In early February, Anthony Hilliard, MD, FACC, CEO of Loma Linda University Health (LLUH) Hospitals, visited Tokyo Adventist Hospital where he met with Toshihiro Nischino, MD, president of the hospital and a practicing general surgeon.
“I was deeply inspired by Dr. Nischino’s commitment to mission-driven leadership,” Hilliard shared. “Each meeting and surgical case begins with prayer, reflecting a profound integration of faith and healing that defines the campus.”
Dr. Nischino’s relationship with Loma Linda spans decades. A graduate of Loma Linda University School of Medicine, he completed his residency in general surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center. That legacy continues into the next generation: his son currently serves as a hospitalist at LLUH, and his daughter is completing her residency in obstetrics and gynecology.
During the visit, Dr. Hilliard also reflected on his own family’s longstanding ties to Japan. His grandfather’s cousin, Warren Hilliard, devoted his life to missionary service in Okinawa, where he served as both pastor and president of the school there.
The experience underscored the unique global presence of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “These enduring connections remind me of how far-reaching our mission truly is—and how, wherever you go, it feels like home,” Hilliard said. “I am grateful to be part of an organization that does much to foster that community spirit.”