The Christian Medical & Dental Associations is a national organization of 16,000 Christian physicians, dentists, healthcare professionals and students whose purpose is to change hearts in healthcare. Founded in 1931 by a couple of Northwestern medical students, today there are over 80 ministries. These ministries range from international missions and teaching programs to continuing medical education for doctors and dentists, to a placement service for physicians. CMDA has student chapters on 326 medical and dental school campuses, and also includes a Washington Bureau to facilitate relationships between the membership and government and policy issues. CMDA executive staff and members speak out in the media and in Congress regarding policy issues like abortion, stem cell research and physician-assisted suicide.