Beginnings Loma Linda University had its beginning in 1905 when Seventh-day Adventists
John Burden and
Ellen G. White founded what became known as the Loma Linda
Sanitarium. In February 1906, a council of church workers met at Loma Linda. It consisted of the faculty of Fernando Academy, the faculty of the Loma Linda school, and the executive committee of the
Southern California Conference. In 1906, The Loma Linda College of Evangelists was established. Courses included: •
Religion: Bible Evangelism, Acts and Epistles, Missionary Methods, and Doctrines and Prophecies •
General: History, Languages, Mathematics, English, Music, Piano and Organ •
Industrial: Science of Gardening, Practical Gardening, Electrical Mechanics, Carpentry, Cookery, Accounting, Sewing •
Nursing/Medical: Chemistry and Anatomy, Children's Diseases, Physiology, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Hydrotherapy, Practical Nursing and Hydrotherapy The 1910 Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook enters the school as 'Loma Linda College'. It adds the legal title, 'College of Medical Evangelists of Loma Linda' (CME), and notes that the school was chartered as a Medical College in 1909.
1910 to 1919 Early clinical developments From 1913 to 1962, the university taught basic sciences in
Loma Linda, but sent its students to
Los Angeles for
clinical experience. Ellen White promoted rural settings for Adventist schools, but to train medical students, the school needed clinical experience. Loma Linda Sanitarium did not have such a
clinic. The American Medical Association would not recognize the medical college if it did not provide adequate clinical experience for its students. In 1905, the American Medical Association formed a national Council on Medical Education. Dr. Nathan Porter Colwell (1870–1936) became its first secretary the next year. In reaction, Adventists leaders interested in developing the medical school met with Dr. Colwell. He visited the campus and gave counsel on how to proceed. E. E. Andross, president of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and chairman of the board for the College of Medical Evangelists, reported on a special meeting of the constituency of the college convened at Loma Linda, January 27, 1913. A large number of General Conference men were in California at time. Andross called this meeting in order to benefit from their counsel. In his report, he wrote that a medical hospital and dispensary was needed to address accreditation requirements for the future medical education at the institution. On September 29, 1913, the College of Medical Evangelists opened the First Street Dispensary in the heart of
Los Angeles.
World War I and a 'B' Rating The United States federal government exempted medical students from the
military draft. But they would only recognize 'A' and 'B' rated medical schools. The College of Medical Evangelists only had a 'C' rating. California state authorities supported a higher rating, and after a nationwide effort, Percy T. Magan and colleagues persuaded Dr. Colwell to visit the school and determine whether a 'B' rating could be given. After the AMA's visit, the rating was upgraded to 'B'. Medical students who had already left for their military duties returned to finish their medical training. Margaret Rossiter White, Historical Records Librarian at Loma Linda, wrote at the time that it was a tremendous victory for Loma Linda.
1919–1960 On November 16, 1922, Dr. Colwell reported that the Council on Medical Education had granted an 'A' rating to the College of Medical Evangelists. The medical world, under the leadership of the
American Medical Association, was quickly developing standards for medical education and for the quality of hospitals. The requirements for accreditation developed as well. The July 12, 1923 Review and Herald presented the addresses given at the Educational Convention held at
Colorado Springs from June 5–19, 1923. In an article entitled 'Separation from the World in Education', W.E. Howell, former president of the Loma Linda College of Evangelists (1906) expressed concern for where dependence on accreditation would lead Adventist schools. During
World War II, the CME sponsored the 47th General Hospital.
1960–1980 University status and name change In 1961, college leaders voted to convert the institution to a
university and renamed the institution after the city. All its
science and
clinical faculties were consolidated within the city of Loma Linda by 1962. On July 9, 1967, the university opened the
Loma Linda University Medical Center with more than 125 patients from the old community hospital. The university also operated the Seventh-day Adventist
liberal arts college in
Riverside from 1967 to 1990, which is now known as
La Sierra University. In 1980, the state designated LLU the only
Level I trauma center in
San Bernardino,
Riverside,
Inyo and
Mono counties, which comprise more than a fourth of the state's land mass. About 1,600 emergency helicopters land there each year. ==Grants and funding==