This article from Dr. Charles Dale regarding the medical training of our Chinese young men in Shanghai will be of interest. Doctor Dale is associated with our medical work and is also a member of the faculty of St. John's University. While in China last year we had a most cordial and helpful meeting with the president of this university and the deans of the various departments. Our denominational arrangement with the university, whereby S.D.A. young men can attend with Sabbath privileges and other considerations, has been very satisfactory and mutually agreeable. Doctor Dale is professor of pathology at the university and a highly respected member of the faculty. I was greatly impressed by the personality, keenness, and devotion of the seven young men whom I met. I am confident that these prospective physicians will give strength and influence to our medical work in the China Division. —H M. W.
The changing and unsteady governments of the country made the establishment of national or provincial controlled schools quite impossible until the present regime. Therefore much of the medical education, as well as other higher types of education, has been carried on by mission schools. Until recent years many of the medical schools have been little more than a hospital with a meager staff, doing the best they could to give a few students some of the rudiments, together with as good a hospital training as facilities would permit. Such a training, however, was far superior to that of the typical native doctor, usually a man nearing middle age, who simply went to the local magistrates and said, "I pronounce myself a physician." He would thereupon put up his shingle and start needling, herb dispensing, etc., and was supposed to be able to diagnose any ailment by the procedure of palpating each radial pulse.
Prior to the present Sino-Japanese conflict, the National Government had established rules of education which were designed to bring the condition of all schools to a much higher standard. A minimum of a $150,000 endowment and yearly operative fund was made a requirement in order for a medical school to receive national recognition. Requirements for equipment, hospital facilities, and teaching staff were also made. Several national and provincial schools were established on the basis of these standards. Various missions began to consolidate in order to meet the requirements, for a single mission organization could scarcely raise the necessary funds alone. A few good schools have been the result.
In the spring of 1937 the China Division considered the problem of medical education for our nationals in China. In view of the required large financial outlay, together with requirements regarding equipment and staff, the establishment of a school of our own was considered impossible. Affiliation with another school was then sought for. After investigating a number of mission schools, an affiliation plan with the well-established St. John's University Medical School in Shanghai was worked out. We were to furnish two of our doctors for the teaching staff, and pay a yearly proportionate subsidy. In return, we could enter six students in the freshman class each year. No classes were to be held on Sabbath, and we were to have our own dormitory in which our students could be by themselves, and be under our own religious influences.
In the fall of 1937 we entered five students in the first year of their course despite the fact that the war was then raging in Shanghai and our people were being subjected to very trying circumstances. A suitable hostel was arranged, and our students were made as comfortable as crowded war conditions would permit.
We are now in the third year of the medical affiliation. We appreciate the cooperation of the university. Since Sabbath classes are not held, our students do not lose any schoolwork. I have appreciated my teaching contact in the medical school, and have found the faculty to be an earnest group with high mission ideals.
Those of us who have followed our students along in their course so far have only praise and admiration for their fine spirit. They consider themselves pioneers in our denominational medical education in China, and seem determined to set a high standard for those who follow after them. They willingly take part in Sabbath services, young people's meetings, and evangelistic efforts.
Some are talented speakers, others are good musicians, and in all, these students have exerted a good influence in our Shanghai churches. We are endeavoring to hold before them the true principles of medical evangelism, and on numerous occasions they have demonstrated their enthusiasm in this direction. Recently a stabilizing step was taken to locate their dormitory rooms in the home of Doctor and Mrs. Dalbey. Doctor Dalbey is a Seventh-day Adventist dentist. Here the students will be benefited by the atmosphere of this solid Adventist family who have been in the faith for many years. At the present time Doctor Dalbey is sponsoring an evangelistic effort in a tent pitched on his own lawn, and our students are taking an active part in his meetings.
We have a large medical work in China. Our institutions are scattered from north to south and from east to west in this great land. However, numerous other small dispensaries and medical units should be established. We must have nationally trained Chinese doctors and nurses with which to provide adequate staffs for these institutions. We should provide our own postgraduate center for both doctors and nurses. Other missions are having success in the interior with mobile medical units. Thus excellent opportunities for teaching health principles and preaching the gospel could be developed.
China is a vast land. There are many thousands of villages and towns which have never yet seen a Western-trained physician. Here are five hundred million people, most of whom know nothing about the modern health principles of hygiene, diet, etc. What a challenge to our medical evangelistic program! We are glad that we can report progress in the training of our Chinese nationals for this great cause.
