A History of the Physicians' Discipleship Retreat

In the mid-1960’s a young med student in Philadelphia took a leave of absence from school and through God’s kind provision, moved into the home of Navigator representatives, Skip and Buzzie Gray. This time spent with the Grays changed Dave Simon’s life and began a life-long and deep friendship with one another. Eventually both relocated to the Front Range of Colorado, Dave for his pediatric residency and fellowship training in Denver, and Skip & Buzzie to work at the Navigator Headquarters at Glen Eyrie in Colorado Springs.

Upon reconnecting together in Colorado and inviting other medical colleagues and spouses into Bible studies, mini-retreats and skiing together, their relationship continued to grow. When Skip became Director of the Navigator Conference Center at Glen Eyrie, a yearly, informal gathering of these docs & spouses started here at the Glen.

The “Physicians’ Discipleship Retreat” (or “PDR”) was born in 1979 and slowly took shape and grew over the years. Whereas Skip and Buzzie were not always the main speakers, they were always close by while teaching, modeling and praying for the many who attended. Their heart for Jesus while discipling and loving physicians and spouses was instrumental and even crucial to so many.  We learned and grew as Christ-followers who were also physicians and physician-couples.

Over those many decades since, deep relationships were birthed and forged in the midst of life and those times at the Glen. A small group of those physician-couples who were there in the early days and mentored by Skip and Buzzie assumed leadership of the “PDR” — for the purpose of glorifying God and making disciples (see the PDR Mission Statement below*).

The February 2020 retreat was the 41st consecutive retreat since those early days. Then….. the COVID-19 pandemic came upon us and a two-year pause was taken for 2021 and 2022. The Physicians’ Discipleship Retreat re-booted in February 2023 and met again this past February 29-March 3, 2024. All who attended were most grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to gather again.

Sadly for Buzzie and the rest of his friends (but wonderful for him), Skip went home to be with his Maker and Savior November 13, 2021 — and we miss him. By grace and even with the loss of her Skip, Buzzie continues to be a wonderful blessing for many, for which we are grateful.

We are now looking foward to what the Lord would have for us in 2025 as we seek to gather again next March.