Loma Linda University Health’s message of wholeness was communicated to people from 168 countries during the 60th session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in San Antonio, Texas. Some 30 employees, administrators, physicians and volunteers staffed the organization’s exhibit every day from July 2 to 11.
Many of the 65,000 General Conference delegates and visitors came to the exhibit. The conference was the largest and longest ever held in San Antonio.
After being welcomed, guests entered between gates replicating those on Anderson Street near the Mission Globe. They could choose from a variety of activities; the most popular was a “photo op” in front of a replica of “This is the Very Place.” This is a full-size sculpture of Ellen G. White, John Burden, and White’s son, Willie, depicting the moment on her first visit to campus in 1905 when White said the words that foretold the creation of today’s Loma Linda University Health.
Activities on the Loma Linda University Health stage included quizzes about health topics and the storied history of Loma Linda. In addition to the lively quiz sessions, speakers highlighted Loma Linda’s signature areas of expertise. Danny Fontoura, MBA, vice president for wholeness, shared the landmark progress in the area of wholeness that experts at Loma Linda continue to pursue. Terry Butler, DrPH, presented Adventist Health Study findings and gave tips about how to live a healthier, longer life.
Another speaker was D.P. Harris, vice president for information services, who demonstrated computer games that Loma Linda is developing to help students learn about various systems of the body and to improve first responders’ efforts during major disasters, among other uses. Other life-changing takeaways included tips by School of Behavioral Health Dean Beverly Buckles, DSW, on how to bolster one’s resilience in the face of stress.
Visitors viewed Loma Linda University Health’s nationally distributed PBS television documentary series, “Life on the Line,” and a film trailer about the life and work of Wil Alexander, PhD, who founded the Center for Spiritual Life and Wholeness. Many of Alexander’s acquaintances, some whom he first met 50 years ago, paused to greet and visit with their friend and mentor. He was present in the booth for the length of the conference.
As the event progressed, there were opportunities for Loma Linda alumni to meet with representatives from their schools. In addition, President Richard Hart, MD, DrPH, hosted two receptions for them.
Several video news crews taped stories and interviews on Loma Linda University Health, including Adventist Mission, Hope Channel and a group from Norway.
Part of every presentation included a focus on Vision 2020: The Campaign for a Whole Tomorrow, Loma Linda University Health’s monumental plan for the future. Videos showed the impact Vision 2020 will have in enhancing health care and health education, including a major building initiative on campus.
Many Loma Linda alumni live outstanding lives of service, including School of Medicine alumna Gillian Seton, MD, who, with Hart, made several presentations about her work as a deferred mission appointee (DMA) through Adventist Health International. Seton arrived at Liberia’s Cooper Adventist Hospital in March 2014, just before the infamous Ebola outbreak. She chose to stay and continue to help non-Ebola patients in need at the facility. In addition to speaking at the Loma Linda University Health exhibit and from the Mission Spotlight stage, Seton and Hart were interviewed live on the Alamodome stage before an audience of tens of thousands.
In a demonstration of how Loma Linda University Health staff “Live It,” Hart gathered with more than 30 of his colleagues, family and friends before dawn Sunday, July 5, in downtown San Antonio. Wearing blue shirts in support of Loma Linda University Health’s mission of wholeness and living its mission, they participated with about 2,500 people in a 5K Fun Run and Walk sponsored by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists’ health department, North American Division.
Through the General Conference Session, Loma Linda University Health communicated how it is fulfilling its mission “to continue the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus Christ.”