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Reviews and Endorsements
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[Endorsement]
- “Working at the San as a surgeon for 38 years (1964-2001), I came to greatly admire and respect the qualities of the staff, which I regarded as providing an outstanding hospital experience. The empathy and skill of those caring for patients was of the “Nightingale” standard, and the professional respect between nursing and medical staff was unique.”—Mark Killingback, AM, MS (Hon), FACS (Hon), FRACS, FRCS, FRCS (Ed), retired surgeon
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[Endorsement]
- “The San started as a small cottage hospital but developed into the largest private hospital in New South Wales, providing state-of-the-art services in all aspects of medicine. In my view, the philosophy of a faith-based institution has taken this excellence of care to another dimension as an important component of the healing process.”—Dr Ross Walker, Consultant Cardiologist, author and health media presenter
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[Endorsement]
- “The strength of this book is the variety of the authors and their research and close association with the now Sydney Adventist Hospital. The stories may bring laughter, tears, concern and joy or various other emotions—overall, I was inspired.”—Glenn Townend, Chairman, Adventist Health Care
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[Endorsement]
- “I was born in the San—in the original wooden building— and, like many generations of Australians who have passed through its doors, I still feel I have a stake in the place. This book celebrates the stories that helped create and shape this unique Sydney landmark that still buzzes with a powerful sense of mission.”
—Professor Roger Magnusson, Sydney Law School, The University of Sydney
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[Endorsement]
- “The history of ‘The San’ is a wonderful and remarkable story of an institution that has truly demonstrated its mission, namely ‘Christianity in Action’.”
—Richard F E Warburton, AO LVO, Chairman, San Foundation
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[ Bookshelf Review ]
- Before I picked up “Take Me to the San”—when all I had seen was the book cover—I imagined a book with lots of working stories from my own days as a student at the hospital, like nurses dropping bedpans, students pranking each other, power cuts during surgery, and on and on. Could be a fun read, I thought.
Then I saw the back of the book and became concerned that this might be merely a bland corporate history to promote one of our significant institutions.
But then I was asked to review the book, which meant I had to read it sooner than I might have otherwise. And it caught my imagination—and I’ve been thinking on it ever since.
Sydney Adventist Hospital—still better known as “The San”—is iconic.
From its very beginnings in the early 1900s to the present day, it has been a place with a mission, and the many people who have worked and continue to work there know its mission: “Christianity in Action.”
Collecting the experience and stories of 12 contributors, who each have long connections with the hospital, “Take Me to the San” perfectly demonstrates the hospital’s mission with a collection of stories from its history, as well as reflections on how this history has been shaped by mission and what it means to be a hospital with a mission today.
The San is our hospital, regardless of whether or not you ever require its services. And “Take Me to the San” will not only give you warm fuzzies because it is ours, but it will also invite you to question your own Christian walk—how are you living out your mission and witness where you are?
“Take Me to the San” is an excellent read, which should also be available in every church and school library. And, particularly if you have your own history with the San, you will probably want your own copy as well.
—Christine Miles, Manager, Adventist Book Centre, New Zealand
