Dr. Michael Carmichael
My mom and dad told me I had “good” hands and you can be a pianist or a surgeon. Well, I didn’t do well with four years of piano, so, I pursued medicine. No one in our family had ever been in that particular field. When I turned eighteen and was up for the draft and the uncertainty of going to Vietnam, I was invited by a school friend to an overnight youth retreat at a church in downtown Dallas. What started out as basketball, skating, bowling and volleyball ended up with an encounter with the Creator of this universe. Fast forward to an amazing opportunity to train with one of the foremost heart surgeons in the world, Dr. Denton Cooley, I took a position in Cardiac Surgery at the University of Florida.
Again, by divine providence, as the co-director of an International Cardiac Symposium in Beijing China, I was able to see that Coronary Artery Disease was the leading cause of death of the Chinese male, just as it is in the USA. That led to an incredible journey over the past twenty seven years of teaching cardiac surgery in that country as well as having many Chinese doctors, nurses, and administrators come to join us at our work in Ocala and Boynton Beach, Florida and most recently in Florence, South Carolina.
This new season in the life along with my incredibly supportive wife, Becki, and our six children, we are embarking on a long term invitation to continue the teaching and administration at what is now one of the finest heart programs in all of China. We have watched Nanjing First Hospital transform from a program of less than a dozen heart surgeries performed a year, to over 1,700 in 2017. That with a overall mortality of 0.7%. Our goal is to continue this work that the Great Physician has started by operating, teaching, and serving, not only the physical body, but the spiritual eternal soul.
Becki Carmichael
Ni Hao! This is Becki. I am thrilled to be finally living in Nanjing, China. This is another step in the journey my Father has been lovingly and faithfully leading me on since I first took His hand of forgiveness as a six year old child. By the time I was twelve, I knew He had a special plan including a call to missions and was asking me to follow His in service. Over the years there have been many opportunities for growth, learning, failure, and victory, but all have prepared me for this chapter of the trip.
This opportunity to walk daily beside dear brothers and sisters is both precious and exciting. Being introduced to new friends who are curious as to why we have left our family and career in the States to help a hospital in China pursue excellence has been a wonderful open door to share His love.
People have routinely asked me what I will be doing while Michael is at the hospital. I have been asked to help the medical staff with their pronunciation of English medical terms. I “teach” three classes twice a week. This helps not only communication with teams from the States, but will prepare these staff members for any study abroad programs they wish to pursue. I have also enjoyed attending English classes at a local High School to help with conversational English. This has been especially rewarding.
However, the most important job I have is to be available for any opportunity that presents itself. As a result, each day new and old relationships are being built. I have also been asked to mentor some ‘seeking’ staff members at a local restaurant.
Thank you for supporting us through your prayers. Check in each week as we post updates to keep you in the loop.