Christian Medical and Dental Associations vs. transgender people

Groups Reviewed August 29, 2026 5 min read

Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) is an American Christian ministry for healthcare professionals. CMDA has produced consistently anti-transgender content.

According to their 2021 position statement on transgender identification, CMDA:

Believes gender is inseparable from biological sex
Opposes gender-transition medical interventions, especially for minors, viewing the body as a “God-given gift” not to be altered
Supports conscience protections so healthcare workers are not forced to participate in trans healthcare
Calls for compassionate, non-judgmental treatment of transgender patients and opposes refusing them care outright
Distinguishes compassion from affirmation: claims providers aren’t required to validate a patient’s gender identity or terminology
Argues clinicians holding their views should not be stigmatized or labeled discriminatory

Background

In 1931, medical student George Peterson was struggling with isolation as one of the few Christians on campus. Peterson and fellow student Kenneth Gieser then founded what became the Christian Medical Society (CMS).

In 2000, the board renamed the organization the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), splitting it into two divisions: the Christian Medical Association (CMA) and the Christian Dental Association (CDA).

CMDA is the United States affiliate of the International Christian Medical and Dental Association (ICMDA).

Anti-trans activism

Podcast

CMDA produces Faith in Healthcare: The CMDA Matters Podcast with regular hosts Mike Chupp and Jeff Barrows. Anti-trans guests have included

“Diane and Mark” [unaccepting parents of a gender diverse child]

Joseph Dougherty – American College of Family Medicine

Scot Glasberg
Stephen Grcevich
Miriam Grossman

Jeff Hansen
Mary Hasson
Laura Haynes
Magen Hicks – American College of Family Medicine
Paul Hruz
Janet Hurley – American College of Family Medicine

Allan Josephson

Michael Laidlaw
Brick Lantz

Leonard Sax
Jill Simons

Andre Van Mol

Steve Willing
Elizabeth Woning

Selected publications by CMDA

Staff report (July 24, 2024). Transgender Identification Ethics Statement. Christian Medical & Dental Associations https://cmda.org/article/transgender-identification-ethics-statement/

Staff report (January 30, 2021). CMDA Position Statement on Transgender Identification. Christian Medical & Dental Associations PDF https://app.box.com/shared/static/bjkazlu3pdqbq88dhfgpbttrhcspft6h.pdf

Staff report (April 21, 2016). CMDA Position Statement on Transgender Identification. Christian Medical & Dental Associations https://resources.cmda.org/article/transgender-identification/

Media

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Janet Hurley, Joseph Dougherty, and Magen Hicks of American College of Family Medicine (June 25, 2026). The Fight For Hippocratic Medicine | The American College of Family Medicine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EURA4uks5Bo

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Scot Glasberg (May 14, 2026). What They’re NOT Telling You About “Gender-Affirming Care” with Dr. Scot Glasberg. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndG4sNNvlS8

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Brick Lantz (February 12, 2026). Navigating Today’s Toughest Medical Ethics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmDGdCzhbb0

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Steve Willing (September 11, 2025). Transgenderism Through the Lens of Neuroscience | Dr. Steve Willing Explains. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4CG4S65K88

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Michael Laidlaw (January 23, 2025). Wake up, O House of Medicine! Part 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EJgPsdmRwk

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Steve Willing (September 11, 2025). The Brain, Gender, and Truth: Dr. Steve Willing on Neuroscience a… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1cJkfVJHFk

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare (June 26, 2025). Stronger Together, CMDA Colson Fellows Sound Off. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRDQwmJqZf8

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp and Allan Josephson (June 5, 2025). Wrongly Terminated for Speaking Truth: Dr. Allan Josephson on the… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3HCCyOKgPQ

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Michael Laidlaw (January 16, 2025). Gender Dysphoria and Children: Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B13FJmjsbaY

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Stephen Grcevich (September 12, 2024). Mental Health and the Church. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BGyMpsigG8

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Mary Hasson of Ethics and Public Policy Center (June 20, 2024). The Person and Identity Project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGab4_GqN3Q

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, Jill Simons, and Andre Van Mol (June 13, 2024). The Receding Waters of the Transgender Tsunami. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0CBm-avxaE

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Elizabeth Woning of Moral Revolution / CHANGED (May 9, 2024). Diving Deep into LGBTQIA+ and the Political Divide. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La7KYFVvyco

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Jeff Hansen (January 18, 2024). CMDA Matters – Transgender Dilemma in the Young. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVwQu4MrvGA

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Andre Van Mol (Jan 12, 2023). CMDA Matters – The Stormy Waters of Transgender Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFFPKWz_gIA

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Paul Hruz (May 26, 2022). CMDA Matters – Gender and Sports. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apkzrk1Q3QM

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Miriam Grossman (April 28, 2022). CMDA Matters – Gender Ideology and Its Effects on Our Patients. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTymlzvrT3Y

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Leonard Sax (March 3, 2022). CMDA Matters – Dr. Leonard Sax: Why Gender Matters – Part 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYUCM4YKfrM

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Leonard Sax (March 3, 2022). CMDA Matters – Dr. Leonard Sax: Why Gender Matters – Part 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuZO1TrtNSI

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and “Diane and Mark” [unaccepting parents of a gender diverse child] (March 14, 2022). CMDA Matters – Gender Identity from the Eyes of Parents. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu3Cixc2fZE

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Laura Haynes (March 8, 2022). CMDA Matters – SOGI Challenges & Change Allowing Therapy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWt_Tv-j0XE

CMDA / Faith in Healthcare with Mike Chupp, Jeff Barrows, and Andre Van Mol (February 23, 2022). CMDA Matters – Dr. Andre Van Mol: Transgender Tsunami. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbpnNlzisbw