startING a medical missionary training program
Resolution of the board of trustees of john burden college of health science
Due to the following recent developments and corresponding increase in human resource needs:
Paradise Health Clinic’s plans to start additional One Week in Paradise sites at Elcana retreat and Paradise Fields in 2027
Paradise Health Clinic currently exploring potential One Week in Paradise programs in other provinces
Paradise Network’s long-term vision of establishing many sanitariums, clinics and other health urban centers of influence across Ontario and Canada
Construction of the lifestyle center in Binbrook starting 2027;
and because:
the Spirit of Prophecy counsels sanitariums and medical missionary schools to co-operate together; and
Paradise Network has an ironclad commitment to staffing its sanitarium work with Adventist medical missionaries;
The Board of Trustees of John Burden College of Health Science directs the Chair to initiate the process of developing a medical missionary training program under the following guidelines:
The primary outcome of the program is medical missionaries adequately equipped to support the current and future staffing needs of Paradise Network’s programs like One Week in Paradise or other related programs in both non-clinical and clinical activities such as but not limited to: kitchen, hospitality, hydrotherapy, massage, exercise therapy, lifestyle education, horticultural therapy, administering of other natural therapies, and spiritual care
The program must include a strong emphasis on practical learning in the clinical setting. The primary sites for such training should be Paradise Network’s health programs and institutions
The program is not designed to produce regulated healthcare professionals and thus students should not engage in any clinical activities or assume any titles that are restricted by law to regulated healthcare providers
The program seeks to ground students such that even if they pursue further training at non-adventist institutions to become a regulated health professional, they will choose to practice according to the philosophy and principles of Adventist health ministry
The program will include leadership training and character development components
The target audience for the program is (but not restricted to) college-aged young Adventists with a clear ministry or career goal to become medical missionaries
The program should be developed in collaboration with Paradise Health Clinic and Paradise Fields
The proposal will include an initial pilot phase to permit program refinement and revisions before implementation of a full medical missionary training program. The pilot phase should not exceed one year.
The proposal is to be submitted to the Board of Trustees by October 31 2026