Heritage Snapshot: Part 110

Accreditation authorities told the Loma Linda College of Medical Evangelists administrators that it would be impossible for a new, poorly equipped, church-related school of medicine to measure up to new, strict standards. In his book, For God and C.M.E., Merlin L. Neff provides a valuable historical perspective. “In 1910 few Seventh-day Adventists comprehended what was happening in medical education in the United States. They saw little need to pour money into the construction of classrooms, laboratories, and hospitals. Church leaders knew of many physicians who, by taking short courses, had received the MD degree. Furthermore, it had been possible for a young man to be trained in medicine by any physician who would act as his preceptor…. “[Now] high standards of training were suddenly demanded, and adequate laboratories and hospitals were declared essential for CME. Leaders in the North American Division [of the denomination] balked [however] at appropriating the funds called for to carry on a medical college. In the spring of 1910, Arthur G. Daniells, president of the General Conference, traveled to Loma Linda for a re-incorporation meeting to join the Loma Linda Sanitarium and the College of Medical Evangelists. Concerned that Business Manager John Burden would commit the Church to an overwhelming financial obligation, Pastor Daniells and Professor Homer Salisbury, Secretary of Education for the church, stopped in Chicago to visit Nathan P. Colwell, MD Secretary of the American Medical Association Council on Medical Education. Colwell had been authorized to examine and rate medical schools and to enforce AMA requirements. Hoping not to prejudice Colwell against Loma Linda, they identified themselves by name only. Deliberately they said nothing about Loma Linda or their church. They would do nothing to jeopardize the possibility of the denomination starting an AMA-accredited medical school. They simply asked what facilities would be needed to establish an acceptable medical college. Colwell outlined the requirements: a large campus, library, pharmacology and pathology laboratories, classrooms, a 100-bed hospital in a poverty-stricken section of some city to be used for clinical experience, and many specialists in each branch of medicine. In addition, they would need strong financial backing. Daniells and Salisbury thanked Dr. Colwell and started to leave. Jumping to his feet, Colwell pointed at Daniells: "And you tell those people at Loma Linda…." "What makes you think we are from Loma Linda?" Daniells inquired. "Because," Colwell answered, "Nobody in the world is so foolish as to think you can build and maintain a medical college without money, except you Adventists!" "Well, Dr. Colwell, suppose we put it on anyway?" asked Daniells. "You put it on," Colwell snapped, "and we will put it off. We are not going to have any more of these ‘one-horse’ medical schools in this country!" The two church leaders came to Loma Linda and put it on anyway. When the Loma Linda medical school started in 1909, it was the sixth school of medicine in Southern California. Within weeks the Abraham Flexner Report for the Advancement of Teaching, financed by the Carnegie Foundation, started closing 84 schools of medicine. It was said to be impossible to start one at that time. But, the Loma Linda faculty of six general practice physicians felt that they were working under a divine mandate. They had to succeed. And succeed they did. The first CME graduates had to step forward to claim their rights. Shortly after these six physicians graduated on June 11, 1914, they applied to be admitted for the State Board of Medical Examiners of California examinations. Only thus could they qualify for a license to practice medicine and surgery in California. Although they applied in time, they failed to receive a reply. Knowing the time and place in Los Angeles where these exams were to be administered, the Loma Linda graduates boldly presented themselves as candidates. Surprised and perplexed, the state officials didn’t know what to do with the unexpected arrivals. CME graduates told the officials that they were qualified to sit for the exams and wondered why their applications had not received attention. They appeared, they said, because they had not been denied. Also, they felt prepared. As officials tried to decide what to do, the time for testing to start came and went, causing the candidates from the University of Southern California to complain of the delay. Finally, officials decided, on the spot, to admit the CME Class of 1914. Fortunately, each graduate did very well. This School of Medicine has not only survived for more than 100 years, but also is the longest, continuously accredited school of medicine in Southern California. It has now graduated more than 10,000 physicians, 2,000 more than any other school of medicine in the Western United States. Its alumni have made major contributions to world medicine including smoking cessation, fetal monitoring, infant heart transplantation, and proton therapy. Its proton researchers, working with NASA, are contributing to the safety of the International Space Station and future space flight. Its activities managing the first public hospital in China to be accredited by Joint Commission International has indirectly helped improve hospital care throughout China. Loma Linda University School of Medicine is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its first graduation in 1914. The event, on Sunday, June 1, will be an evening of fun for the whole family, featuring 1920s carnival-themed fun: free face painting, entertainers, popcorn and fireworks. Food will be available for purchase from local vendors. Everyone is invited to attend.