Heritage Snapshot: Part 105

The night of the vote to consolidate the School of Medicine in Loma Linda, Dean David B. Hinshaw Sr., MD, and Board Chair Maynard V. Campbell, met with the Los Angeles medical staff to explain what had happened. Some asked, “Is there something we can do to reverse this? The answer was, “No.” “Well, why not?” Eventually, Hinshaw and Campbell just ended the meeting. Why was Loma Linda chosen? Dr. Hinshaw summarizes the reasons: “The institution possessed sufficient real estate on the Loma Linda site to provide for long-term development. In addition, it was felt that this course of action would be much more acceptable to the sponsoring church body at large. It would also be more consistent with the perceived destiny of Loma Linda as it was originally envisioned at the time the institution was founded.” On October 2, 1962, Dr. Hinshaw sent a letter to the School of Medicine faculty, outlining his awareness and the Board’s acknowledgment of their concerns regarding Los Angeles facilities. He said in part: “The University is deeply appreciative of the efforts of all its faculty and wants to assure them of the continued need for their loyal services.” Communicating through the official church publication, General Conference President Reuben R. Figuhr reported his perspective on these historical developments: “It goes without saying that boards rarely take actions that please everyone. The action of a year ago [to consolidate in Los Angeles] did not please all. It is too much to expect that the present one will. But boards must act upon the best information available. It happens sometimes that after a board has taken an action, conditions change and more facts are brought to light. When this happens, a wise board reconsiders. It would be irrational to do otherwise. A year ago certain facts and information were not available that have come to light since. This is what led the board of the Loma Linda University to reconsider its action of a year ago…. “It is the earnest hope that now at last, after many years of fervent discussion and long hours of study, the question of the location of the four years of medical training has been settled. Efforts to move in other directions appear to have proved impractical. Indications are that this seems to be the way the Lord wants us to move. Let us all face with faith and courage the uncertainties, the risks, and the problems, confident that God is with us. In early November, with a certain amount of anxiety, Dr. Hinshaw called his first faculty meeting. Because it included more than the medical staff, the Thomason Amphitheater at the White Memorial Hospital was packed. Following prayer and a few preliminary statements, a preeminent, influential, senior surgeon, asked for the floor and got it. “I want to make a motion,” he stated, “that this body take an action to send a letter from the faculty to the accrediting council for medical schools recommending that they put the school on immediate probation until the Board meets and rescinds this ridiculous action.” Recalling the event years later, Dr. Hinshaw stated, “Well, that put a little spice in the evening to get started. I was being tested.” The Board was gone, and there wasn’t a sympathetic eye in the audience except for a few people who had slipped in from Loma Linda. The motion was met with cheers, practically a standing ovation. In response, Hinshaw said, “…with all due respect, your motion is out of order and unacceptable, number one. Number two, this meeting is adjourned. I will call another faculty meeting when I see fit.” He then left, and didn’t call another faculty meeting for two years. Dr. Hinshaw did what he perceived had to be done. “So, you see where my reputation came of being a tough, miserable so-and-so, who won’t listen to anybody, just as mean as sin and tough as nails and iron. But that became useful to me. I had to be that for a while. I did realize that there was no way I could get anything done by constructing some kind of committee. I couldn’t get a committee together on any subject that would support what had to be done. Everybody thought this was the end of the School. Obviously, I had lost my mind or been seduced or something.” On November 27, 1962, Dr. Hinshaw delivered a progress report to the Board on the development of long-range plans and maintaining the status quo so that no deterioration of teaching would take place. He reported that recruitment of clinical faculty for the Loma Linda campus did not seem to be a problem. He said that he had developed an understanding with the University of Southern California to assume responsibilities resulting from any decrease in activity by Loma Linda University at the Los Angeles County General Hospital. John E. Peterson, MD, (Class of 1939), associate dean, former chair of the Department of Medicine, was in favor of the move to Loma Linda and very helpful. “The institution owes him a lot,” reflected Dr. Hinshaw regarding consultations the two had shared. Several issues became quickly evident. The 186-bed Loma Linda Sanitarium and Hospital on the hill was hopelessly inadequate and a new medical center had to be built. The School would have to develop hospital affiliations in the area. Its leaders would have to stabilize relationships with the Los Angeles County General Hospital until they could move students to Loma Linda.