Residency is an exciting time! You're learning a lot, developing skills, working with teams, building confidence. But residency is also a difficult time. You're tired. You receive criticism from seemingly everyone, including yourself. Imposter syndrome sets in. You feel isolated. As Christians, we long for encouragement from fellow believers, particularly from those who understand the rigors of residency and can help us see Jesus in our work. That's why the NRFC exists.
The National Resident & Fellow Community is the section of CMDA dedicated to connecting, mentoring, and empowering those of us in post-graduate training. We are spread out across the US and a few other countries as well. A leadership team of your peers, aided by full-time CMDA staff, plans and executes web-based discussions, retreats, a newsletter, and an academic poster session at the annual CMDA National Convention. We've got some new ideas coming down the pike, and we welcome you to join us in our mission.
"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:31, NIV 1984).
NATIONAL RESIDENT & FELLOW COMMUNITY OPTIONS
Want to be sure to stay connected to the ministry of CMDA now that you're out of school? Take advantage of these options:
Community Level
At this introductory level, residents and fellows at the Community Level receive the NRFC newsletter (see below) with information about regional and national CMDA events, a devotional, prayer requests, praise reports, and photos. They are welcome to join the weekly prayer times over Zoom and join the resident WhatsApp group for connection and fellowship. This level also includes access to the CMDA GO app, the CMDA Matters podcast, invitations to join CMDA events and more. You can join at the Community Level by completing the online form above ("Join the Community!")
Membership Level
Residents and fellows at the Membership Level receive Community Level resources as well as CMDA’s quarterly magazine, CMDA Today, free access to the CMDA Learning Center, and access to connect with other CMDA members via the CMDA GO app (Look for “Resident Aces”.) Residents and fellows at the Membership Level are CMDA members. You can join CMDA here. Note: Limited scholarships for $150 are available for residents and fellows which pay for the entirety of your post-graduate training (OR $100 per year). Email nrfc@cmda.org if you are interested in this scholarship!
Council Level
This is the leadership team and decision-making body of the NRFC. The Council is composed of several residents and fellows who are CMDA members and are committed to care for other residents. As you become more involved with NRFC, you may be called to serve at the Council Level.
Frequently Asked Questions
The National Resident and Fellow Council is a resident-driven organization within CMDA. It is designed to connect, mentor and empower Christian residents to:
- Live out their faith authentically
- Influence the culture of healthcare
- Unite with other Christian residents and fellows both locally and nationally for enduring fellowship
- Shape the future of CMDA
All CMDA resident and fellow members are invited to join to be a part of the NRFC. There is no member fee or required amount of meetings to attend. The NRFC provides a format for residents and fellows to connect to a community in their new city after medical school graduation, connect with other Christian residents and fellows from around the country, further develop leadership skills and share "best practices" of improving ministry to their colleagues and patients.
The NRFC is an important part of CMDA's Campus & Community Ministries. It serves as a springboard for development of future national leaders of CMDA, and will offer potential participation of its members in other national CMDA roles, such as Resident Trustee to the Board of Trustees, Resident Representative to the House of Representatives or membership of various councils or committees.
The NRFC offers committed Christian medical and dental residents and fellows a unique opportunity to connect, grow, be mentored, learn how to better minister to their colleagues and patients and impact the future ministry of CMDA and healthcare itself. If you are excited by what you read above, we invite you to join us!
While there is no time requirement to be involved in the NRFC, it is the goal of the NRFC to have regularly scheduled online meetings and interactive programs so that residents and fellows have the opportunity to connect and better integrate their faith with the daily demands of resident and fellow life. Most web-based meetings will be about an hour long and are held bi-monthly. Additional involvement will depend on the resident's personal interests.
Great! We're excited to have you join us! Click here to Join the Community!
The National Resident & Fellow Community is led by the National Resident & Fellow Council. Each year at the annual meeting of the NRFC (associated with the CMDA National Convention) a new Council is chosen by the membership of the NRFC. The Council is composed of motivated residents who feel called to care for other residents and inspired to steer CMDA into the future. Their role will be to establish the vision for the NRFC, reach out to graduating fourth year medical students, write the NRFC newsletter, and help plan online meetings and other programs for the NRFC. The Council is not meant to be exclusive, but to define who will assume the responsibility for leading this national organization.
Participating in the annual meeting of the National Resident and Fellow Community is highly recommended; however, we understand that in general residency is one of the busiest times of life. Attending the annual meeting is where the connections to other Christian residents and fellows from across the country will be made, and these connections will often last a lifetime. The biggest impact you can have with this ministry is when you are gathered together in person, so we highly encourage you to attend. Again, we recognize that this may not be possible and do not want your not being able to attend the annual meeting to keep you from joining the NRFC.
Campus & Community Ministries offers residents and fellows a $75 scholarship that helps cover their registration fee to attend National Convention.
Also, if a resident or fellow presents a poster at our VIE Poster Session, a $75 scholarship is provided to go towards their National Convention registration fee.
Raising funds to attend the annual meeting and the CMDA National Convention is ultimately the responsibility of the NRFC member and potentially his/her local CMDA Chapter.
NRFC meetings take place through web-based format every four to six weeks.
Email us at NRFC@cmda.org.
Contact Us
Are you interested in getting involved with the National Resident and Fellow Council? Contact Campus & Community Ministries for more information.
Campus & Community Ministries
P.O. Box 7500 • Bristol, TN 37621 • 888-230-2637