Dr. Michael Carmichael
October 4, 2022 (Marion, IN) - Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) formally inducted Dr. Michael Carmichael, a renowned thoracic surgeon, into the IWU Society of World Changers on September 30 during a special convocation on the IWU Marion campus. The event included music from the IWU Chorale and Wind Ensemble, the presentation of a life-size bust of Dr. Carmichael, and a speech by the honoree. IWU also honored him with a Presidential Citation.
“Our mission at Indiana Wesleyan University is to be a Christ-centered academic community committed to changing the world by developing students in character, scholarship, and leadership,” said Dr. Jon Kulaga, president of IWU. “Each year, we search for individuals that have dedicated their lives to changing the world for the good while demonstrating living out Christlikeness through their personal and professional works. Dr. Carmichael has worked in China for over 20 years. He has leveraged his cardiovascular skills to save thousands and built relationships that have allowed him to share the love of Jesus with the Chinese people."
The convocation is an annual highlight for IWU’s student body of nearly 3,000. While on campus, Dr. Carmichael will join senior pre-med students and select faculty for breakfast and spend time in classrooms with students discussing his work. Carmichael will also be honored during a special IWU community luncheon.
Dr. Carmichael has a heart for missions. His life verse is 1 Corinthians 15:58, which reads: “Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” When on faculty at the University of the Florida School of Medicine, Dr. Carmichael was asked to Co-Chair an International Cardiovascular Surgery Conference in Beijing, China. He stated, “I learned that the number one cause of death of Chinese males was coronary artery disease and heart attacks. However, coronary artery bypass surgery (one of the most common operations performed in the US) was unavailable in China. In fact, open heart surgery generally has a 50% mortality in China. At that time, I felt called by the Lord to be involved in using heart surgery as an avenue to share the love of Jesus with the Chinese people.” Since 1992, Dr. Carmichael and his wife have traveled to China to practice “lifestyle evangelism.” In addition to their mission works overseas, they also welcome two teams of Chinese doctors, nurses, and administrators to come and live in their home annually. This allowed the Chinese opportunity to not only learn “western medicine” in the US but for Carmichael’s six children to be involved in the mission effort.
In 2019, Dr. Carmichael received the Chinese Government Friendship Award, the highest honor the Chinese government gives to foreign experts. Dr. Carmichael is also an honored member of America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals and an honorary citizen of Nanjing, China. He has received numerous awards, including America’s Best Physicians, the Compassionate Doctor Award, and the Patient’s Choice Award. Dr. Carmichael joins past inductees, including Pat Gelsinger, Tamika Catchings, Ernie Johnson Jr., Dr. Benjamin Carson, Tony Dungy, and many more.