Loma Linda University School of Medicine recently welcomed 15 medical students from the San Juan Bautista (SJB) School of Medicine in Caguas, Puerto Rico, after that institution lost its accreditation on October 3 of this year for failing to provide adequate clinical resources for students.
On learning that the closure stranded 275 medical students with no place to continue their studies, Roger Hadley, M.D., dean of LLU School of Medicine, responded to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and offered to help. He dispatched a team of five faculty members--Daisy De Leon, Ph.D.; Tammi Thomas, M.D.; Paul Herrmann, M.D., Ph.D.; Carlos Casiano, Ph.D.; and Marino De Leon, Ph.D.--to Puerto Rico to interview the students from October 19 to 21.
"We got the news that our school lost its accreditation in a text message from one of my friends on October 3," said Carla Perez, a junior. "The news spread like wildfire! The school didn't break it to us until the next day, but by then, everybody knew."
The loss of accreditation meant the students could no longer take United States licensing board exams or apply to residency programs in the U.S. Instead, SJB graduates would only be allowed to practice as generalists in Puerto Rico.
The October 3 termination letter from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)--the accrediting body for medical schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico--contained a ray of hope for SJB students affected by the decision.
"The AAMC will be notified of this decision," the letter said. "In the past, the AAMC has assisted displaced students seeking to transfer to an LCME-accredited program. We believe similar assistance will be provided to SJB students who seek it."
The students didn't exactly sit around waiting for something to happen. They reached out to the AAMC and were instructed to refer to the organization's website for a list of frequently asked questions. They didn't need a second invitation.
"AAMC put up a website," recalls Sarah Beck, also a junior, "with a list of schools that were willing to consider transfer students. We applied to every school we could. Loma Linda was the first to offer a decision."
According to Dr. Daisy De Leon, assistant to the dean for diversity, "A total of 59 students applied to Loma Linda University School of Medicine, 42 completed the secondary application, and we interviewed 22 students."
Dr. De Leon added that nine third-year, two fourth-year, and four deferred third-year students were eventually selected for transfer to LLU School of Medicine.
The process of interviewing the prospective transfer students took a considerable amount of time.
"They came to Puerto Rico and interviewed us," Sarah Beck said. "We each had three interviews of 20 to 40 minutes duration. I had heard about Loma Linda before because David Jaspers, the husband of my good friend from Michigan, is a third-year student here."
Carla Perez had also heard of Loma Linda University before, but knew relatively little about the school until the accreditation crisis forced her to look for a new place to study.
"A week later," Ms. Perez informs, "on Wednesday, Oct. 26, we learned that we had been accepted to LLUSM. We were very excited, and felt a great sense of relief!"
The accepted transfer students began arriving on the campus of LLU a day or two before orientation scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 2. They dove headfirst into the process of acclimating to their new school, community, and--for some of the students-- nation. One of the first obstacles ahead of them is catching up academically to their peers in the School of Medicine.
"We were told we're about 20 weeks behind the Loma Linda students," Ms. Perez said. "However, they hope we can make up the difference before we graduate. It depends on how competitive our choice of specialty is. In some cases, it might be best to take a little extra time and do research."
When asked about her future plans, Ms. Beck said she's considering ophthalmology or dermatology for her specialty, and adds that she's excited about the clinical opportunities LLUSM affords.
"I particularly want to work with Hispanic patients," she said. "It's not very diverse where I'm from in Northern Michigan, but here in Loma Linda, I will have plenty of opportunities to work with a large Hispanic population."
Ms. Perez plans to pursue pediatrics or pediatric gastroenterology as her specialty. She is particularly excited about the opportunities for global service offered at Loma Linda through organizations like Students for International Mission Service (SIMS). Like Ms. Beck, she believes the physician of the future will need to be bilingual and culturally literate in order to minister to the needs of patients in the context of trends that are currently altering the demographic and social landscape of America.
According to Dr. Hadley, LLUSM has assimilated students from two other closed medical schools: the first was the University of Southern California in 1920, and the second was Oral Roberts University in 1989.
"The story of the Good Samaritan informs us that when we see a person in need, we should stop and help them, and find a place for them to stay," he said.
Dr. Hadley noted that the Loma Linda University School of Medicine has trained more than 10,000 graduates, and is recognized as a national leader in educating future doctors for Christian service.
Dr. Carlos Casiano, associate director of the Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine, said the story is particularly rewarding to members of the faculty team who went to Puerto Rico to interview potential transfer students.
"To see them now at LLUSM as our own students brings a lot of joy, and the satisfaction that our school has given them hope and is saving their medical careers," he said. "While still a little apprehensive and overwhelmed because of the drastic changes in their lives, these students are elated and extremely grateful to LLUSM and to God for the new opportunity given to them. They, and a lot of people in Puerto Rico and other places, are speaking very highly of LLUSM for the quick, smooth, and compassionate way this 'rescue operation' was conducted."
Speaking for all 15 of the newest LLUSM students, senior Angie Lastra, who also recently arrived in Loma Linda, said, "It's a blessing to be here. We felt like it was the end of the world when our school closed, but now we are glad to be here.
"We are eternally grateful!" she concluded.
This article originally ran in the Dec. 16, 2011, edition of Today. To read the current issue of Today, visit llu.edu/news/today/.