Credentials: Counting it All Loss

In my previous post, we covered Dr. Andrew Stenhouse's experiences practicing medicine at a VA Hospital and in a hospice in the United States. Now in this segment, we'll cover his extensive credentials.

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Over fifty-five years of medical practice spanning multiple continents, islands, and healthcare systems—from Oceania and Asia to Europe, North America, and Hawaii—Andrew’s career was marked by extraordinary professional achievement. He earned a Bachelor of Medical Science (BSc), a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.), and a Postgraduate Doctorate of Medicine (MD) from New Zealand. He was awarded the Wellcome Research Fellowship and earned an extensive roster of prestigious board certifications and fellowships, including as a Member and Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (MRACP, FRACP), Member of the Royal College of Physicians in London (MRCP London), Fellow of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), and Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP). Furthermore, his academic contributions included sole- and co-authored articles published across seven different medical journals, including two in The British Medical Journal that garnered significant professional citations.

Yet, when looking back on a lifetime of credentials, degrees, and scholarly honors, Andrew viewed them much like the apostle Paul. As Paul wrote in Philippians 3:7–11:

"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him..."

For Andrew, that sentiment was not merely theological poetry; it became a literal reality. In 2014, a stroke swept away the accumulated medical knowledge of a lifetime from his memory bank. For a brief time, even his own identity was obscured, though that returned. He could no longer step into an office and practice medicine. The Lord made it clear that his clinical career was finished, but that his spiritual ministry to people was far from over.

While the natural medical knowledge vanished, the things of the heart and Spirit remained untouched. The supernatural gifts of healing, wisdom, prophecy, and discernment—along with the deep, foundational fruit of the Spirit—stayed vibrant within him. As Andrew often reflected, everything comes from the Lord, and everything belongs to Him. The letters and titles accumulated after a name will never cross the threshold of eternity.

Reflecting on a lifetime of walking with the Lord, Andrew always deflected any urge toward human pride. He often worried that sharing his accomplishments might seem like he was boasting, deeply wanting to ensure that no one thought more highly of him than what they saw in the Lord's work. His greatest concern was simply to remain obedient, trusting the Father to handle the details, whether in a peaceful clinic or a busy mission field. As it was often reflected in his conversations, any true good seen in his life was simply Christ at work, while his own mistakes remained his alone.

In the end, all those impressive acronyms—MD, M.B.B.S., BSc, MRACP, FRACP, MRCP(UK), LSHTM, FACP—take up lines on a page, but they pale in comparison to what matters eternally. As often discussed regarding his life and ministry, the only title that truly counts is the quiet reality described in Acts 4:13 regarding Peter and John: being ordinary people who had simply been with Jesus (or "BWJ," as it came to be affectionately summarized).

His ultimate hope in sharing his life story was simple: that anyone reading it might come to know Christ personally. As he frequently reminded those around him, every person is individually created by the Heavenly Father—down to the very hairs on their head being numbered—and loved so deeply that Christ was sent to the cross in our place. To find true life, a person simply needs to lay down their own ways, open the door of their heart, and give themselves fully to the Lord Jesus.

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Dr. Andrew C. Stenhouse's credentials (by the grace of God) listed below:

Academic degrees earned

Bachelor of Medical Science (BSc)

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.: an international medical degree equivalent to an M.D. in the U.S. system, also abbreviated as M.B.) from New Zealand

Post Graduate Doctorate of Medicine from New Zealand (MD)

Fellowship awarded 

Wellcome Research Fellowship

Post Graduate Awards

Member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (MRACP)

Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP)

Member of Royal College of Physicians in London (MRCP London)

Fellow of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (FLSHTM)

Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP)

Board certifications

Australasia: Member of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (MRACP)

England: Member of Royal College of Physicians in London (MRCP London)

Medical Licensure 

Texas State Medical License 1973-2015

Years in practice 

55 years in the field of Family Practice and Internal Medicine, including 30 years in private practice.

Continents and islands served on 

Oceania, Asia, Europe, North America, and Hawaii

Languages

French (most proficient), German (spoken), Latin (understood), Rarotongan, Arabic (a little), Hebrew (began learning), and Fijian.

Published Works

Several medical articles that he either co-authored or solely authored were published in seven different medical journals, including two of his own articles published by the British Medical Journal. (see full list at Medical Articles Published). Some of these articles have received many citations by other authors.

Ministries Served

Doulos Missions International (DMI) President & Chairman of the Board 2007-2015

Current DMI Board Member (2021)

Dr. Andrew C. Stenhouse, MD, M.B.B.S., BSc, MRACP, FRACP, MRCP(UK), LSHTM, FACP.

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Author's note: Our dear brother Andrew transitioned to his heavenly home in glory on September 15th, 2021 at the age of 87. You can read more about that amazing experience in my article called Homegoing.

See the Home page of this blog for more podcasts on the life of Dr. Stenhouse. You may access my complete blog directory at Writing for the Master. Now I'd like to ask a very important question.

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe.

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.