LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH PRESIDENT CHALLENGES ADVENTIST HEALTH ADMINISTRATORS TO BE INNOVATIVE
Dr. Richard Hart, President of Loma Linda University Health, has called upon Adventist hospital administrators, accountants, and managers from across Africa to adopt innovative strategies to maintain a competitive edge in the healthcare sector. Dr. Hart made these remarks during an engagement with students pursuing a Diploma in Health Administration at Malawi Adventist University College, Lakeview Campus.
This diploma program is a collaborative effort between Malawi Adventist University, Loma Linda University, and Adventist Health International (AHI). Dr. Hart highlighted that the financial challenges facing Adventist hospitals in Africa are not unique but part of a global issue. He urged administrators to devise effective solutions to overcome these challenges and avoid dependency.
“We are helping Africans in capacity building so they can stand on their own without needing help from others,” Dr. Hart emphasized. He elaborated that AHI aims to build capacities for Adventist hospitals in Africa through training, health equipment provision, and capital investment, aiming for sustainability. “AHI is not a donor organization; our goal is to make every institution sustainable and self-sufficient,” he asserted.
Dr. Hart explained the rationale behind selecting Malawi Adventist University to run this diploma program, citing Malawi’s longstanding history of providing Adventist health services. “Adventist Health International chose Malawi because of its long history in Adventist healthcare. Malamulo Hospital and Blantyre Adventist Hospital have significant histories here. We sought a place with a nucleus of activity and people to build around, and this was a logical choice,” he said.
In her address, Tomi Daniels, AHI’s Philanthropy and Grant Management lecturer, advised students to use donations appropriately. “Most donors have no direct connection to the institutions they support and cannot follow up on resource use. Administrators must ensure that funds are used to benefit the people they serve,” she stressed.
Dr. Hart’s call to action was well-received by the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Lakeview College, who praised the collaboration with Loma Linda and AHI. The two-year diploma program has attracted students from ten African countries, including hospital administrators, accountants, and managers.
In related news, Malawi Adventist University will host its first graduation ceremony for Diploma in Health Administration students on Friday, August 13, 2024, at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.