In Focus

By Cynndie Hoff

Scientists throughout the ages faced harsh consequences for their love of discovery, gladly weathering humiliation and ridicule in the pursuit of the next great truth. Although once scorned, the field of science now holds a long-earned place of respect among its fellow disciplines in academia. However, while study of the unknown proves less alarming to modern generations, no shortage of controversy exists – especially among Christians.

As theologians and scientists grapple with fact, theory, and what lies between, Azusa Pacific University puts them together (figuratively and literally), facilitating a forum that draws some of the most faithful scientists and critical-thinking theologians. APU’s Center for Research in Science (CRIS) attracts top thinkers from across disciplines and the nation to confront the ethical concerns in bio and medical technology, understand public policy’s changing views on the concept of personhood, and reconsider the idea of an eternal human nature. “We are certain that there can be no conflict between true science and true theology since God is the source of all truth; conflicts only arise from discrepancies in human knowledge, understanding, and interpretation,” said Leslie Wickman, Ph.D., CRIS director. “Indeed, we should never forget that science, like every other field of study, is a human affair, and therefore, is always in the service of social and even political priorities.”

Such is the philosophy that APU’s science faculty hope to instill in their students. Compassion and creativity mingle with scientific theorems and method to produce impeccably trained disciple-scientists, with a responsibility to serve. Armed with this comprehensive training, graduates inspire respect and ignite change in every aspect of the field they enter. From medical doctors to missionaries, from teachers to environmentalists, APU science alumni work throughout the world and across professions, but with a similar driving purpose.

The MD
Cathy (Bivins '80) Lehman-Schletewitz, MD

Prestige, respect, and a burgeoning bank account made the medical profession one of the most attractive career choices for serious scientists, humanitarians, and social climbers alike. But today, rapidly increasing medical tuition costs and an increasingly complicated and political health care climate prohibit a huge portion of the prospective physician population from even entering the game.

According to the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the median debt burden for graduates of public medical institutions is $100,000, and $135,000 for private schools, with some reporting debt as high as $350,000. Over the past 20 years, tuition and fees have increased by 165 percent in private schools and 312 percent in public schools. Yet this staggering debt has not been offset by an equal increase in income. With a standard monthly loan payment of $1,300, average residents dole out nearly 25 percent of their net income in repayment. The skyrocketing costs directly correlate to an alarming shift in the industry. The AMSA believes that the debt burden may be partly responsible for the measurable decline in students entering primary care fields (steady decrease six years in a row) in favor of more lucrative specialties.¹

Who, then, dares enter the field of medicine amidst the reality of indebtedness? And who among them pursues the less glamorous, less profitable realm of family medicine? Cathy (Bivins ’80) Lehman-Schletewitz, MD, family physician, began her journey on riskier ground than mere career choice; she chose to build her educational foundation on a then-little-known school with a fledgling science program. The six-month-old Christian traded in the University of California, Irvine after her freshman year for Azusa Pacific College in 1978. “The premed environment at secular schools is dog-eat-dog,” she said. “It is devoid of all humanity. At Azusa Pacific, professors care about each student’s personal growth and success. That difference provided for greater learning.” When Lehman-Schletewitz attended classes at APC, the student-professor ratio was 4:1 in histology and 6:1 in physical chemistry.

Though class size has increased since then, individual attention remains the institution’s signature – a factor that paid off for Lehman-Schletewitz when it came time to apply to medical schools. Though her undergraduate degree came from a small school, her MCAT scores reflected the quality of her education. In fact, according to Bruce Spalding, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Biology and Chemistry, average MCAT scores for APU students places them in the top third of colleges nationwide. “Azusa Pacific graduates have such a high rate of acceptance at prestigious schools across the country and virtually all of our students excel in competition with students from institutions like the University of Southern California, Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles and the vastly superior schools of the East Coast,” said Scott Kinnes, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biology and Chemistry. “This is a testament to both the rigor of our program and the quality of our students.”

The element of such a program manifested neither by transcripts nor tests remains the compassion factor. Modeled by her professors like Jim Rodgers, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Biology and Chemistry, Lehman-Schletewitz learned the rare art of integrating faith into her field. “Other schools teach doctors to treat the symptom, not the patient. They say, ‘The GI bleed in room three,’ rather than, ‘Mr. Johnson in room three,’” she said. “It is a matter of perspective. I became a doctor for some obvious reasons – I have a natural talent for science and math, I can synthesize complicated information, I am decisive and a good communicator. But the heart of my calling lies in my faith. I know that the industry has changed. The best and the brightest go into business instead of medicine, because that is where the money is. I know I will never be a millionaire with two homes and a yacht, but I have a family, a life, and an opportunity everyday to change lives beyond the physical. My patients honor me with their implicit trust and some allow me to pray with them. No amount of money could compare.”

^[1] Medical Student Association, “Medical Student Debt.”
http://www.amsa.org/meded/studentdebt.cfm

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