History

Overview

In 1979, the general preventive medicine residency program was created as a cooperative effort between the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine. Since then, the preventive medicine program has emphasized clinical preventive medicine (merging 'traditional' primary care with prevention). It addresses individual health hazards and lifestyle medicine, and works to prevent or postpone disease and injury. It also adds experience in public health, government, student health, and health maintenance organizations.

LLU strongly supports a healthy and active lifestyle. The residency promotes the goals and objectives of the Adventist Health Care System, and provides training and patient care in an atmosphere of Christian compassion and concern. The residency program is open to persons of all religious faiths who strive for excellence in caring for their patients.

Timline

1909  LLU Medical School (then called the College of Medical Evangelists) was started with a curriculum in "Hygiene".

1914  The "hygiene" curriculum expanded to included the study of a variety of water systems as well as sanitary plumbling and disposal of sewage.

1918  First time graduates of the program enter the field of Public Health.

1925  Public Health is listed as a separate department within the School of Medicine.

1953  Statistics and Epidemiology added to the curiculum.  Students participated in inspecting local water treatment and sewage disposal plants, dairies, meat packing plants, public food service sites and refuse disposal areas.  Students were given the opportunity to complete a one-month rotation in Mexico to experience public health and tropical medicine in an international environment.

1967  School of Public Health officially began with Mervyn G. Hardinge, MD, DrPH, PhD as dean.

1979  General Preventive Medicine Residency Program organized.

1986  The Department of Preventive Medicine reorganized under the Schools of Medicine and Public Health with a new health promotion approach focusing on lifestyle and personal health behavior choices.  dr. Richard Hart is Chair of the department.

1991  Dr. Richard Hart is appointed Dean of the School of Public Health.

2000  The Department of Preventive Medicine purchased an Occupational Medicine Clinic and started an occupational medicine residency program.

2003  Dr. Hart retires as department chair to take up duties as Chancellor of Loma Linda University.  Dr. Wayne Dysinger takes over as department chair.