Montemorelos, Mexico…[Gabriel Darrichon/IAD Staff]
Montemorelos University, a Seventh-day Adventist institution in Montemorelos, Mexico, recently celebrated its 63rd year of providing quality education to thousands of students for years. The campus was packed with students, alumni and special guests for the celebration, which took place Nov. 17 to 19. The event included a special feature on the 30 years since the School of Medicine was established.
Among commemorative worship services held, a musical concert and presentations was a special panel discussion among professors, alumni and students led by Dr. Allan R. Handysydes , health director of the General Conference and Dr. Jochen Hawlistchek, former director of the school of medicine in Montemorelos, on Sabbath afternoon. Issues on the challenges facing health around the world, strategic plans put in place by the General Conference and the Inter-American Division, and what Montemorelos University can learn from the world in facing its own challenges were among the topics discussed.
Part of the three-day program included the institution receiving accreditation from the Adventist Accreditation Association and the Mexican government, according to Dr. Elie S. Honore, health director for the church in Inter-America.
“Without the accreditation, the university cannot function,” said Dr. Honre. “It follows the same model of accreditation that exists in the United States and Canada.”
This year, Montemorelos University was among five private schools up for accreditation. According to Dr. Honore, Montemorelos was among the three granted accreditation by the government.” He adds that in 1991 the institution began the tedious process of applying for accreditation.
The Montemorelos school of medicine celebration which focused on the institution’s years of serving the community with medical brigades by medical students, nutrition and dental services, also honored professional staff and alumni for their contribution to the institution and community.
The School of Medicine, which began in 1975, and brought 25 students as the first generation of medical graduates, met its challenges to become only the second Adventist medical institution in the world and the first Spanish-speaking one. Loma Linda University, in California and River Plate in Argentina, are the other two Adventist institutions with a school of medicine.
Dr. Kleper Hernandez Aguirre, medical surgeon, who organized the school of medicine in 1974, and drove it to begin the following year, says it was very exciting to establish the school and train high quality doctors with Christian principles.
“I really thought that it was a great opportunity for many people who wanted to study,” says Dr. Hernandez, who teaches medical forensic and urology classes at Montemorelos. “And because of their religious principles could not do so in non-Adventist schools.”
Dr. Hernandez says the medical school was greatly benefitted by the services of missionary doctors from throughout South and Central America, the United States and other countries, in offering their professional resources to the university.
For more information on Montemorelos University and its educational programs, go to www.umontemorelos.edu.mx.
