The Bahá’í Medical Association of Canada

The Bahá’í Medical Association of Canada was founded in 1992 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’í's of Canada. All Bahá’í medical physicians, residents, and students residing in Canada are automatically members of BMAC. Its executive committee is appointed by the National Spiritual Assembly of Canada. The Association's initial mandate was later incorporated into a Mission Statement. Since 1992, a diverse and talented group of physicians has organized various projects within their local communities and supported a wide variety of charitable initiatives around the world. Conferences are organized annually to promote the work of the Association.

The Mission Statement of the Bahá’í Medical Association of Canada Inspired by a vision of the oneness of the human family, recognizing the necessity of balance between our physical and spiritual natures in achieving optimum health and humbly aware of our privileged opportunity as members of the medical profession, we are committed to working with our fellow physicians to spiritualize the practice of medicine.

We are guided by the writings of Bahá'u'lláh, which reaffirm the essential wisdom of all scripture since the dawn of history. Our nature is seen as essentially noble with unlimited capacity for compassion, selflessness, and sacrifice. We see the next stage of development of humanity as that of globalization. "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens" is a clarion call to recognize the interdependence between this wonderful planet and its inhabitants. Thus we support the broadest definition of health, which includes the fulfillment of our potential in all spheres from the physical to the spiritual.

We recognize that the underpinnings to such a definition of health include peace, justice, a stable ecosystem, a sustainable development and equity in access to resources that would promote health. It is critical that we eliminate prejudice based on the many barriers we have erected, that we recognize the essential equality between men and women, the harmony between the advance of scientific knowledge and the moderating influence of morality as encapsulated in one's faith.

Bahá'u'lláh taught that healing is attained through both physical means, based on scientific methods, and spiritual means of prayer and turning to God for assistance. We hope to work with our fellow physicians in a spirit of loving friendship and unity, with frank and loving consultation where opinions are offered with detachment and respect and decisions emerge through the contributions of all. This process will have as its goal the creation of trust and unity. The fruit of consultation will lead to consensus; where this is lacking, the wish of the majority will prevail. Solutions, thus envisioned, will be acted upon in a spirit of unity so that their appropriateness will be determined all the sooner.

We will achieve our mission by endeavouring to follow and share our philosophy in the pursuit of the following objectives:

To develop programs of service, education, and research based on a broad definition of health in Canada and internationally.
To collaborate with fellow health care professionals, individually and as an organization, in the development and implementation of such activities.
To advocate for and advance solutions to the diseases of prejudice, violence, and materialism.
To explore the ethical framework of medical practice.

For more information on the Bahá’í Medical Association of Canada, please visit www.bahaimedicalassociation.ca.