p. 16 | Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 4, 1910

Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists

By A. G. Daniells

THE question of establishing a denominational medical college has received more or less thought and discussion among us for a number of years. Such a school has been greatly desired by our young people wishing to secure a medical education. The parents of these young people have had the same desire, and many of our medical men and women have felt that we should establish a medical school that could give our young people the advantages they need in preparing for the medical work we aim to do.

Such a school would no doubt have been established before this had it not been for the great expense and the many difficulties that such an undertaking involves. Not knowing how to surmount these, we have hesitated to launch the enterprise.

But in view of counsel given to those in charge of the Loma Linda Sanitarium, the brethren on the Pacific Coast took the matter up last December in the Pacific Union Conference, and passed resolutions looking to the establishment of a medical college in connection with the Loma Linda Sanitarium. These resolutions led to the appointment of a large committee to take this enterprise in hand. The committee met at Loma Linda the sixth of last May. After giving the question in all its phases the best study of which they were capable, the members of this committee decided that, notwithstanding the greatness of the undertaking, there could not consistently be any further delay in establishing a good medical school.

When the committee met at Loma Linda, and gave the problem earnest, prayerful study, light and courage came to them. Some of the difficulties that had stood in the way were removed, and the undertaking began to seem more possible than it had before. It was found that the Loma Linda Sanitarium plant offered many advantages for the work of the new school.

When we began our study of the question, it was understood that a medical school would be added to the sanitarium; but it became evident that the better plan was to turn the sanitarium plant into a medical school. This would place the buildings, land, orchard, dairy, food factory, and the entire equipment in the hands of the medical college trustees, to be used to the advantage of the college. This was agreed to by the trustees of the sanitarium, and in a few days the transfer was made in due legal form, thus starting the school with more than a hundred thousand dollars’ worth of property.

This action was not intended to terminate the existence of the Loma Linda Sanitarium, but this institution will continue as a part of the college plant. It has already established an excellent record as a sanitarium, and has built up a large patronage which it should not only hold but enlarge. This sanitarium is well managed and is doing a good work. It will continue to be known as the Loma Linda Sanitarium, and will be conducted as heretofore, but will be under the ownership and management of the medical college board.

To meet the requirements of the medical students, it will be necessary to build a hospital and carry on hospital work. This has been recommended by the board of trustees, and the funds required to erect and equip the building are now being solicited. It will also be necessary to build a dormitory for the medical students.

It will be the aim of the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists to furnish three classes of workers. One class will be regular physicians, who can meet the requirements of medical boards, and take charge of our sanitariums. It will not be the aim of the college to graduate a very large number of physicians each year. It is thought that only ten or fifteen will complete this course annually.

There is great demand for another class of medical workers,—those who will go to foreign mission fields as medical missionary evangelists. The work of this class will be very different from that of the physician working on strictly professional lines in the home land. It is hoped that each year a large number of this class will go out to the great fields where their services are sorely needed.

A third class who will receive training at Loma Linda will be the regular nurses. There is great demand for Christian missionary nurses in the home land and in foreign fields. There is scarcely any limit to the helpful service such nurses can render.

It should be understood by all our people that the one great aim of this medical college will be to educate and train our young people to render the most efficient service possible in carrying forward the work of the third angel’s message. It is not the purpose of this school to turn out merely professional physicians and nurses to carry on private work. Every one who goes from that school is to be a medical evangelist.

This undertaking is so great that it must have the earnest prayers, and the hearty, continuous co-operation of all our people. A. G. DANIELLS.