Women Physicians & Dentists in Christ - Women Physicians & Dentists in Christ

"Encouraging and Supporting Women Physicians & Dentists Through Connecting, Inspiring and Equipping."

Women Physicians & Dentists in Christ (WPDC) is an outreach ministry to provide resources for Christian women physicians and dentists to integrate their personal, professional and spiritual lives. We encourage and support Christian women and physicians as we share the unique challenges of our multiple roles. To learn more about our ministry and stay abreast of events, subscribe to our monthly newsletter, the PULSE. And be sure to plan to attend our annual conferences and virtual conferences.

Our Commission

WPDC Dental Ministries

Our Brochure

Resources

Donate to WPDC

Our Mission

Women Physicians & Dentists in Christ provides a ministry of true belonging, support and equipping to address the unique challenges of women physicians and dentists desiring to glorify God.

Our Vision

Women physicians and dentists complete in Christ ministering through medicine.

Core Values

Biblical Authority - 2 Tim 3:16, All scripture is inspired

Integrity - Titus 2:7, Colossians 4-6

Authentic Friendships - John 15:12-13, Love one another

Grace-filled Haven - Hebrews 4:16, Grace in time of need, Women physicians complete in Christ, thriving in service

EVENTS & HAPPENINGS

This virtual event is free but you must register to receive a Zoom link on the day of the event.

This monthly e-newsletter from WPDC is designed to encourage women in medicine and dentistry as they face the unique challenges of women in healthcare, serving as a key resource for women in integrating their personal, professional and spiritual lives. Each month, the WPDC Pulse includes a note from the WPDC Chair, information about upcoming events and a short devotional.

Subscribe to The WPDC Pulse

COMMISSION MEMBERS

Introducing the WPDC Leadership Team:

Past | Present | Future Commission Chairs

Chair

Sarah Rahkola, MD

Sarah's Biography

Dr. Sarah Rahkola is an internist and clinic medical director at Providence Medical Group, Newberg, Oregon. She is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (ACP) and serves as the chair of the finance committee of the Oregon chapter. Her clinical interests are in geriatric medicine, substance use disorder, and team-based primary care. Her husband Rauha and three children Thomas, James and Miriam join her in loving music, reading, traveling, and exploring the outdoors. She has a passion for classical Christian education and for teaching her Sunday school students how to read and interpret scripture.

Vice Chair

Nancy Mabe, MD

Nancy's Biography

Nancy Mabe is a 1994 graduate of the University of Missouri school of Medicine. She joined CMDA during her first year of medical school. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in 1997. She joined a private practice in Arlington Heights, IL. In 2001, she moved to Wentzville, Mo, also practicing community medicine and in 2015 she joined the faculty of the University of Missouri. She has been an active member of the WPDC since 1998. Nancy is a fellow of the American College of Physician's and serves on the Missouri ACP Governor's Council. She and her husband Dan have 3 girls: Kaitlyn, Christa, and Allison.

Secretary/Treasurer

Elisa M. Ghezzi, DDS, PhD

Elisa's Biography

Elisa M. Ghezzi, DDS, PhD has practiced geriatric dentistry for 25 years, providing dental care for residents of assisted living facilities in southeastern Michigan. She graduated from and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan (UM) School of Dentistry and holds a PhD in Epidemiology from UM School of Public Health. Elisa has been married for 24 years to Steve, a pediatric dentist. They have six children: Elena, Joseph, Luke, Natalie, Dominic, and Michael. Elisa has been a member of CMDA since 1991 and has served as Resident Trustee, on the Dental Ad Hoc Committee, and on the Women in Medicine and Dentistry Commission (2001-2005).

Past Chair

Connie Hahn, DO

Connie's Biography

Connie Hahn, DO, is a family medicine physician in group practice at Bozeman Deaconess Health Group in Bozeman, Montana. After spending the first part of her career life in the airline industry and as a ski instructor in Lake Tahoe, Connie decided to return to her education in her 40s. Her husband Chris was her main source of encouragement as she found herself applying to medical school later in life. Connie was an officer in her CMDA chapter while attending Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine and later became involved, as a new physician, with what is now Women Physicians and Dentists in Christ. She is currently the chair of this CMDA commission. Dr. Hahn attended UC Davis family medicine residency in Merced, California and was treated for cancer during that time. As a survivor, and experiencing the dual role of being a patient and physician, Dr Hahn witnessed God at work in a very big way. This helped shape her practice and her compassion for her patients. As grateful as she was for God's work in the midst of pain and suffering, as well as his "delegates" who surrounded her, she came to realize that "You may not ever be able to give back enough, but you can always pass it forward." Dr. Hahn started out as a full spectrum Family Medicine Physician delivering babies, following her patients in the hospital, and seeing unassigned patients in the ER while on call nights. She incorporates her faith into her practice and gives public lectures on this subject as well as behavioral health. Dr Hahn enjoys participating in short term missions once a year. Dr. Hahn and her husband Chris, who is a corporate consultant, have two grown children, one living in Maine and another in Lake Tahoe. They are avid skiers, hikers, and have three golden retrievers!