Finding an atheist physician

[MountainLaurel]

Does anyone know if there are any organizations for atheist/secular physicians, similar to the Christian Medical Association? I'm in need of a new doctor (damned relocating) and found one who looked interesting but sends her kid to a school that considers a trip to D.C. for the March for Life to be a fun field trip. Do you know of any sources that might provide this sort of info?

[qb]

1. This sounds like a tall order...

There are undoubtedly many atheist physicians, but being outspoken about it may cause them to lose business. Perhaps you can find someone you're comfortable with through a local reproductive rights organization.

[MountainLaurel]

2. I might try that

Although a lot of organizations are hesitant (and rightly so) to give out physician names because of the possibility of some whackjob shooting them.

I've often wished that doctor rolls were something like online dating services: You could find out all the little things about them that might be relevant, whether it be their feelings on premarital sex, the student organizations they belonged to in med school, their medical role models, etc.

[PassingFair]

3. I'd START with your local atheist/agnostic group.

Then call the local UU Church.

[goddess40]

5. I was going to make the same suggestion

so I'll just second yours instead.

I joined the local UU and was thrilled to find that many of the community leaders that I enjoy belonged. Might be worth checking out for other business connections. Our church is always open to people coming and checking us out and we have coffee, tea and treats after service and a pot luck on the first Sunday.

[FM Arouet666]

4. Good luck with that

I am an atheist physician and can't think of any resource that would help patients identify other atheists. I am in the closet with only a few VERY close friends/colleagues who know my views on religion. And I live in a very blue town in a very blue state. My senior partners are all christian, the chief of medicine and chief of surgery are fundamentalist christians and I work at a catholic hospital.

But there is hope. While you may not find atheist physicians, the profession is not as conservative as it once was when the AMA was all powerful and greed was god. Progressive professionals tend to group together in areas that are progressive, at least that has been my experience. Living in a blue state/town I have many more progressive colleagues than when I lived in a very red midwest state. If you live in red america you will have a tough time.

Try to be subtle in asking questions, where did they train, BYU = no good, NYU = may be good. Where are they from, Wasilla = no good, San Francisco = may be good. McCain stickers in the doctors parking outside their office = frown. Most docs, including myself, would avoid a patient's direct inquisition so just coming out and asking is probably not going to work. You can be tricky about it too, "You know doc, didn't I see you at my church the other day?" A polite, no couldn't be me, I have been very busy and I don't get to church often." Bingo, you might have an atheist. (I used that line the other day. :evilgrin: )

On edit, I see that you live in New Orleans, pretty red, but still a big city and you have more options in cities. If your looking for an OBGYN go to planned parenthood and ask who they recommend. If you need another specialty, you could network from the OBGYN. Liberal docs know other liberal docs. Reproductive rights oriented clinics are probably the best places to start, most if not all would be at least progressive.