Mennonite Health Journal

This issue of Mennonite Health Journal

Paul D. Leichty

from Mennonite Health Journal, Vol. 15, No. 4 – November 2013

The lead article in this issue picks up on the “Moral Dilemmas in Healthcare” theme of the 2013 Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship Annual Gathering held in June.  Peter Carney, a neurosurgeon from Elkhart, Indiana, explores the topic of “Reclaiming Moral Probity” from a Christian perspective as it relates particularly to the responsibility of physicians in the current climate of healthcare reform in the United States.

Barry Hieb, a physician from Tucson, Arizona, working in medical informatics, informs readers of a proposed solution to another dilemma in the increasingly automated U.S. healthcare system, balancing “Identity and Privacy” concerns for each individual patient.

MHF Executive Director Paul Leichty follows up on a column in the last issue of MHJ on societal choices, with an article in this issue on “Personal Choices in Community Context.”

Turning to the international scene, the final two articles encourage us to see the world from the interface between North American affluence and the poverty and lack of resources in many developing nations.  MHJ is particularly pleased to offer “Reflections on SET in Zambia,” a Student Elective Term report by John Stoeckle from Philadelphia, who completed his SET term in April and graduated from medical school in May.

Finally, Murray Nickel, president of International Mennonite Health Association shares his thought-provoking musings from the perspective of the Congo, in a short piece entitled, “Hanging on for Dear Life.”

As always, the perspectives of our readers are also welcomed and we welcome additional articles for upcoming issues of Mennonite Health Journal. Contact us as noted below.

About the author

Paul D. Leichty, M.Div. was the first Executive Director of Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship (MHF), serving from Sept. 2011 through May 2020.  Paul has served as a pastor, church musician, computer support person, disabilities advocate, and administrator/organizer of a number of church-related ministries. In addition to responsibilities at MHF, Paul is Executive Director of Congregational Accessibility Network and was formerly Director of User Services at Mennonite.net.  He is a member of Agape Fellowship of the Mennonite Church in Williamsport, Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife, Twila Charles Leichty.