For most physicians, the hospital room and the place of worship have always been kept carefully apart. Science belongs in one. Faith belongs in the other. And that boundary has quietly shaped how doctors are trained, how they speak to patients, and what they feel permitted to bring into the room.
But what happens when a physician begins to question that separation?
There are patients whose pain has no clean medical answer. Families carrying wounds that no prescription will touch. Moments in the exam room where the most honest thing a doctor can say is that what this person needs goes beyond what medicine can offer.
For physicians of faith, those moments raise a question that medical school rarely prepares them for: what do you do with what you believe, when the patient in front of you may need exactly that?
To explore that question, I'm joined by Dr. Jennifer Suh, board-certified pediatrician, fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and ordained pastor. Together, we talk about what it looks like to bring faith into clinical practice honestly and practically, why the fear of being seen as the "crazy doctor" so often lives more in the physician than in the patient, and what she has found when she stopped leaving Jesus outside the door.
Together, we explore:
Why science and faith are so often treated as belonging in different rooms, and why that framing may be incomplete
What the research actually shows about spirituality as a social determinant of health
How a physician begins to incorporate prayer, spiritual assessment, and faith into patient care in a way that is compassionate, grounded, and patient-led
Why the fear of being seen as the "crazy doctor" often lives more in the physician than in the patient
What it means to invite God into the room and the story of a teenager whose walls came down in ten minutes because a doctor was simply obedient
How forgiveness, spiritual brokenness, and the feeling of being abandoned by God connect directly to physical and mental health outcomes
What it looks like to be faith-based rather than fear-based in a medical system built almost entirely on fear
If you are a clinician wrestling with how to bring your faith into your practice, or a person of faith who has ever sensed that healing requires more than medicine can reach, this conversation will challenge and encourage you.
Learn More About My Soon-to-Launch Telemedicine Platform
Exciting news—my virtual medical platform is launching soon! If you’re looking for personalized, evidence-based care in allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine, stay tuned. Visit https://www.drdeepa-tlc.org/waitlist to join the waitlist and be the first to receive updates about services, membership options, and launch details.
Precision care. Personalized guidance. Wherever you are.
About the Guest
Dr. Jennifer Suh, MD, a pediatrician with over 20 years of experience in diverse clinical settings, from private practice in the suburbs to urban and rural nonprofit medical centers and hospitals. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Cornell University, followed by her medical degree at New York Medical College, and completed her residency at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia. Even as a young girl, she had a passion for children, but pursued a music major until God revealed his calling for her to be a physician through an increasing desire to serve in missions. Uniquely, she is also an ordained pastor, which fuels her desire to see God’s heart for whole-person healing (sozo) through a transformed medical system that addresses the healing of the body, soul, and spirit. She is a mother of three and is currently living in the Boston area, building a practice, partnering and training others to establish a kingdom healthcare model for the glory of God. Learn more about Dr. Suh’s work here.
The Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) is a resource for medical professionals who want to incorporate spiritual care into their practice. CMDA offers mentorship, biblical resources, conferences, and practical guidance, including frameworks for discussing faith with patients in a respectful, patient-centered way. Visit https://cmda.org/.
About Your Host
Hosted by Dr. Deepa Grandon, MD, MBA, a triple board-certified physician with over 23 years of experience working as a Physician Consultant for influential organizations worldwide. Dr. Grandon is the founder of Transformational Life Consulting (TLC) and an outspoken faith-based leader in evidence-based lifestyle medicine.
Resources
Feeling stuck and want guidance on how to transform your spiritual, mental and physical well being? Get access to Dr Deepa’s 6 Pillars of Health video! Subscribe and watch the video for free here.
Work with Me - Learn More About My Soon-to-Launch Telemedicine Platform
Exciting news—my virtual medical platform is launching soon! If you’re looking for personalized, evidence-based care in allergy, immunology, and lifestyle medicine, stay tuned. Click here to join the wait-list and be the first to receive updates about services, membership options, and launch details.
Precision care. Personalized guidance. Wherever you are.
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Disclaimer
TLC is presenting this podcast as a form of information sharing only. It is not medical advice or intended to replace the judgment of a licensed physician. TLC is not responsible for any claims related to procedures, professionals, products, or methods discussed in the podcast, and it does not approve or endorse any products, professionals, services, or methods that might be referenced.
