College of Medical Evangelists by W. A. Ruble, M. D., President

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 7, 1914

College of Medical Evangelists

By W. A. Ruble, M. D., President

IN entering upon this year's work the College of Medical Evangelists is, so to speak, on the "home run." The college is thus nearing the goal in its development. Five years is the time allowed for the course; and since the beginning of this year, five classes have been in attendance. The first medical class will be graduated June 14, 1914.

Enrollment

Considering the difficulties incident to the establishment of the college, the attendance has remained remarkably good. Few students have withdrawn from the school for other than financial reasons. Seventy-five students are enrolled this year in the medical course, distributed geographically as follows:—

Arizona ....... 2 Ohio ......... 1 California ....18 Oklahoma ..... 2 Colorado ...... 1 Oregon ....... 1 Dist. of Col... 1 Tennessee .... 1 Florida ....... 1 Texas ........ 7 Indiana ....... 3 Washington ... 4 Illinois ...... 1 Wisconsin .... 1 Iowa .......... 1 Wyoming ...... 1 Kansas ........ 1 Africa ....... 2 Michigan ...... 3 Australia .... 1 Minnesota ..... 2 Canada ....... 5 Montana ....... 1 Hawaii ....... 1 Nebraska ...... 5 Japan ........ 1 New Jersey .... 1 Switzerland .. 1 New Mexico .... 3 West Indies .. 1 New York ...... 1 Total ....... 75

Two students have been received from other schools for the purpose of continuing medical studies at Loma Linda. Two physicians who have been in practice heretofore have pursued a postgraduate course in the school during a part of this year.

Discipline

The spirit of cooperation in the school during the year has been the best that has existed since the medical school was started. Very little discipline has been

called for in any way. The students are generally taking a deep interest in bringing the school up to the high standard it should occupy. There has also been greater interest taken on the part of the students in improving the grounds and buildings than heretofore. The young men especially have given themselves heartily to this work, and have donated their services in improving the premises in many ways.

Spiritual Condition

The spiritual condition in the school has been encouraging throughout the year. The Sabbath school especially has been very interesting and helpful, and the attendance has grown until at the present time the enrollment is 309. The young people have done creditable work in their young people's society, and the attendance has also been fairly good.

Plan Loma Linda Hospital, College of Medical Evangelists, Loma Linda, Cal.

The students have largely engaged in various missionary enterprises conducted by the institution. A large proportion of the students took part in the Harvest Ingathering campaign, $427.05 being collected in that effort. Thirteen hundred copies of the Temperance Instructor were distributed in the campaign for this periodical, and much good work was done.

Some idea of the way in which the students and the church are contributing to the work is shown by the following table:—

Midsummer Offering ..... $ 122.67 Harvest Ingathering ..... 427.05 Annual Offering ......... 657.36 Sabbath school offering . 1,179.35 Other offerings ......... 537.32 Total ................. $ 2,923.75

All this has gone to the Mission Board. The donations for the past quarter, January to March, were $582.08, or a per capita on the average attendance of nineteen cents a member a week. In addition to this the tithe of the workers for the past year has been $11,747.61. For the last six months of 1913 the institution exceeded the twenty cents a week per capita for missions. Taking into consideration the fact that such a large proportion of our membership is composed of students, this seems to us an excellent showing.

Hospital

With the facilities now possessed by the college, it is possible to provide thorough instruction for our students throughout a complete medical course. The addition of the new hospital, which was opened in December, has been a most important acquisition to our college. From a temporal standpoint, the matter of therapeutics is the important reason for conducting a medical course. This new hospital makes it possible for our students to have under their own supervision different diseases which they may treat according to the system of physiological therapeutics which has been accepted by this denomination.

The attendance in the hospital has ranged from fifteen to twenty patients. No great effort has been made to fill the hospital with clinical patients, on account of the desirability of conducting this part of our institution on as nearly a self-supporting basis as is possible. It has been demonstrated that the hospital can be nearly, if not quite, self-supporting, by choosing carefully the cases accepted. It is highly desirable, however, that several beds be endowed by our people, which will make it possible to receive worthy cases that will be of great teaching value to the students.

Outlook

The prospects for the school are very encouraging in spite of the difficulties which we are facing. The advance in requirements for entrance to the medical course will doubtless affect the number of students entering the college this year and the year following. Beginning with the next school session, one year of college work will be required. Beginning with the school year of 1915, two years of college work will be required for entrance. Correspondence thus far indicates that there will be some difficulty in meeting these requirements on the part of many applicants; consequently, some students will doubtless be unable to enter who would otherwise do so. For those desiring to enter the medical school this fall who have one or two subjects of preparatory work to make up, summer schools will be held at some of our colleges or here at Loma Linda. Students who are planning to enter this fall, or who have some subjects that they wish to make up during the summer, should correspond with the college at once and arrange for the same.

W. A. RUBLE, M. D., President.