Looking back, professionals often remember the moment their dreams for a future career were solidified. For hundreds of individuals at the beginning of professional life, their moment may have come on Jan. 25 when they attended Loma Linda University’s 10th annual open house.
Watch a video of the day here.
The approximate 1,800 guests — potential students and their families — arrived at the Centennial Complex, toured the Medical Simulation Center and campus and had the option to attend financial aid seminars.
Awaiting them next was a helicopter landing on the campus mall. The chopper was a Mercy Air medical transporter, and riding in on it was Roger Hadley, MD, dean of the School of Medicine.
After guests checked out the helicopter and learned about emergency air service, they went into Loma Linda University Church to hear inspirational presentations from Dean Hadley as well as Distinguished Professor Leonard Bailey, MD, from the School of Medicine. Bailey pioneered infant heart transplantation.
He spoke of his professional journey and about finding one’s destiny, while Hadley talked about changes in health care education and the importance of all health care disciplines working together.
Lunch and a K-9 security demonstration followed, after which the guests dispersed to learn about their career interests. Loma Linda University offers more than 200 programs, which were all represented through dozens of sessions. Prospective students could select two sessions to learn about health care disciplines of interest to them.
About 100 current LLU students volunteered for the day. According to Stephanie Larsen, planner of the open house, “Every year, some volunteers say, ‘I was a prospective student last year, and now I’m volunteering because it’s such a great day.’”
She adds, “It's a day where students can get a true sense of Loma Linda University and what they can expect as a student. It makes many feel that ‘This is where I want to be.’”