Montemorelos University Marks 50 Years of Training Mission-Driven Physicians

Fifty years ago, in 1975, a group of 41 young people from eight different countries arrived in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, united by a single dream—to become physicians with hearts dedicated to service and mission. That historic moment marked the beginning of the first class of what was then known as the School of Medicine of Montemorelos University (UM)*—today the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.

The initiative took shape just two years after Montemorelos received university status and was the result of visionary leadership within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The project was launched by the Adventist Church in Mexico, known as the Mexican Union, under the leadership of Velino Salazar, and approved by the Adventist leadership for the territories of Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Colombia, and Venezuela—today’s Inter-American Division (IAD).

With its founding, Montemorelos University became home to the first medical school in an Adventist institution outside the United States, and the second in the world, and UM was overseen directly by the IAD.

A Vision Rooted in Mission and Excellence

From the outset, the mission was clear: to prepare competent Christian physicians—professionals who combine clinical excellence with compassion, ethics, and a deep sense of calling to service and mission.

The early years were filled with challenges and faith. The first director, Adelio Rocco, oversaw the many preparations leading up to the arrival of the inaugural class, which was welcomed in 1975 by Kepler Hernández. They were soon joined by pioneering professors and physicians from Loma Linda University, including Richard Guth, Donald Sargeant, Howard Smith, Naomi Pitman, and Dwight Evans, whose dedication left an indelible mark on the school’s foundation.

Loma Linda University’s support proved decisive—not only through the loan of faculty but also by offering opportunities for Montemorelos graduates to pursue postgraduate training there. Many of these alumni later returned to strengthen the basic sciences and help develop the new medical school.

Among the names that shaped the pioneering spirit were Adrián Brutus, who taught for nearly 40 years; Dwight Evans, who served as medical vice president of the university; and Jochen Hawlistchek, the school’s third director. Together these men and women established the foundation for a school committed to excellence and service.

The First Graduates and an Expanding Global Reach

In 1979 Montemorelos celebrated the graduation of its first class of physicians, marking the beginning of a story that continues to impact lives around the world. Today more than 2,100 graduates from 65 countries serve in hospitals, clinics, and communities across the globe.

Over time the curriculum grew stronger, incorporating internships, community service, and eventually innovative subjects such as Lifestyle Medicine—a program unique in Mexico. This approach integrates lifestyle-focused disciplines such as exercise, sleep, stress management, addiction recovery, and spirituality in health, reflecting the school’s wholistic vision of healing.

The academic quality of the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery has been consistently validated by national and international accrediting bodies. The program has been accredited multiple times—2005, 2010, 2016, and 2023—by the Mexican Council for the Accreditation of Medical Education (COMAEM), which is recognized by the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).

This places Montemorelos University’s medical program among globally competitive institutions. The school is also a member of the Mexican Association of Faculties and Schools of Medicine (AMFEM) and the Pan American Federation of Associations of Medical Faculties and Schools (FEPAFEM), and is listed in the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the World Directory of Medical Schools.

Today the program enrolls approximately 700 students from 34 countries and involves more than 200 professors across affiliated hospitals. Its infrastructure continues to grow, now featuring advanced clinical simulation facilities and modernized spaces for medical training.

“The most enduring legacy of the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery lies in its graduates—professionals who combine academic excellence with compassion and faith in their daily practice,” said Ismael Castillo, president of Montemorelos University since 1979. From highly specialized hospitals to remote rural communities, Montemorelos-trained doctors serve with distinction and dedication, he added.

The school alumni include José Luis Alomía, former national director of epidemiology in Mexico and current secretary of health in Sonora; Ofelia Álvarez, colonel in the United States Army; Amed Soliz, a renowned neonatologist and founder of the humanitarian organization Babies Without Borders; and Tricia Penniecook, former dean of the School of Public Health at Loma Linda University.

Beyond prominent figures, hundreds of other graduates quietly carry out their calling in hospitals, clinics, and mission fields, bringing health, hope, and the light of faith to every corner of the world, Castillo said.

Innovating for the Future

In recent years the School of Medicine has strengthened its academic approach through clinical simulation training, standardized evaluations such as the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and other innovative teaching strategies.

Results from Mexico’s National Center for Higher Education Evaluation (CENEVAL) consistently confirm the high quality of Montemorelos students, who not only excel in their scores but often earn top national distinctions, Castillo said.

In addition, through initiatives such as the Latin American Adventist Medical and Missionary Student Association (AALMMA)—the university’s student missionary group—and through interdisciplinary community projects that unite students from across the Faculty of Health Sciences to serve together in wholistic outreach carry through with the same mission.

A Half Century of Mission—A Future Yet to Be Written

As Montemorelos University’s Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, the institution proudly reaffirms the vision that gave it birth: to prepare physicians who heal with science and serve with faith, school leaders said.

A half century later that vision remains vibrant, said Castillo. “To educate professionals who meet the medical needs of society while carrying compassion and hope to every patient they encounter.”

This milestone is not merely a recounting of achievements, Castillo said. “It is the story of a living legacy, continually written through the hands and hearts of each student and graduate around the world.”

Every generation, every professor, and every alumnus has contributed to this ongoing story—one that deserves to be remembered with gratitude and pride, university officials said.

Montemorelos University will honor its remarkable journey through a special anniversary celebration next month during the institution’s eighty-third anniversary of the university.

*When founded in 1975, the program was known as the “School of Medicine,” as all professional programs at the time carried that designation. Over the years it officially became the “Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery,” though the title “School of Medicine” continues to be embraced as part of its historical identity.

The original version of this story was posted on the Inter-American Division news site.