by Richard Schaefer on 2014-05-07
In October, 1984, David B. Hinshaw Sr., MD, former dean of the School of Medicine, became the primary spokesperson for Loma Linda University Medical Center, conducting press conferences for the world media regarding the Baby Fae cross-species, infant heart transplant case. Within the next two years he participated in choosing Dr. Lyn Behrens for a career of distinction in leadership, and laid the groundwork for the construction of a children’s hospital and the opening of a new psychiatric hospital. He also played a critical role in developing the Proton Treatment Center, and coordinated the restructuring of the Medical Center work force into a more lean and cost effective staff for a changing health care environment.
In 1986 Dr. Hinshaw became Vice President for Medical Affairs at Loma Linda University, a position which automatically made him president of the parent corporation. He also became acting dean of the School of Medicine after Dr. Gordon Hadley left to become Medical Secretary at the General Conference. During the process of recruiting a new dean, Hinshaw established a search committee. During the process he and Dr. Norman Woods, then president of Loma Linda University, noticed that there were no women on the list of candidates. “So, we ran through the departments in our minds and Lyn Behrens [vice chair of the Department of Pediatrics] popped into view,” he reported.
Dr. Behrens had been the first pediatrics resident on the Loma Linda campus and later directed the Medical Center’s residency program. Dr. Hinshaw had been developing a position on LLUMC starting a children’s hospital. Even though hospital administrators in general take a dim view of such facilities (because they chronically lose money and need to be subsidized), Dr. Behrens not only thought the idea had merit, but also was enthusiastic about it. Not only did Hinshaw consider her to be a person with considerable vision, but also he just liked her. She was very personable.
The challenge of selecting a dean is always complicated and complex. After discussing the possibility with Dr. Woods, Hinshaw called her in and asked her, “Would you be interested in an invitation to be dean if that should come about?”
Dr. Behrens was stunned and wanted to think about it. During the next interaction she said, “Well, if people wanted me and thought it was best, I would try to do my duty. I’m not seeking it.”
Hinshaw responded, “Well, with your permission, I’m going to propose your name.” B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS, became dean of the School of Medicine in the summer of 1986. “There’s a lot to be said for that selection. She’s a very able person…. I think the Lord guided us in that decision.”
Drs. Hinshaw and Behrens developed what he considers to be an excellent working relationship. He did what he could to be helpful, at the same time trying to stay out of the way. In 1990 Dr. Behrens became President of Loma Linda University. On November 10, 1993, Gayle Wilson, First Lady of the State of California, participated in the dedication ceremony of the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. The event signaled the completion of the 250-bed facility, including its new main entrance. In 1997 Dr. Behrens became president of Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, the parent-corporation of the University and Medical Center. And in 1999 she became president of the Medical Center.
In the meantime, just after Dr. Hinshaw became vice president for Medical Affairs in January 1986, James M. Slater, MD, director of Radiation Medicine, contacted him to discuss the subject of proton therapy. Dr. Hinshaw had known of Dr. Slater’s passionate, long-time interest in proton therapy and its advantages over conventional radiation. Dr. Slater had been deeply involved with the Proton Therapy Cooperative Group, a consortium of scientists from around the world, who were planning a state-of-the-art system to deliver proton therapy. The accelerator would be built by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, a high-energy, physics research facility in Batavia, Illinois, owned by the United States Department of Energy. A $1.5 million advance would get the project started and lead to ownership of the machine.
The only problem was that the $1.5 million dollars would have to be approved by the Medical Center’s Board of Trustees, and they were not scheduled to meet until after a commitment would have to be made. “I’ve got to make a commitment,” said Dr. Slater. “I’m afraid one of these other institutions is going to do it.”
Convinced that he and Slater could sell the project to the Board, Hinshaw challenged him to proceed. “You go ahead, Jim. I know it’s a million-and-a-half dollars, but you go ahead and tell them that Loma Linda will take this on…. Step up and take a chance. Don’t miss an opportunity like this.”
Dr. Hinshaw later acknowledged, “This is why I get into trouble…. So he sweat a few drops and so did I.”
Slater committed LLUMC to the project, pending approval by the Board of Trustees. The Board approved the decision at its next meeting. Acknowledging risks, doubts, and criticism, Dr. Hinshaw summarized the success of the project as a remarkable achievement, which also demonstrated scientific leadership: “The Medical Center has the most advanced piece of radiation therapy equipment in existence, bar none. This unit has an experimental room in it, which has led to a long-term relationship with NASA. They can do things in there to test the effect of protons in space. Without this, they couldn’t do their Mars project. This has been and will be of benefit to a great many people. To date, 18,000 patients from around the world have benefited from proton therapy at the James M. Slater, MD, Proton Treatment and Research Center, the first facility of its kind in the world for more than 10 years. Their motivation was to experience less negative side-effects and greater quality of life.