Our Medical College by W. A. Ruble, M. D.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jun 10, 1915

Our Medical College

By W. A. Ruble, M. D.

Another prosperous and encouraging year in the College of Medical Evangelists is drawing to a close. During the year there have been sixty-three students enrolled in the medical course proper, ten in the medical evangelistic course, and seventy-three in the nurses' and preparatory nurses' courses. This gives a total of one hundred and forty-six young people in training for medical missionary service.

In the recent past the annual constituency and board meeting of the college was held at Loma Linda. Brethren from all parts of the field, including Elder I. H. Evans, Elder W. T. Knox, Dr. H. W. Miller, and others from Washington, were in attendance. During this meeting some advance steps were taken in planning for the future of the college. One matter of much importance was a vote to reduce the time of the medical course from five years to four. This is made possible by a change in the medical law of California requiring 4,000 hours of work during the course instead of 4,800 as heretofore, thus bringing California into conformity with other States in the number of hours in the medical course.

Then, too, the two years of college work required for entrance to the medical course, when added to a five-year course, makes the preparation for service too long. This will also make possible a provision for giving some of the studies formerly outlined in the medical course during the two years of premedical preparation. The four-year curriculum will begin with the 1915-16 session.

Three years of the course will henceforth be conducted at Loma Linda and one year in Los Angeles. At Loma Linda many improvements were planned. Several new members were added to the faculty, the school was departmentized more fully, and negotiations were entered into whereby greater advantages will be offered at the San Bernardino County Hospital.

Bonds have just been voted for constructing a new $150,000 San Bernardino County Hospital within easy access of the college. The board of supervisors of the county hospital has appointed seven members of the faculty of the college as members of the staff of the county hospital, which gives far greater privileges in that institution which accommodates 150 patients. Now all the wards of that institution, both surgical and medical, are open to the school.

Our own private hospital received considerable attention, and plans were laid to make it more valuable as a clinical asset by increasing the patronage and improving facilities.

The Los Angeles end of the work received much study. For two years a dispensary has been conducted in a very favorable part of the city, in which nearly ten thousand treatment cases have been in attendance a year. Here the students treat patients two hours a day six days in the week throughout the year. The average daily attendance has reached thirty-three patients. A dozen of our own physicians are in attendance each week to assist the students in their dispensary work.

For a long time it has been very evident that the present dispensary is entirely inadequate in room. Action was taken to double the floor space as soon as possible. The location, too, could be improved. Furthermore, a small hospital where a few patients may be kept for surgical and other attention is a necessity. Recognizing this need a committee was appointed to draw up plans for a dispensary and a hospital to accommodate about fifty patients, to decide upon an appropriate location for the same, to obtain estimates, and to find a company who will construct such a building and lease it to the college for a reasonable rental—all this to be reported at the fall council of the General Conference at Loma Linda for consideration.

Never before has the board grappled so decidedly with the problem of making the school meet the mind of the Lord in preparing active medical missionaries as at this session. In view of the signs of the times which are so rapidly fulfilling at present it is realized more than ever before that our first and most determined efforts must be put forth in qualifying medical missionaries. All our students, whether preparing for medical practice or for nursing, must first be missionaries. Our physicians must be missionaries. Our medical evangelists must be missionaries. Our nurses must be missionaries.

It is true that as yet the college has not received recognition in all the States of this country for legal practice of its students, but to the true medical missionary, doors are open everywhere.

Preceding the board meeting, a medical council, at which many of our physicians from the west coast were present, was held at Loma Linda. This was a very profitable meeting. At this council the interests of the medical college were considered, as well as the need for medical missionary workers for all parts of the field. It was unanimously voted by this council to recommend all of our young people who are expecting to study medicine, to take their course in this college.

There is but one work for Seventh-day Adventists today, and that is the work of carrying the closing message to the world. Preparation for this work cannot be got in schools of the world any more than preparation for our peculiar work in any other line can be got there. The school at Loma Linda is established to prepare consecrated young people for service as medical missionaries. Incidentally it is expected that the school shall give a thorough training in medical lines that will enable its graduates to meet any legal requirements; but this is of secondary importance—incidental to the great object of securing a fitting for service in preparing people for the coming of Christ.

Men and women are needed at Loma Linda who have a firm faith in God, in his Word, and in his instruction regarding the education they should receive for service, men and women who, having by faith stood true to principles of divine teaching in securing their education, will go out and by faith be true to God in service.

W. A. RUBLE, M. D.