Request Information   

Learn More About PUC

  • Canvas
  • Information For
    Current Students Future Students Transfer Students Parents & Families Alumni Visitors Faculty & Staff Veterans
  • Quick Links
    Student Planning (Flashlight) Webmail Canvas WebAdvisor Presence Calendar News Library Bookstore Campus Services Cafe Menu Student Employment PUC Apparel & Gear
  • Contacts
    General Information Directory Faculty Staff
  • Visit
  • Apply Now
  • Give
  • Information For
    • Current Students
    • Future Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Parents & Families
    • Alumni
    • Visitors
    • Faculty & Staff
    • Veterans
  • Quick Links
    • Student Planning (Flashlight)
    • Webmail
    • Canvas
    • WebAdvisor
    • Presence
    • Calendar
    • News
    • Library
    • Bookstore
    • Campus Services
    • Cafe Menu
    • Student Employment
    • PUC Apparel & Gear
  • Contacts
    • General Information
    • Directory
    • Faculty
    • Staff
  • Canvas
  • Visit
  • Home
  • About PUC
    • Consumer Information
    • Campus Map
  • Academics
    • All Departments
      • Aviation
      • Biology
      • Business Administration & Economics
      • Chemistry
      • Communication
      • Data Science
      • Education
      • Emergency Services
      • English
      • Global Health
      • Health Sciences
      • History
      • Honors
      • Kinesiology
      • Mathematics
      • Music
      • Nursing & Health Sciences
      • Paramedic
      • Physics
      • Pre-Allied Health
      • Pre-Professional Programs
      • Psychology & Social Work
      • Social Work
      • Theology
      • Visual Arts
      • World Languages
    • Faculty Directory
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Admissions Process
    • Tuition & Aid
    • Already Accepted
  • Alumni
    • Send Us an Update
  • Athletics
  • Life at PUC
  • About PUC
  • Academics
  • Admissions & Aid
  • Alumni
  • Athletics
  • Life at PUC
  • PUC Blog

Convocation Features Pioneering Surgeon Leonard Bailey

By Emily Mathe on September 26, 2014

Share this

Leonard-Bailey-News.jpg

PUC’s student body, from excited freshmen to seasoned seniors, packed into the PUC Church on September 25 to attend the first gathering of fall quarter’s Colloquy Speaker Series. After professors and administration had marched into the building in full regalia, and the string section from the PUC Orchestra had performed a rendition of Vivaldi’s “Summer,” PUC President Heather J. Knight took the podium to introduce the Opening Convocation speaker, Leonard Bailey, M.D.

Dr. Bailey’s presentation was entitled “Be a Pioneer,” an appropriate title for a lecture given to a college that has long been known as a pioneering institution. In her introduction, Knight noted that the podium on the platform was used by Ellen G. White, a pioneering founder of both the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Pacific Union College. PUC was founded in 1882 as Healdsburg Academy, and is one of the oldest colleges in California. The college continues to embody the pioneer spirit, even naming the varsity teams the PUC Pioneers.

Dr. Bailey and his wife, Nancy, R.N., began their presentation discussing what makes someone a pioneer. On whether ordinary people would be able to become pioneers in new areas, Dr. Bailey was encouraging, yet practical. “Pioneering doesn’t happen by accident,” he explained. “It may not be for everybody.” He emphasized that those striving to become pioneers must be willing to make difficult choices, prove their leadership, and, above all, have an eager curiosity for how to make the world better. “Everyone in this room has pioneering potential,” Dr. Bailey affirmed to his audience.

In 1984, the eyes of the world were on Dr. Bailey and Loma Linda University when he performed the first infant heart transplantation on the baby known as Baby Fae, replacing her defective heart with one from a baboon. Although Baby Fae lived only 20 days after the operation, the procedure revolutionized the field of congenital heart surgery; Dr. Bailey performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplantation just one year later.

Dr. Bailey shared the interviews and media responses to Baby Fae’s surgery, including the backlash he faced when the operation didn’t save her life. However, he ended his presentation with many filmed testimonials from individuals who underwent successful infant heart transplantation, showcasing their happy, fulfilling adult lives. The encouraging message of these testimonies shows that despite occasional failure, hard work, and discouragement, pioneering is truly worth every minute. Dr. Bailey’s conclusion was echoed by the resounding peals of the Healdsburg Bell, following the students out of the sanctuary and back to a new and bright school year.

  • Share this

Prev ArticleNext Article

Latest News

PUC’s Utt Center: A Historical Archive to PUC & Adventist History

By Ally Romanes on January 30, 2023

Survivor of 1963 Birmingham Church Bombing Shares Her Story With PUC Community

By Laura Gang on January 16, 2023

The Ministry of Music: David Bell on Over Three Decades With the Heritage Singers

By Laura Gang on January 13, 2023

Sahmyook University Collaborates with Pacific Union College

By Ally Romanes on January 9, 2023

Search

Keywords

Archive

  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998
  • 1997
  • 1996
Show More

PUC in Outside News

PUC in the News

Pacific Union College
One Angwin Avenue
Angwin, CA 94508
Campus Map

(800) 862-7080
(707) 965-6313

PUC Blog
Apply
Give
Contact
Visit
Careers
Academics

Useful Links

Information
  • Academic Departments
  • Bookstore
  • Calendar
  • Campus Map
  • Consumer Information
  • Directory
  • Disability Services
  • Discrimination Policy
  • Emergency Info
  • Library
  • News
  • Pay Student Bill
  • Privacy Policy
  • PUC CARES Act Grant
  • Records Office
  • Student Planning
  • Title IX

Information For

Who Are You?
  • Current Students
  • Future Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Alumni
  • Visitors
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Veterans
© Copyright 2023. Pacific Union College . All Rights reserved. | Privacy policy