LLUAHSC SCOPE Summer 2001 - constituency meets

LLUAHSC constituency meets
Constituency approves bylaw changes, appoints new board and officers

[SCOPE, Summer 2001]

C. B. Rock
LLUAHSC board chair Calvin B. Rock, DMin, PhD, welcomes members to the quinquennial constituency meeting held Sunday, February 4, 2001.

Nearly 400 members of the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center (LLUAHSC) constituency met on Sunday, February 4, 2001, to elect officers of LLUAHSC.

LLUAHSC is the parent corporation for Loma Linda University, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center, and Loma Linda University School of Medicine Faculty Corporations.

Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, formerly known as Adventist Health System/Loma Linda, is designed to continue Christ's healing and teaching ministry through the delivery of health care; education of health-care professionals, scholars, and scientists; and through research.

The four core organizations sponsor, support, and harmonize the activities of other related organizations that enable LLUAHSC to carry out its mission.

LLUAHSC is the sole corporate member of Loma Linda University and Loma Linda University Medical Center, and provides services such as human resource management, risk management, and other management services as requested.

D. G. Pursley
LLUAHSC executive vice president for finance and administration Donald G. Pursley, DBA, presents the financial report to the constituency.

During the half-day meeting, constituency members received the audited financial report prepared by Ernst & Young, an independent auditing organization with offices throughout Southern California.

In his opening message to the constituents, LLUAHSC Board chair Calvin B. Rock, DMin, PhD, welcomed the members of the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center constituency "to this important session during which you will receive reports, make inquiries, and provide guidance and direction for the LLUAHSC institutions as they move forward.

"While every turn and obstacle on the path is not specifically charted," Dr. Rock said, "the God-ordained mission is clear, and we are privileged to continue His teaching and healing ministry at this special place."

Presenting the devotional for the constituents was Jan Paulsen, DTh, BD, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

During the meeting, the constituents appointed a new LLUAHSC Board of Trustees. On the same day, the constituency (composed of the Board of Trustees for LLUAHSC) for Loma Linda University, Loma Linda University Medical Center, and Loma Linda University Behavioral Medicine Center, appointed Boards of Trustees for these organizations.

Robert H. Hardesty, MD, professor of surgery (standing), addresses a bylaws issue during the LLUAHSC quinquennial constituency session. Approximately 400 individuals attended the session.

Re-elected president and chief executive officer of LLUAHSC was B. Lyn Behrens, MBBS. Re-elected executive vice president for finance and administration and chief financial officer for LLUAHSC was Donald G. Pursley, DBA.

A complete list of officers of the various organizations may be found on page 2. Members of the Boards of Trustees for the various LLUAHSC organizations are listed beginning on page 22.

During the presentation of the financial reports, it was noted that during the past quinquennium, the net assets of Loma Linda University increased by approximately $100 million.

The total net assets of LLUAHSC increased from $451 million in 1996 to $559 million in 2000. This is a growth of 24 percent or approximately 6 percent per year. The financial report indicated that all LLUAHSC entities had a positive margin in the year 2000.

Loma Linda University's external debt was reduced from $16.8 million in 1996 to $2 million in 2000. In addition, the Medical Center's external debt was reduced from $317 million in 1996 to $285 million in 2000. The financial report also graphically showed that, at the end of fiscal year 1996, LLUAHSC entities had a combined external debt of more than $337 million. Since that time, the LLUAHSC debt has been reduced by almost $49 million.

During their meeting, the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center Board of Trustees appointed Richard H. Hart, MD, DrPH, as chancellor and chief executive officer of Loma Lind University. An interview with Dr. Hart appears in this issue.

[SCOPE, Summer 2001]