Interview with Dr. Angela Moore
Angela Moore, M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist who seeks to provide efficient but quality medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology service to patients.
She graduated from Baylor Medical School in Houston in 1992. Then she completed an internship in Internal Medicine at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB) in 1993 and a residency in Dermatology at UTMB in 1996. She completed her formal education with a fellowship in Dermatopathology at UTMB in 1997. She began her professional career as Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pathology at UTMB in 1997.
Since 1998, she has been active in teaching and research at University of Texas Southwestern at Dallas (UTSW) as Clinical Assistant Professor in Dermatology and treating patients in Arlington. Currently, her research at UTSW is focusing on finding molecular predictors of metastasis and survival in melanomas.
1. When I went to an appointment at your practice, I could not help but notice Christ everywhere I looked! From your décor to your staff, Christ was evident. Can you tell me a little about when and how you decided to merge your skills as a doctor with Christ’s kingdom work?
I used to be in academic medicine (that is, I worked in a university hospital). I feel that God led me to start a dermatology practice to treat the “whole” patient. When I started my practice in 2000, I asked my pastor, Ira Orr, to dedicate my clinic to the Lord. I truly feel that the Holy Spirit leads me often in treating patients and guides me medically and surgically to treat patients beyond my own human capabilities. Similarly, I attempt not to ignore any promptings to pray with someone if I feel the “nudge.”
2. Time is often stated to be a huge barrier for clinicians praying with their patients or having spiritual conversations with them. Can you share how you overcame the barrier and how you implemented prayer into your patient care?
I will pray with any patient that needs prayer since I made this commitment even before I started my dermatology practice. I have realized that the enemy often amplifies time obstacles but my commitment is to care for each patient just like I would want a family member to be treated. While an occasional surgical complication may cause delays, a spiritual complexity requiring prayer may occasionally cause me to run behind as well. I feel that my other patients understand this, and since we use a team approach at our office, I feel that our patients also understand that they can always choose to see another provider that day if I am running behind. Similarly, if they need a more complex surgical excision by me or prayer from me, any patient is also welcome to switch to my schedule on a given day though they may have a little wait for me to work that patient into my schedule.
3. As we all know and hear, “time is money,”, especially for the private practice doctor. Have you found praying or other spiritual practices to affect your bottom line?
I have the occasional patient who does not want to come to a Christian dermatologist. Since I realize that not every patient shares my worldview, I understand this. My philosophy is that I make my personal convictions clear. Just as I offer my full dermatology expertise to treat a patient physically, I also keep my spiritual eyes and ears open to listen to God’s leading. I have had a few patients who have left my practice after clearly stating that they wish to change offices since they don’t agree that my faith should impact their schedule and that I am not ‘business-minded” enough to run a “good” business practice. However, it seems that the patients who do value this spiritual element are especially loyal and kind in referring new patients. While an exact dollar amount of impact is impossible to measure, I firmly believe that honesty and obedience offers a much greater eternal reward.
4. How has working for Christ in this way changed your relationship with him?
See my answer to #1. I feel that Christ should be in the center of all that we do, in whatever profession or activity or personal time. Our work should not be a separate sphere from our life or our faith. I am more confident and comfortable inviting patients to pray now than I was when I first opened my practice. Perhaps this shows how my own faith has grown.
5. For the doctor that has a burden to begin engaging with their patients in this way, what encouragement would you give them?
Take baby steps. Listen for His leading and ask God to open your eyes and ears to 1 person that needs prayer that day and how you can help. One thing that is reassuring to me is that God answers prayers daily through His agents. The question is whether you or I can receive the blessing by being obedient and part of that process.
You observed that there are references to faith planted throughout the office. Sometimes these “faith flags” prompt questions that make it much easier to engage in a conversation. Conversely, there is a measure of accountability by having other providers and staff share my perspective; sometimes, that affords an extra nudge to be bold in my faith, even if I am rushed or too task-oriented.
Author’s Note: Dr. Moore is a new acquaintance of mine. I was impressed by the Lord to reach out to her after visiting her practice. I was immediately struck by the Christian testimony she portrayed through her staff, her decor, the music playing, and most obviously by her. At the time of our introduction, I had been mulling over the vast difference between primary care versus acute care settings and how God works in both. All of the research I have conducted shows that a considerable barrier for clinicians engaging their patients’ spirituality is a perceived lack of time. Yet, I found myself in a doctor’s office whose practiced rhythms proved that Christ could shine through, no matter the time constraints.
That day the Lord showed to me, through Dr. Moore, that not only is it possible to have Christ-oriented rhythms in a primary care practice but that this way of working for Christ is life-giving and straightforward. Working for Jesus doesn’t always have to be elaborate. As Dr. Moore demonstrates, practical, easy rhythms for Christ can change an average practice to one of Kingdom work.
I am so grateful to have met Dr. Moore and been blessed to bear witness to a faithful worker for Christ.