I’d always known that certain Christians were pioneers in their field of medicine – but I was unaware of the extent to which they were until now. Mention the phrase, ‘Bell’s palsy’, and the budding clinicians among us would be able to say instantly that it’s a form of VII nerve palsy causing facial paralysis. But just who is this Bell?

Sir Charles Bell was an eminent neuroanatomist around the turn of the 19th century. A son of a family of ministers, he significantly advanced understanding in his field. He set up his own medical school at the Middlesex hospital and was one of the UK’s foremost surgeons. His caring side was evident: after the battle of Waterloo, he dropped everything and sailed for France to care for wounded soldiers. In the same vein,

Doctors who followed Christ provides brief snapshots of 32 doctors or those in closely allied professions, and highlights the most distinctive features of each individual. I was equally fascinated to read about the inventor of the stethoscope, leaders in the field of anaesthetics, a navy surgeon, the first woman to set up a Christian hospital, and of course, the physician who wrote two books of the Bible, Luke. This was a man who was unfailingly at Paul’s side through all his tribulations, and had a deep concern for evidence and truth – witness the beginning of his gospel, Luke 1:1-4.

I had two particular reservations. Firstly, whilst most of the doctors are orthodox, some were quite doctrinally diverse (eg various forms of Quakers), and I’m not sure I would have included them myself, despite their impressive records of caring. Secondly, I was frustrated at the lack of depth to which the characters were covered; a better approach might have been to write on fewer doctors and integrate the biographies more. However, a shallow, broad book does have its merits in introducing you to the person such that you can read in more detail using other sources.

It’s a very worthwhile topic – not least because our natural instincts as people are to forge ahead without looking back – and in the process forgetting the heritage that has been painstakingly bought through hard work under the lordship of Jesus. This is a unique title and I would recommend it to you, even if I might suggest some changes for the second edition.

Reviewed by:
Gavin Ling
Nucleus editor