Faith Prescriptions: Spreading the Gospel Through Actions and Service
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” —John 13:35
Inspired by the University’s mission and Christian commitments, Baylor’s Department of Physical Therapy in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences includes “Faith” as one of its core values. This emphasis shines through in many ways, but one particularly unique outcome is an optional course offering called Faith Prescriptions.
Faith Prescriptions utilizes a video-based curriculum, created by the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA), that shares the expertise of healthcare professionals who have chosen to blend faith and medicine. Casey Unverzagt, DPT, DSc, Clinical Associate Professor and Academic Coordinator of the Orthopedic Residency Program, initiated this opportunity for Baylor’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students. Throughout the course, they engage in class modules such as The Case for Practicing Medicine Christianly, Taking a Spiritual History, Spiritual Interventions, and Praying With and For Our Patients. He hopes the opportunity will help the Department’s Christian students to grow in their faith and embody the gospel in their practice.
“Some faculty members and I went through Faith Prescriptions several years ago. As soon as I finished it, I knew I had to share it with students,” Unverzagt said. “I found one of the most impactful statements in the course to be from a physician who notes, ‘I am not a physician who happens to be a Christian, I am a Christian who happens to be a physician.’ And, for me, my identity as a believer does not come secondary to my professional identity.”
For some patients, their own religious beliefs may influence medical decisions and play an important role in their overall wellbeing. Understanding the importance of a holistic approach to healthcare, DPT student Ryan Neitsch (2025 cohort) was excited to attend the course discussions.
“I thought it would be an incredible opportunity to learn how to implement faith into practice when I’m in the clinic working with patients,” Neitsch said. “It also helped me grow deeper in my own faith.”
While Baylor’s Department of Physical Therapy is committed to fostering Christian values, students in the program represent a diversity of beliefs, faiths, and spiritualities. Therefore, Faith Prescriptions is offered as eight “completely optional and no-stress” sessions on Zoom during the Fall semester—open to any cohort members who would like to join. Each session starts with a 15-minute video, and afterward, Baylor DPT faculty, staff, alumni, and students engage in thoughtful discussion.
“The fellowship with students and alumni has been very uplifting,” Germaine Ferreira, PT, DPT, MSPT, BHMS, Clinical Associate Professor, said. “The discussions about sharing the joys and challenges as we follow our professional calling and the spiritual calling to share Christ’s love with others has been very inspiring.”
One of the outcomes of Faith Prescriptions for Baylor DPT students is simply the assurance that integrating faith and medicine within their practice is indeed possible. For many, pursuing a career in healthcare is a response to a calling to serve others. The integration of faith and practice can take many forms—whether that’s creating a safe space for patients to bring up their own faith or just treating an individual with compassionate care.
“Personally, I typically pray before I enter a patient’s room asking the Lord to use me to touch the patient’s physical and emotional need with love and compassion. Being able to share this in Faith Prescriptions encourages our students to seek the Lord to use them for His glory,” Ferreira shared. “My hope is that students walk away from our discussions to understand the role we play in impacting the lives of our patients—not just in the realm of physical therapy but also spreading the gospel message through our actions and service.”