The Story of our Health Message

Decision Leads to Action

The official decision, reached on the basis of serving progress in medical education as well as for reasons of religious preference, was hailed warmly by Seventh-day Adventists around the world. They saw in the new course of action fulfillment of inspired predictions that Loma Linda would become the educational center from which health practitioners would emanate to all the world, carrying the gospel. SHM 411.2

Architects and consultants were quickly engaged to carry on extensive studies of needs in the proposed Loma Linda University Medical Center. Working swiftly but thoroughly with church and university officials, they completed detailed plans for the hospital with its adjunct teaching and research facilities in time for ground breaking in June, 1964. With the exercise of every economy that could be effected without sacrificing the quality of its future programs of education and patient care, the medical center nevertheless proved to be the largest single construction project ever undertaken by the church. SHM 411.3

With completion of the medical center set for the spring of 1967, the university began the gradual changeover in School of Medicine operation that would result in eventual consolidation at Loma Linda. In January, 1964, the university-owned White Memorial Hospital and Clinic in Los Angeles was turned over to new owners—the Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Affiliation agreements with the White Memorial Medical Center (as it was renamed) and Los Angeles County General Hospital enable clinical teaching programs to continue while the medical center is under construction. Long-range affiliations in the Loma Linda area were being developed even before ground was broken for the new medical center. SHM 411.4

Support for the Loma Linda campus development by alumni, church members, and the thousands of friends of Seventh-day Adventist medical work was prompt and enthusiastic. Voluntary financial support rose sharply and by the time of the building’s completion will have reduced by millions of dollars the church’s anticipated expenditure in the project. Such is the satisfaction discovered in making a courageous decision to advance the Lord’s work despite apparent financial obstacles. SHM 412.1