who lives in Germantown, Tennessee with her husband and 4 children. Previously she has worked in Transplant ICU, Heme/Onc as well as Research nursing. Currently she is working PRN at her children’s school as the school nurse. This will be her 7th year in Albania and she loves the students and families here. She cannot wait to meet new students and reconnect with those from the past.

Christi has been practicing physical therapy for over 27 years in the outpatient setting.
She graduated from Chapman University in Orange, CA with her Masters in Physical Therapy in 1997. As a result, she then went on to pursue her Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Western University of Allied Health Sciences in Pomona, CA in 2002. Consequently, she spent an entire year in a Manual Therapy based Residency program and possesses extensive certifications and experience in Functional and Integrative Manual Therapy, Vestibular Rehab, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Cranio-Temporal Mandibular Dysfunctions, and Sports Rehab. In addition, she is Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist, Certified Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Pilates Instructor, Certified Functional Capacity Evaluator, Certified Ergonomic Assessment Specialist, Certified Weight Management Specialist, Certified Nutritionist, and Certified Clinical Instructor. In her spare time, Christi enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures and is often considered a “foody”. She lives for outdoor activities including skiing, golf, volleyball, soccer, and hiking. Additionally, she loves singing and playing drums.  She feels grateful to be able to share her life with her husband and two beautiful daughters.

Eugene Smith is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. For 19 years he served as Program Director of the Cardiology Fellowship Program and currently serves as the Chief of Medicine at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System in Little Rock, Arkansas. Eugene has participated in a wide variety of medical missions across the world over the last 35 years. In 2015, he made his first trip to Albania. He and his wife Pam enjoy spending time with their 4 children and 3 grandchildren.

Dr. Gary got into medicine after reading Proverbs 24:14: As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. He then attented Oral Roberts University School of Medicine where he met his wife Dr Susan. After graduating both him and his wife did their residency in Family Medicine at Washington Hospital. Then three years with the US Air Force they went in Pennsylvania working in the clinic. They have been involved in educating medical students both in the US and Africa. Currently Dr. Gary serves with Medical Education International. They both have served in Honduras, Haiti, Togo, Gabon, Kenya, Jordan, Iraq, India and due to that their children have decided to serve in East and West Africa to see how wonderfully God works.

Dr. Robert Chandler has been with Plastic Surgery Group of Memphis for 20 years.

A Tennessee native, he graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and served as chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the U.S. Air Force’s largest medical center with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Dr. Chandler was awared both the Army Commendation Medal and the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal.

Dr. Chandler has extensive experience in cleft lip and palate reconstruction, burn reconstruction, facial surgery including blepharoplasties, brow lifts, face lifts, breast surgeries including breast reconstruction, breast reduction and breast augmentation and body contouring procedures. He also has experience in microvascular free flaps for reconstruction. He is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

As a member of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, Dr. Chandler has a deep-seated faith in Jesus Christ with a strong commitment to his family and church.

Leonard “Jeff” Harris is a practicing hematologist from Memphis, Tennessee holding board
certifications in both Hematology and Oncology. He and his wife Joanna are parents of 5
interesting people and are active in their church community. Jeff received his Doctor of Medicine in 2005 from the Medical College of Georgia; he completed a combined Med-Peds residency at Vanderbilt University in 2009. He worked full time in the Methodist University Hospital for 10 years, serving as medical director from 2016-2020 and won a national award for ED quality improvement initiatives. He has over a dozen peer reviewed publication and has served as volunteer faculty in the Divisions of Preventive and General Internal Medicine of the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center since 2010. He often receives teaching awards from medical students and residents, and he is known as an enthusiastic learner and educator.

Dr. Joshua is a Board-Certified Pediatrician working in private practice in Southeast Michigan. He has an extensive background in pediatric education. He trained at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, where he also served as Chief Resident. After training, he remained on staff for 10 years, during which time he was highly involved in medical student and resident education. Through moving to private practice, he has continued his teaching role in training medical students as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Michigan State University.

Joshua has been married to his wife, Hannah, for 11 years. They have 2 children, ages 9 and 7. Outside of medicine, Joshua is one of the pastors of his church where he is also involved in the music ministry. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, visiting national parks, and having a good meal with friends.

Lavonne Johnston is a certified master’s level Physician Assistant and has worked in several specialties through her career. She retired from clinical medicine in 2017 after working her final 10 years in Gastroenterology.  Currently she teaches Health Sciences as an Adjunct Professor at Lancaster Bible College and is involved in her church in women’s and mentoring ministries.  She is glad to have time to help with the Albania Health Fund, the Illyricum Movement, and the Johnston Hope Foundation.   She loves keeping up with her three married children and eight grandchildren, along with hiking and reading.

Dr. Luke Park graduated in 2006 from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry in Los Angeles.  He completed an additional year of training in General Practice Residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.  Since 2007, he’s been working in private practices in New York, Los Angeles, and finally in Seattle.  In addition to maintaining his busy private practice in Seattle that involves patient care and running a business, raising his now two teenage children with his wife has been challenging yet enjoyable.  To keep abreast of the ever-changing art and science of dentistry, Dr. Park has been dedicated in his pursuit of continuing education.  He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Washington State Dental Association, the Seattle King County Dental Society, and the Academy of Osseointegration.

Dr. Park’s passion is providing high quality family dentistry.  He also enjoys helping patients improve their smiles through the artistry of cosmetic dentistry, and restore their function through the innovation of implant dentistry.

Away from the office, Dr. Park enjoys playing the guitar, exercising, snowboarding, and spending time with his family.

Dr. Johnston is a graduate of Hahnemann Medical University and works in a private gastroenterology practice in Lancaster, PA. He is a retired Navy Captain and former head of gastroenterology at the National Naval Medical Center. He has joined multiple short term medical missions to Albania, Kenya and China. He holds two US patents for his GI research and has received numerous military, academic, research and humanitarian awards. He is the author of 17 Cairns, Encounters and Reflections from a Lifetime of Following God’s Trail

I was born in Arlington, WA.  I attended the Univ of Wash Dental School, and following graduation I joined the US Army Dental Corps, serving for 22 years. Upon retirement in 1996, I joined a mall group dental practice on Camano Is in WA. I enjoyed serving the community until 2015, and then retired. My wife Jamie and I have two daughters and 3 grandchildren. I enjoy reading, bike riding, traveling, and spending summers off grid on a small island.  I was able to use my dentistry in many overseas third world countries and that blessed my life abundantly.

Jamie Thompson

I grew up in Arlington, WA, where Randy and I met in high school.  We both attended the U of W, and I graduated with a teaching degree.  I taught geography, history, and PE in a junior high. I loved our time in the military.  We made amazing friends, who challenged us to learn to know Jesus on a more personal level.  We are forever grateful for those meaningful encounters. I learned the dental assisting skill in order to work alongside Randy on the mission field. I am always ready for the next adventure, and stay open to whatever God has for me.

Ryan Kwok, M.D. is a board-certified hepatologist and gastroenterologist working at the VA Medical Center, Puget Sound. He has an appointment as a clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington.

His clinical practice is rooted in treating every patient with respect and dignity. He aims to serve his patients through excellence, compassion, and education.

Dr. Kwok earned his M.D. at the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD.  He completed his residency in internal medicine at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He completed fellowships in gastroenterology at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and transplant hepatology at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital.

Dr. Tim Call received his MD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1980 and then completed internal medicine residency at Gundersen/Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, WI. His fellowship training was at MAYO CLINIC. Dr. Tim was appointed staff there after his service with the US Navy Medical Corps. He attained Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology. His interests include epidemiology of leukemia and lymphoma, familial CLL, clinical management of CLL and hairy cell leukemia.