Seventh-day Adventist Church education leaders are establishing formal guidelines for new medical, dental and pharmacy schools, requiring institutions to demonstrate the ability to support a program before earning accreditation.
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Simmons said there is a growing need for medical and health care around the world, and the Adventist Church has a unique responsibility to respond to such needs.
"However, along with this call to service and ministry comes the responsibility to provide care and healing that are of the highest quality," Simmons said.
According to the guidelines, institutions must show their ability to support, house and maintain a new school before they are granted conditional accreditation. The conditional accreditation is subject to a mid-year and final review during the trial school year.
The previous guidelines used by the Adventist Accrediting Association addressed general accreditation standards and didn't specifically target medical, dental and pharmacy schools, said Lisa Beardsley, associate secretary for the church's department of education.
Major contributors to the new guidelines included members of the Education department of the Adventist world church. The Adventist International Board of Education (IBE) and the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) oversaw the creation of the guidelines and will vote on the document at the end of the month.
If the two boards feel more work must be done on the document, the guidelines will be revised and voted on again during Annual Council, October 8 to 13, Beardsley said.
For more information and to see the complete guidelines, visit education.gc.adventist.org.
Will IBE and AAA present some report to the General Conference Session in Atlanta before the vote regarding this matter during Annual Council in October?
Ramon Daniel Sancerni | March 2, 2010 10:15 AM | Reply
Adventist church can do much in the field of health care and the fear of the adventists leaders are about finance to create infrastructure. The adeventists have good human resources worldwide, let's pray more medical schools will be established and gospel message spread through healing ministry.
John Masefield | March 29, 2010 9:09 AM | Reply
The adventist church medical institution is unique in the sense that the health mission is the right arm of the three angels message. May we not lose sight of that purpose to replace it with economic gains.
jeimylo de castro | April 1, 2010 7:29 PM | Reply
Dear Brotheren,
We had an offer from Mozambique Government to build a hospital. I wrote to GC, no response. How best to achieve this if similar offer comes.
Gov offered land, we had funds, but we did not know how to go about this.
I wrote to Dr Wright and it never happened as she refered me to the Division and Conferences. It fell through.
I will not be supprised if you do not answer.
Sunnyboy,
Sunnyboy Nhlaphos | April 10, 2010 7:14 PM | Reply
Sunnyboy, ANN staff is not in a position to advise on or approve the building of hospitals. Your best bet is to continue to try to contact your local conference and division offices. Best of luck!
Heyy, Found your blog on Bing and I am so glad I did! Keep it up! =)
Yahoo | July 7, 2010 8:56 PM | Reply