Christel Brabon ’01

Christel Brabon ’01 remembers the moment her calling became clear. It was Great Commission Congress at Asbury, a week-long emphasis challenging students to share the gospel with the world. During a message from President Paul A. Rader ‘56, she knew the calling on her life was to work in medicine overseas.

After graduating from Asbury, Brabon went to medical school, completed her residency and served for three years with Samaritan’s Purse in Bangladesh. Today, she is fulfilling her call as an OB/Gyn in the United Arab Emirates, serving people from all over the world.

“We take care of our local patients, but also patients from 160 countries that are living and working in the UAE,” Brabon said. “I have patients from Yemen, Iran, Afghanistan and many other places I would never be able to go, but I have a chance to impact their lives right in the UAE. I love interacting with women here, building friendships and getting to know this culture.”

In addition to giving her the academic foundation to succeed in medical school and beyond, Brabon says Asbury gave her an opportunity to grow in her faith and solidify her sense of calling.

“I couldn’t rely on my parents or my heritage — I had to be able to trust God myself,” Brabon said. “At Asbury, I had a chance to really develop my own faith and learn how to be a Christian in the world.”