TODAY news - August 19, 2004 - LLU School of Public Health news

Loma Linda University welcomes James Kyle II, MD, MDiv, as the new dean of the School of Public Health, as well as the chair of the department of health administration.

"I'm humbled and honored with the opportunity to serve at Loma Linda University," states Dr. Kyle. "I view my role here as a ministry to the School, faculty, students, and community."

Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Dr. Kyle was introduced to Adventism when his parents sent him to the nearest private school from his home. His mother, hoping that her boy wouldn't convert to Adventism, was a little let down when her James got baptized a few years later in the Adventist church. Not only that, but he even became a pastor, receiving his MDiv from Andrews Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Ironically, Dr. Kyle ended up baptizing his mother into the Adventist church.

Three years after earning his MDiv, Dr. Kyle went to Palau, an island of the Pacific, for an evangelistic series. One day, while walking along in the hot weather and very thirsty, a local islander gave him a coconut. "He chopped off the top with his machete, and I drank the coconut juice," explains Dr. Kyle. "But a little bit later I got extremely sick." It turns out the machete was not very clean.

"While treated as an out patient at the ‘hospital' with people laying on the floor mats, I suddenly felt that God wanted me to be a medical doctor," says Dr. Kyle. When he told his wife, Joyce, the idea, she didn't think much of it. After all, he was sick in the hospital. But after he recovered and still wanted to be a physician, Joyce knew he was serious.

Immediately, he started his pre-med requirements, despite the discouragement from many people at work. "Most everyone thought I'd fail," explains Dr. Kyle.

However, getting accepted into 11 different medical schools quickly contradicted his failure. He decided to go to UCLA Medical School because at that time it was a tenth of the cost of Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and having more loans wasn't a good idea with a family to raise as a 30 year old.

He received his internship and residency at UCLA and worked as an internal medicine specialist in the San Diego area where he was honored with the Doctor of the Year Award twice.

Not only is he a physician and pastor, but also from 1995 to 2000 he served as captain in the US Army Reserve as a primary care physician, receiving many awards including the Army Commendation Medal.

Dr. Kyle has also presented more than 250 health presentations on KUSI Television in San Diego from 1992 to 1996.

"When you make yourself available to God amazing things happen," explains Dr. Kyle. "Doing the will of God and going where he leads is such a fulfilling adventure."

Before coming to Loma Linda, Dr. Kyle was the vice president for the California market of Schaller Anderson, as well as pastor (part-time) of the Breath of Life Seventh-day Adventist Church in Westchester, California. Prior to that, his professional experience includes serving as president/CEO of Genesis Healthcare Strategies; administrative dean for the College of Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles; and internal medicine specialist, private practice in National City, California.

He and his wife have two sons, James III, 28, and Christopher, 18. Dr. Kyle earned his MD at UCLA Medical School, Los Angeles, in 1987; a masters of divinity in 1977 from Andrews Theological Seminary, Berrien Springs, Michigan; and his BA with a major in religion at Loma Linda University in 1973.

The School of Public Health department of health promotion and education offers a new certificate program in lifestyle intervention beginning in fall, 2004. Employee tuition benefits can be used.

"The purpose of the 25-unit certificate," explains Lee Berk, DrPH, CHES, FACSM, coordinator of lifestyle certificate program and associate professor of health promotion and education, SPH, "is to prepare participants to accurately assess the healthrelated lifestyle conditions, practices, and motivation of individuals and community groups in order to help them improve their health through implementation of healthrelated lifestyle intervention approaches."

Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to: accurately assess lifestyle practices and conditions; identify and apply appropriate dietary, fitness, and other lifestyle-based interventions; apply principles and methods to help individuals change their lifestyle-related health behaviors; decide when and how to refer individuals to various health-care professionals; and provide leadership for community- based health promotion projects in selected settings.

"Lifestyle practices and habits have a profound impact on health and quality of life," states Edward K. Fujimoto, DrPH, professor and preventive care program coordinator. "To prevent many diseases and also for their treatment, interventions that incorporate lifestyle changes have demonstrated significant effects that may be equal or exceed standard treatments and may be the best practice available. As healthcare expenditures increase at a rate that exceeds that of the GDP, and as the population ages, the prevalence of the chronic diseases that impact health-care costs will likely increase. It is increasingly clear that for professionals to utilize this ‘best practice' they will need training in lifestyle interventions."

For more information you may call Lee Berk or Danielle in the department of health promotion and education at (909) 558-4575 or extension 44575.

All contents copyright © 2004 Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center. All rights reserved.
Revised August 25, 2004
Send comments and questions to webmaster@univ.llu.edu
URL: http://www.llu.edu/