For many years, Dr. John M. Perkins poured his life into raising up the next generation of leaders who would pursue justice, embody reconciliation, and proclaim the hope of Christ in their communities. Dr. Perkins passed from this life into the presence of the Lord on March 13, 2026, surrounded by the love of family and the prayers of many whose lives were touched by his faith, courage, and witness. On this special edition of Faith in Healthcare, Dr. Mike Chupp and Dr. Omari Hodge look back on the life of Dr. Perkins, examine his legacy, and recount their experiences when they participated in a Perkins Justice Pilgrimage tour.

Dr. Rosalind (“Roz”) Picard joins host Dr. Mike Chupp for a conversation about the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and the deeper human questions it raises. A pioneer in AI and founder of MIT’s Affective Computing Research Group, Dr. Picard shares insights on how emerging technologies are shaping clinical practice, from diagnostics and decision support to documentation and patient care, while also highlighting the ethical risks of bias, overreliance, and misplaced trust in machines. Drawing from her own journey of faith, including her remarkable birth story, she reflects on why human wisdom, compassion, and moral responsibility remain essential in medicine. Together, they explore how Christian healthcare professionals can engage these rapidly advancing technologies and help guide the future of ethical medicine.

Dr. Richard Zimmerman joins Dr. Mike Chupp and regular co-host Dr. Brick Lantz for a conversation on vaccines, public trust, and the role of Christian healthcare professionals in a post-COVID world. Drawing on his experience in vaccine research, clinical practice, and national policy, Dr. Zimmerman shares lessons from the pandemic, addresses concerns such as myocarditis and vaccine hesitancy, and discusses where vaccine science and technologies like mRNA may be heading. Together, they discuss how clinicians can engage these questions with scientific integrity and respect for conscience while continuing to care well for their patients and communities.