On Sabbath, November 5, 2022, at approximately 10:30 AM, several junior/early teen girls and boys saw something hanging outside a window, above room 209, at the Weimar Inn. Curious, three of them ran to see it closely and saw that it was a woman who had died by suicide. They thought it was a Halloween prank. One of the girls vomited.
Intelligent Adventist requested and obtained the Coroner’s Field Report and the Report of Autopsy from the Placer County Sheriff on January 26, 2023. We withheld publication of this article at the request of several sources due to a recently concluded memorial service for an individual unrelated to this story.
In this article, we first describe the Depression Recovery program, showcase the research on which it purports to operate, and explore the conflicts of interest inherent in the unique arrangement the University has with Dr. Nedley’s for-profit program on campus. We are withholding the name of the deceased for respect and reasons of privacy.
The Field Report
According to the Coroner’s Field Report, Lynda Cetean told the police that she was the “manager of the Inn” and “ran an outside program for people having mental health problems.” The deceased had been a prior client of this program. She arrived at Weimar University on October 27 and planned to stay at the inn until the program started later in November. She stated, “the deceased had said they felt safe at our location.” The deceased had a history of depression and anxiety. Cetean had last seen the deceased the day before and would go on daily walks with her early in the morning. On November 5, the deceased had declined to go on their daily walk, and shortly after 10:30 AM, Cetean checked on her and found her body outside the window upon entering her room. The report did not clearly show how long the body had been there, but death was pronounced at 10:41 AM. She contacted emergency services and waited until they arrived. The police searched the room, gathered the belongings, and notified the next of kin, and the body was transported to the coroner’s office for the autopsy. The post-mortem examination on November 9 mentioned the cause of death as hanging and noted a history of chronic major depression. The physician listed on the autopsy report for the deceased was Dr. Neil Nedley, and his specialty was listed as “other specialty physician” at Sutter Auburn Faith Medical Group. At Sutter Health, Dr. Nedley is listed as Board Certified in Internal Medicine, having completed medical school at Loma Linda University and residency at Kettering Medical Center and Wright State University.
The death, while tragic, raises more questions than answers.
The first question is rather obvious: Why was this person at Weimar University?
“A physician familiar with mental health”
Lynda Cetean is listed on the Nedley Health Website as the Residential Program Administrative Director. No other academic qualifications are listed for her on the site.
Dr. Neil Nedley is listed as the founder and medical director of the
“Community-based and residential Nedley Depression and Anxiety Recovery Programs. He is an “award-winning practicing physician who also serves as President of Weimar University, a higher education college that houses the NEWSTART program. He has presented and published numerous scientific studies in the medical/scientific literature and is well known as an author, public speaker, and teacher throughout the world.”
The website touts the residential program as “The most successful residential treatment program available for depression and anxiety.” The website text continues:
“At the conclusion of the program, 99% of the participants reported significant improvements in their depression with 54% reporting no depression at all. Four months after the program, participants reported additional reduction of symptoms in both depression and anxiety.”
Dr. Nedley himself provides the History of the Neil Nedley Depression Recovery Program. The program is also known and referred to colloquially as the “Depression & Recovery Program” (DARP Program/DR Program. Dr. Nedley also mentioned how the program came to Weimar in his speech at the Birthday and Farewell Party of Pastor Don Mackintosh, who is also listed on the website as part of the Residential Team as a Spiritual Counselor.
The community depression and anxiety programs consist of eight 2-hour, once-weekly, lifestyle-focused depression treatment programs that teach participants about exercise, rest, and nutrition, as well as temperance and the use of spiritual resources to improve depression and anxiety. They watch pre-recorded presentations of Neil Nedley, MD, presenting materials on mental health and the science linked to improving depression and anxiety, according to one published research paper.
The website lists exuberant testimonials from various attendees of the 10-day residential program and the abstracts of several research articles on data gathered from the programs over the years. Intelligent Adventist’s team looked at a few of the research papers and found the research design to lack scientific rigor. For example, all the study abstracts that we examined lacked control groups. While we at IA believe in the Health Message and principles of health based on Scripture, we noticed that nearly all the studies generally seemed to trend towards a confirmation bias in historic Adventist health message beliefs. One study purported that reading the book of Proverbs reduced sexual activity outside marriage in just eight weeks of two-hour sessions.
While reading the papers, I noticed all the creative ways the lead researcher referred to Dr. Nedley in the abstracts, often using phrases such as “physician familiar with mental health.” I realized all these creative ways were perhaps to get around the fact that Dr. Nedley has neither a residency in Psychiatry nor a Doctorate in Psychology. And this is where the problems start for the DARP Residential Program and Weimar University.
The second question logically follows: did the deceased know they were attending a residential program where the medical director is neither a trained psychiatrist nor a psychologist?
“With Sadness”
Any residential Depression program should contain strong anti-suicide measures that start with an in-take protocol and process where an experienced intake Psych-RN evaluates the prospective client for the probability of suicide, acute and severe depression, chemical dependency, and any evidence of mental illness. As a condition of attending the residential depression program, the clients should have to consent to have their belongings and their person to be thoroughly searched to remove potentially harmful items such as knives, guns, and any items that could be used for self-harm when they arrive for the program.
The residential program should be built around patient safety, with 24×7 on-site medical staff performing regular checks on the clients/patients. The rooms should not have anything that could be used for self-harm: this includes everyday items such as cutlery, loose clothing, shoelaces, belts, electric cords, curtains, windows that open, and doors that lock from the inside. The Weimar Inn is designed as a resort-style hotel. It is not intended for the stay of a potentially at-risk person.
The Field Autopsy report does not say whether the deceased was evaluated by a registered nurse for the DARP program when they arrived on campus. There was a 4-hour gap between the last contact between the manager of the DARP program and the client. As for Dr. Nedley, he wasn’t on campus. According to our sources, he was attending a Weimar University staff retreat a hundred miles away.
According to several sources on the university campus, no one from the university administration publicly discussed the death on campus. The year before, students had requested counseling services be available to anyone on the university campus. In an ironic twist, even though the world’s “best holistic” Depression and Anxiety program was on campus, those services were still not in place when this death occurred. A layperson insisted that the girls be offered professional counseling to help them cope with their traumatic experience. Eventually, somebody provided the girls with professional counseling.
A campus-wide email whose subject was “with sadness” informed everyone about the death. The email attempts to avoid addressing why the “guest” was on campus in the first place and which entity, whether DARP or Weimar University, is legally liable should a wrongful-death lawsuit be filed. California law allows the aggrieved family or estate to recover damages for wrongful death. And while the Nedley DARP program could argue that they were between sessions, the responsibility for the standard of care still rests with the program.
Putting it another way, the third question is, if a lawsuit were to be filed, would Dr. Nedley choose to make the University or his for-profit program liable for the death? And even if there were no lawsuits in this case, where does the University’s liability end and DARP’s begin?
Conflicts of Interest
Sources near the administration have shared examples of Dr. Nedley’s conflicts of interest in running his for-profit Nedley Clinic (DBA Nedley Health Solutions) and the non-profit academic institution on the same campus. We list several of these conflicts here. Taken together, they paint a picture of why the Weimar University board may want to reconsider their arrangement with the President of their University.
A. Depression Recovery Program
DR Program takes over the Weimar Inn, and even though the facility has more rooms than DR has patients, no one else is allowed into the Inn. According to our whistleblower’s tip, the DR Program is held several times a year on campus. A group of 20-25, mostly younger patients who may be suicidal, sometimes drug abusing, and anxiety-ridden, arrive on campus for ten days at a time. The patients are charged $185/night for their room. Nedley Health Solutions are charged a negotiated (discounted) rate of $85/night for the same room. They are not charged for all the basement facilities (hydrotherapy, massage, conference room, hot tub, etc.). Nedley Health Solutions has been given an apartment (room #200) for free for at least ten years. Hotel rates have risen almost 40% over the last two years, but there hasn’t been a corresponding increase in charges to Nedley Health Solutions. According to our sources, there is no evidence that the extra money reverts to Weimar University.
B. “Closed Weekends”
Dr. Nedley instructs the music department to sing to the patients, often turning the weekend into a “closed weekend” so that students cannot leave campus. Should he do that when he has a vested financial interest?
C. Price of Residential Depression Recovery Program
In a recent Facebook post, Weimar University student Eugene Prewitt posted the price of the DR program as costing $9,000 while also announcing that he was going to work in the upcoming residential program.
Incidentally, Prewitt was awarded an honorary bachelor’s degree last year at the 2022 Weimar University Commencement by Dr. Nedley and is currently studying for a master’s in arts in Biblical Missions and Wellness, although he is already claiming his master’s degree in public Facebook/Telegram groups and dispensing medical information as a “health educator.” An honorary bachelor’s degree is typically not sufficient for admission to a graduate program at most universities. Weimar University stands here, virtually alone.
D. Federal and State Taxation Issues
According to a source, the annual revenue for the residential program alone is projected to be more than $1.54 Million. This is before selling books, consults, and supplements from Dr. Nedley’s supplement brand. IA has not independently verified this claim. However, we ask if the University Board has considered the potential of off-the-books, executive compensation tax implications, and tax penalties.
F. Potential Wider Church Implications
Dr. Nedley is a member of the General Conference Executive Committee. He has presented his views on mental health at various General Conference Councils. Could a potential lawsuit reach the General Conference over the credibility they have extended to him and his business interests?
G. Allegations of Sexual Harassment against a DR Staff Member
Intelligent Adventist’s coverage of WU began with a lawsuit against the University over allegations of sexual harassment. We have since learned of three separate allegations and the names of the victims on the campus of Weimar University. The alleged perpetrator for all three victims is an employee of the Depression Recovery Program.
Several members of the University board demanded an independent investigation be conducted. The independent investigator filed their report with the attorney of the University, who, according to an anonymous source, has refused to turn over the report to the University Board over fears that it will be leaked to the public. The board informed Dr. Nedley that this DR employee was no longer allowed on campus; however, they were seen driving an NHS vehicle a week ago. Sources believe they are staying at the Weimar Inn.
Despite the pending lawsuit, some things haven’t changed on the University Campus.
In conclusion, even though Weimar University is an independent self-supporting Adventist institution of higher learning, I can’t escape the realization that, in the self-inflicted death of this victim, we, as a church, have all failed. She came to Weimar because she felt it was a safe place for her to be, but in her hour of extreme need, she was let down by a physician who wasn’t qualified to handle her medical needs, by staff that was insufficient and undertrained, in a facility that was ill-equipped to keep her safe.
According to the Nedley Health Solutions website, the next Residential Depression Recovery Session starts next Thursday, February 16, 2023, on the campus of Weimar University.
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90 Comments
As a former student in the Bachelors of Natural Science program at Weimar University I was required to do a rotation through one cycle of the residential Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program a few years ago. The lack of close supervision for high-risk individuals (which many of them are) struck me as something strange for such a program. The Depression Recovery patients, many of whom are mentally afflicted to greater degrees, are allowed free rein of the Weimar Campus’s 500+ acres, including some rather remote trails that are shared with the rest of the campus (families, community members, elementary, high school, and university students and faculty). One particular off-campus hike led to law enforcement being called, as one of the patients had simply run off and was unable to be located for hours towards nightfall. The lack of substantial patient oversight is evident in many aspects of the program. For example, there has been more than one instance of improper relationships between Nedley patients and Weimar students, often even students that are assigned to the program, which is a moral and ethical breach that undermines the very thing these patients are paying Nedley Health Solutions so much money to help them with.
I have studied at Weimar University. This article makes me laugh at the total absurdity and inaccurate information that is here described. Taking a bit of truth and mixing it with a whole lot of error is here practiced. Shadowing the DR program, I have seen the remarkable results of it. Dr. Nedley is very competent in what he does. I wish more people knew about it. I have seen so many lives saved as a result.
Dr. Nedley is charging an exorbitant amount of money for sub-optimal care; not to mention, he’s neither certified nor qualified to be the attending physician. The protocol, as the authors stated, is a form of confirmation bias to substantiate the SDA un-health message. Further, the program appears to have a high rate of recidivism. It’s high time for this program to be shut down.
What information, specifically, is inaccurate?
I have studied at Weimar University. Shadowing the DR program, I have seen the remarkable results of it. Dr. Nedley is very competent in what he does. I wish more people knew about it. I have seen so many lives saved as a result.
Sorry for the repeated message. I was not sure if IA would post my comment since it was negative against them. @T.R. I wonder why you would say what you do? Do you have personal experience with the program, or is this just hear say? Gossip can change stories, and mentally ill people can make up crazy stories too. If you look at the research, people with mental health issues inherently have relapses; it’s a chronic disease. Thankfully, Dr. Nedley treats the root problems rather than treating symptoms like many doctors do. I would also ask if you do have experience that you not have a negative mental filter. There are so many powerful stories of people’s lives changed that I have personally heard from people who attended the Nedley Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program. Maybe the reason why you don’t mention these or have not heard of them is because of HIPPA and because you don’t personally know many people coming from this program.
The research behind DR is pseudo-science. The abstracts of DR’s “research” demonstrate a form of epidemiology that is not rigorous, nor does the DR program employ random clinical trials, which are the gold standard. I AM a scientist, trained in statistics and correct research methods, and the garbage DR publishes is utter nonsense.
Further, the pathetic diet they put the patients on is not backed by — again — rigorous scientific principles: low-fat, high-carb is deleterious to the body and is strongly associated with mental health problems, namely, depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, and schizophrenia. What these people need is a biblical diet; not one based upon the musings of Ellen White and Dr. Kellogg.
Your admiration and what appears to be adulation of Dr. Nedley is ill-founded and will soon prove to be hitching one’s wagon to a falling star.
High-carb diets full of sugar do cause mental health problems, but what about diets full of fiber?
Carbs = Sugar. In polysaccharides, it takes about 15 mins for these glucose chains to become simple sugars, which in excess (i.e., > 50g a day) can be hard on the body’s metabolism. Fiber doesn’t matter in this regard. The fiber in some vegetables that take their energy intake to essentially nil (e.g., asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, etc.) doesn’t necessarily help the body, as non-nutritionists like Dr. Nedley proclaim. In fact, large amounts of fiber can lead to IBS, Crohn’s disease, diverticulosis/diverticulitis, and leaky gut. And then, why eat something that provides zero energy and very little nutrition, because the bioavailability of these plants is often offset by the antinutrients they contain.
The bottom line is, a vegetarian diet — even more so a vegan diet — is not a prescription that is sustainable for long-term and optimal health and strength.
You are entitled to your opinion.
That’s true — I am entitled to my opinion. To that end, this opinion is well-researched and based upon empirical data and good science. And, it’s based upon the Bible; not Ellen White or Dr. Kellogg.
Seeing that Dr. Nedley is a certified gastroenterologist and held high marks in his biochemical undergrad training and that the brain and gut are closely connected, it is very likely that he is more of an expert in this field than you think.
Where do you get your information that Nedley is a certified gastroenterologist?? Where did he do a fellowship or residency in GI??
To AY: to be certified in GI, Dr Nedley would have had to take a fellowship in GI and then take board exams in GI, neither of which he did. He passes himself off as a gastroenterologist just like he passes himself off as a mental health expert (he did not take psychiatry nor psychology either). And the only reason you know anything about his biochemistry scores is because he tells everyone how well he did.
T.R., I am an RD and I would completely disagree with you. Our brains and bodies function most efficiently on complex CHO. I have helped many people reverse diabetes, HTN, heart disease, and of course weight issues. I always recommend a high complex carbohydrate diet and preferably plant based for each of these conditions. Guess what? It works.
As an RD, I’m certain you’re aware that carbohydrates aren’t essential. The body will make what it needs for the portions of the brain, eyes, and kidneys that require glucose, via the process of gluconeogenesis. In truth, the body functions best — any medical physiology textbook will tell you this fact — on ketone bodies. Of course, it’s important to bump the body out of ketosis at least once a day (unless one is doing a prolonged fast), but the ketones are more efficient: think diesel vs. gasoline….diesel wins every time. A moderate protein, low-carb diet is enough to induce a post-prandial bump without spikes and crashes.
Of course, to acknowledge your protocol, your Rx is helpful for those who are overweight, sick, and nearly dead….for a time. It’s not sustainable in the long-term, because the diet you prescribe lacks the essential fatty and amino acids that plants CANNOT provide, even with supplementation. It’s all about bioavailability. Again, check the literature in this regard.
I’ve found that plant-based adherents eventually rust from the inside out: they experience sarcopenia and muscle atrophy, they become (sadly) mentally demented, bone density is lost, and they have little immunity to fight off some of the stronger viruses. In fact, every “vegan” I know — every single one — got COVID, and got it badly. On the other hand, not one person I know who was following a high-fat, low-carb, moderate protein diet got hit by the virus, and the ones about whom I heard, got a mild case.
I definitely respect the position you’ve taken, and at the same time, please understand, it’s not a one-size-fits all construct.
Well if you want kidney problems and many other lifestyle diseases then your prescription is perfect. God placed man in a garden where they were given foods to eat that were largely carbohydrate. Just curious, what type of scientist are you?
As a nutritionist and researcher, I’ve never found any rigorous scientific studies to support your claims, only anecdotal evidence in the form of confirmation bias and appeals to authority. Please…recheck the sources of the claims you make.
Kidney disease is not brought on solely by protein or fat, even the protein and fat of ruminants. Sugar is the culprit, and all carbs are sugar. And when high amounts of protein are combined with all the carbs — that is, the garbage American diet (processed foods, seed oils, and refined carbs) — kidney disease becomes an issue, and much of it is because of metabolic syndrome. Remember, the human body does not require exogenous carbohydrates — it will make what it requires on its own.
The diet I endorse and follow is moderate protein, high(er) fat, and low carbohydrate (< 5% total energy). (The protein does not exceed 20-25% of total energy intake.) This diet has been shown to have a strong association with mental clarity, lean muscle mass, high HDL, low TG, and little to no instances of metabolic syndrome.
As for other lifestyle diseases and kidney problems, if you have a link to one rigorous scientific study — must be a random clinical trial — that shows the diet I endorse causes heart disease, T2 diabetes, kidney disease, hypertension, mental disorders, etc., please post a link. I'm ever-willing to change my position. Thanks.
As for God placing man in the garden and giving him the foods of Genesis 1:29, please note, that diet was for an unfallen race, not to mention, humans today have no concept of all that particular diet entailed. Perhaps Genesis 3 might come into play, where man fell, but then again, that environment no longer exists, given we live after the flood.
The only thing we have to go on, biblically, is Genesis 9 and also Leviticus 11. From everything I've read, God never changed His mind. Jesus never said to go back to Genesis 1 or to adopt a vegetarian/vegan diet. (Ellen White doesn't count, she's not the Bible.) A loving God would never do anything that would harm the health of the capstone of His creation.
I would imagine we won't agree on the matter, and yet, it's good to revisit these things scientifically from time to time. The bottom line is this: I addressed the issue because of the outlandish claims of Nedley Health and the depression recovery program. They feed those patients a diet as you've described, and what? The research demonstrates a high-carb diet is strongly associated with mental health disorders, namely depression, dementia, Alzheimer's dementia, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The brain is made of fat, and it needs fat.
For $9000 a pop, I would think the program's director would understand basic biochemistry and provide the nutrition that would promote healing, and not further aggravate the situation.
TR, there are a multitude of studies to support what I endorse. It’s pretty much a slam dunk at this point. And what do you mean by nutritionist? Anyone can claim that title.
Please show me your slam dunk. The studies that do exist are epidemiological and observational in nature. Adventist Health Study, Blue Zone Study, etc., are wrought with confirmation bias. In other words, the data were manipulated to support Ellen White’s and Dr. Kellogg’s positions. Sadly, there’s nothing in terms of the gold standard, random clinical trial. If I’ve missed it, please post a link. I’m happy to review it and give it due consideration.
I won’t be so rude as to question your credentials, but suffice it to say, anyone can call herself a registered dietician.
She is a registered dietician.
A.Y. I believe you are right, that there has been much good that has come from the DR program, however, this is in no way an appropriate program to mix on a campus w students from kindergarten to university age. It seems highly unlikely that any SDA campus/principal in the whole NAD would approve of a physician’s idea to bring a mental health for-profit program onto its campus w elementary, middle school, and academy age students. There is absolutely a gross lack in judgement, education and experience demonstrated by this comingling. When there is a crisis (ie:suicide) where does the president’s first interest lie?? For students or for a “patient”? The law says that a Psychiatrist’s (which Dr. N. is not) first duty is to his patient’s care. That leaves students w/o an invested advocate. Is there a background check done on each DR participant?? I don’t believe so.
These were things our family did not know or understand upon enrolling our students at Weimar. It took a while to comprehend that this could even possibly be the truth, but it is. It is only fair for that truth to be known so that parents can make an informed decision.
The positives that many believe are offered by the DR program can continue and be shared as a witness…..it should just be elsewhere, NOT on a campus w students of all ages.
To be honest, I have never heard legitimate reports of any student having an actual problem due to the DR program on the campus. If anything, it has helped more students than hurt them.
I imagine that you are someone that works for DR. How has DR helped so many students on campus? All I know is that you have to come up with nearly $10,000. Why is there not a student counselor provided on campus– like real universities have?
I do not work for DR or Nedley Health, and there has long been a student counselor even before Intelligent Adventist existed. All this gossiping on Intelligent Adventist is productive of little good to the world.
You and I both know as students of Weimar they there has not long been a student counselor. Are you referring to the Student Success Coordinator or the Campus Chaplain? Neither of those fill the role of University Counseling services. To this day this is no form of mental health services specifically provided for students on campus.
I believe they do fulfill the role. I have seen that they have competently and professionally helped people in that capacity. The fact that you might not know about that is just maybe again do to HIPPA and your not personally knowing people who have been helped by it. Just as every place can improve, I’m sure they improve and maybe expand to include different types of counselors, but the service is there. Not everyone uses it though, so at this point, it is not necessary to expand. I think it is sometimes difficult for those who are mentally ill to seek help and easy for them to adopt a victim mindset, saying, “There is no help available; poor me.” When there actually is help available, and praise God, some people have found that help.
T.R., I am an RD and I would completely disagree with you. Our brains and bodies function most efficiently on complex CHO. I have helped many people reverse diabetes, HTN, heart disease, and of course weight issues. I always recommend a high complex carbohydrate diet and preferably plant based for each of these conditions. Guess what? It works.
A.Y., what about all those Sabbath School children that saw this woman hanging? Do you think they will ever get that image out of their head? What if one of these people is a child predator or decides to shoot up the campus? This is what has worried many of us that are parents.
It is challenging to know what to think of this article, as much of what is said can not easily be demonstrated true or false. One thing that is saddening is the tone of malice, suspicion and slander that the author obviously has towards Weimar in general and certain individuals in particular.
One accusation that is easily falsified is the specious attack on Mr Prewitt’s education.
It is stated “An honorary bachelor’s degree is typically not sufficient for admission to a graduate program at most universities. Weimar University stands here, virtually alone.”
This is easily falsified. If one looks at page 92 (pdf version) of the 2022-2023 undergraduate catalog for Southern Adventist University, it will be noted that a BS in Medical Science is granted to students not holding a bachelors degree of any sort who have completed the general premedical courses and successfully completed the first year of a professional program from a properly accredited school of dentistry, chiropractic, medicine, pharmacy, or optometry.
This implies that it is not entirely uncommon for exceptional individuals to be admitted to graduate programs, and to receive a bachelors degree via methods that are inaccessible to lesser students.
If one reads Chapter II of the Ordinances of Cambridge University, the following can be found ” a person must satisfy the requirements for matriculation by showing evidence of a broad educational background and good standards of literacy and numeracy, and by demonstrating in public examinations high academic attainment, or the potential for such attainment, in the chosen areas of study.”
I will here note that matriculation at Cambridge refers to the official ceremony by which new students are entered into the register of students. Thus students can enter the university by demonstrating previous high attainment, or potential for such attainment in the future.
The reader must decide for himself if the differences of opinion on theological issues between the authors of this site and those presented on Mr Prewitt’s site (https://bibledoc.org) are perhaps responsible for the obvious animosity. It is sad that rather than improving their arguments, or adopting a more Biblical position, the authors have chosen to pivot to operating a third-rate tabloid.
I just had a friend without a bachelors degree receive a masters degree from Oxford University. It’s hard to imagine a more prestigious university than that.
Eugene, it is strikingly evident that this comment was penned by none other than yourself. The examples proffered are entirely inapplicable in the particular scenario you find yourself in, which is entering graduate school without completing typical prerequisites. On page 92 of Southern Adventist University’s undergraduate catalogue, we find, as you point out, a section outlining the policy of granting a bachelors of science in Medical Laboratory Science to those who have:
1: completed 93 semester hours in an accredited undergraduate university program of which at least the last 30 were taken in residence at Southern Adventist University and at least 12 of which were at the upper division level.
2: Meet the General Education requirements equivalent to those outlined for the current Medical Laboratory Science program and the following required courses and cognates listed below (many of which are the typical core science classes required for a science degree).
3: Provide certification from an accredited professional school of dentistry, chiropractic, medicine, pharmacy, or optometry that the first year of the respective professional program has been successfully completed and that the applicant is eligible to continue.
Southern’s bachelors in Med Lab Science is not a graduate program, and I am struggling to find any significance in bearing all of this to point in your argument. It makes perfect sense that Southern chooses to give this degree to students who have not only completed 93 credits of all of the general education and cognate requirements, but at least a YEAR of graduate school. I am not aware of your educational background, but assuming you have completed all of the former, you too can receive a bachelors in Medical Laboratory Science from Southern.
Implying that the publishing of some of the worrying events seeming to surround you is due to theological differences between the publisher of this article and yourself (don’t worry, we all see the shameless plug to your website) is laughable. What it detracts from is the seriousness of how your inclusion in last year’s Weimar University graduation and the announcement that you would be matriculating to the in-house Master’s program diminished the accomplishments of the students who actually put in the work and walked the aisle with you.
Dear SB,
I am not Eugene Prewitt.
With regards to the portion of the Southern Catalog that was referenced, it seems obvious from what we both read that BS in Medical Science is only granted to students who lack a bachelors degree but successfully complete one year of a graduate program.
It is implied by the existence of this policy that it is not exceedingly rare for exceptional individuals who have not earned a bachelors degree graduate programs.
Therefore the accusation that “Weimar University stands here, virtually alone” is demonstrably false.
Once it has been show that false statements are being perpetuated by the author, one must naturally question if other potential issues are being portrayed in a less than honest light.
I believe that you are at least in part misunderstanding the reason for the existence of Southern’s policy (it is still incredibly irrelevant to Mr. Prewitt’s situation, but since you keep using it we can flesh it out).
Loma Linda is one example of a school of dentistry, chiropractic practice, medicine, pharmacy, and optometry that does not require a bachelors degree to actually apply and get into any of these programs as long as you have completed the required general and cognate classes as well as score highly on entrance exams. Should a student be accepted and complete one year of one of these programs without having previously gotten a bachelors degree but then decide to continue on a different career path, the aforementioned policy that Southern has would directly benefit them.
All of this is beside the actual point that an honorary degree has no precedence at all in being accepted by graduate schools as a valid pre-requisite for acceptance. An honorary degree is conferred honoris causa, meaning “for the sake of honor.” It is just that: an act of recognition.
West Virginia University’s website has a section on their website about honorary degrees. “Honorary degrees are not Ph.D.s, nor do they entitle the recipient to the same professional privileges as individuals who have earned degrees.” They go further, detailing how those who have earned an honorary doctorate cannot use the professional title of doctor in their title, correspondence, business cards etc. You would not introduce the talk show host, actor, and author Oprah Winfrey (who holds 4 honorary doctorates) as Dr. Winfrey, as an honorary title does not give precedence to using it in a career in any capacity except to show lifetime achievements.
Dear SB,
I am not sure how you are still confused.
We both agree that upon occasion, many schools grant honorary degrees to those to whom they feel have deserved them.
Also, we both have been able to readily find examples of quality graduate schools that accept students whom have not completed a bachelors degree.
Perhaps the hangup for you is both of these events happening simultaneously?
Surely we should both be able to agree the anonymous author of this poorly researched “article” was lying when she wrote:
“An honorary bachelor’s degree is typically not sufficient for admission to a graduate program at most universities. Weimar University stands here, virtually alone. ”
Now considering this falsehood, and the general tone of slander present in the article, one must wonder what other falsehoods are being shared and the most likely reason for these falsehoods.
For those reasons, I will refer you to my previous post.
I shall now follow the counsel given in Matthew 7:6 and leave this comment section.
We do in fact both agree that honorary degrees are a thing (good!).
Your second point is where you already lost the trail. The programs that I specified (I noted Loma Linda as an example) do NOT require a bachelors degree, as is stated above, as long as the core generals and cognates are completed. This is where our first of many issues arises: Weimar’s Masters In Missions and Biblical Wellness DOES require a real degree to apply and be admitted to.
And no, we can not both surely agree that this article is poorly written and that the author is lying when they wrote “An honorary bachelor’s degree is typically not sufficient for admission to a graduate program at most universities. Weimar University stands here, virtually alone.” If you still believe the contrary after all previous discourse, it is beyond reason for anyone to continue to try and change that wrongly held opinion. Which is why it is a blessing that you did make the decision to leave the comment section, although under the pretense of a pretty menacing Bible verse. Just remember: the energy you pour into using scripture as a weapon online could have been used to win souls:)
Very well said. Thank you!
Dear Friend,
I spoke to the individual writing under the name of Anonymous Coward earlier today. A few years ago, by what I consider to be a small miracle, I fell into a conversation with an individual who mentioned that he had graduated with a masters degree from Oxford without having any sort of undergraduate degree. This was quite relevant to me, as at the time I did not possess any form of
I initiated an application process and was accepted as a student. Last summer, upon completion of the required coursework, I was awarded a Masters degree without ever holding any sort of undergraduate degree (associates or bachelors).
If Oxford can occasionally decide to allow relevant experience can compensate for a lack of any formal qualifications, it seems that Weimar should certainly be justified in doing so as well.
I am not sure if the author of this article is grasping at straws or simply unfamiliar with current practices in higher education, however, the fact that the article is unsigned should be concerning to the discerning reader.
100%
Prewitt is a pseudo-academic who’s more versed in Ellen White than he is in the Bible. He’s there because his theology agrees with that of Mackintosh (who knows why he believes what he does) and Nedley (who follows what Mackintosh believes). Prewitt has some good things to say, every now and again, but at the end of the day, an honorary degree, along with a buck or two, will buy you a can of Big Franks. But that’s not the issue…it’s a distraction.
What’s really problematic about Anonymous Coward’s post is his/her failure to address the issue at hand. The for-profit DR program DOES NOT belong on the same campus as a not-for-profit education program. Nedley has unscrupulously exploited his position as president to sneak in his hack of program that may or may not actually be helping anyone, and the fact this SUICIDE took place prior to a DR session — absent of legit oversight — is deplorable.
The RIGHT thing to do would be, at a minimum, depart Weimar and operate this for-profit business in a separate location, but of course, why do that when one can take advantage of his position by instilling fear in those who might dissent?!
An even better thing to do would be for the authorities to audit this hack of a program and shut it down. Healing a hurting world seems to be going in the wrong direction.
I can see that you feel strongly about this issue.
Your assessment is correct.
Do you know Prewitt personally?
I actually had not really considered the patient’s safety at the DR program, so it was good to have that brought to light. What has been a big concern for many of us, is the safety of the students on campus. Every other month, at least, 20-25 unknown individuals that are suffering emotionally/mentally come onto campus. These people are not background checked, fingerprinted, or anything, and yet they are allowed to roam around campus. We have for sometime anticipated something bad happening, but not necessarily this particular type of event.
Unfortunately, Weimar doesn’t have a board. They have a good old boys club. The board members that actually cared about the people on campus, have now officially resigned. Fortunately for Nedley, he will keep his large platform and have free rein to continue his empire building.
The probability of a suicide associated with any mental health institution is real. Also, bad things happen in every institution. We could come up with horror stories of pretty much every institution of higher learning in the world, especially non-Adventist institutions. The fact that it has a mental health program that is quite successful does not make Weimar University an inherently unsafe place. I have never feared for my personal safety when on the campus or shadowing the DR program. I think the fear associated with mental health issues is more resulting from the mental health stigma of our culture than with a university having such a facility.
AY: you called this a mental health institution….it is not. It is NOT. There is not unfounded fear. It is for good reason! There are facts. A woman died here. That is a reality and w that reality comes questions. How much unnecessary risk do we as parents subject elementary and teen kids to?? DR may have done much good, but obviously some things have changed. It could continue …….just @ another location. It is very clear in SOP that there should not be the comingling of God’s work w personal gain. One may argue that Dr Nedley has always lived on a pastor’s salary. That is your prerogative to believe. This very relevant issue (of comingling) should be clear to the board, but as previously mentioned, they don’t seem to have what it takes to stand for change and those who do have left in frustration.
I would guess you may be a student and young. As a parent I would voice that this is not a wise or average choice to put students of all ages and mental health challenges into the same physical space. It appears to many to be self serving. If it would like to be proven that it is otherwise, then please take the DR program elsewhere and manifest that theory.
Dear Disappointed,
Are you saying that no one ever commits suicide at places of mental healing? Would this not be all-or-nothing thinking? Are you saying that just because the risk of suicide eventually caught up to the program that something changed? Would this not be jumping to conclusions? I believe that the program directors have likely learned from this issue but I don’t believe anything changed to precipitate it on the part of the program. I believe that there are likely other factors outside of “average” abilities or even above average abilities to be able to entirely control this issue. Even in the perfect environment of heaven, Satan originated evil. Did this mean that God was at fault? Satan charged God with “self-serving.” Was this true? No, Satan was self-serving. In a similar way, I view the situation at Weimar. I have witnessed the Nedleys sacrifice of their time, their needs, their interests, and their money for the good of Weimar. The fact that Weimar exists and is now a University sending out competent professionals is to a significant degree due to their work. It is easy to complain about the management of any institution rather than realize and appreciate the growth. As long as Weimar and its administration continue to seek to follow God’s will, God will work whatever Satan might do to attack for His honor and glory. In fact, I have seen this already to be the case. Many of the students at Weimar are now more committed to Weimar’s mission and there is a closer knit environment as a result. Along the way, Weimar might not be perfect, but it’s growing and it is far better, in my opinion, than other options for undergraduate training. I have been and continue to be a satisfied customer.
I feel that my response to you may have been blocked. I would suggest that you analyze your thinking for cognitive distortions. I know Dr. Nedley to not be self-serving.
You are implying that t it’s almost statistically inevitable for a residential program to have a patient succeed in committing suicide when the whole point of a residential program is to do everything possible to prevent all kinds of self-harm. It’s like sending someone to rehab and expecting at least one of them to get blackout drunk in your secure, dry facility and then writing it off as a business expense. To use Dr. Nedley’s pet CBT terminology, you’re viewing this through a mental filter.
Comparing the Nedleys to God is definitely a distortion as well. They are just people and placing them on a pedestal is part of the problem that has created a culture where people like you are willing to discount a horrific, unnecessary death as a normal, statistical probability. This poor woman, who came to the Weimar campus in search of care and healing, was not met with interventions strong enough for her to even consider not taking her own life. She was not given a physically safe environment that would take away all means of self-harm, and she was not given a mentally, emotionally, and spiritually safe environment that would allow her to heal either. Instead, she passed away alone, and has now been reduced to a talking point.
And of course the students are banding together: it’s called trauma bonding and is a very natural response in the wake of traumatic events. I’m glad you’re still satisfied with your experience, but I would encourage you to go work on your homework instead of defending Dr. Nedley in the comments. He definitely doesn’t care that you’re rising to his defense.
AY: It sounds like you feel strongly about this? And are satisfied w the current tone and methodology of Weimar’s campus? Many disagree w you. Plain and simple.
Disappointed: I do feel very strongly about this and have written many pages about the subject after your question that I don’t feel ready to publish. After researching the issue, the majority actually agree with what I have said, for the most part. I believe there is just a phenomenon called “the by-stander’s effect.” I’m sure there are things I have said that some would disagree with. No one is perfect. Just because some may disagree with some elements of what I have said does not mean that it is wrong, either. Even if I were the only one, hypothetically, to hold my view, I would still be fine because it matters more what God thinks than what people think. I am satisfied with the growth that I continue to see at Weimar.
Have you done your homework?
After having shadowed the DR program, heard many success stories, and seen some of my friends go through this program. I can tell you that you are not alone in your beliefs. Many of the DR guests initially think these same things. They think that Nedley is the villain and that they know the answers. Yet, somehow, they manage to overcome these ideas just enough to come to a place to find help. Knowing the real situation, I have never thought of these things. One of the best ways to help to improve the overall lab values of patients and to help them get better is to reassure them that the doctor has their back. This helped the patient I shadowed to get better. The individual told me they were forever grateful for my help as I studied the methodology of the DR program. CBT is actually the leading treatment for mental illness, not just “Nedley’s pet.”
Your concerns about placing people on the same platform as God are valid in society, but not in this circumstance. We could label these mental health problems as problems such as narcissism and schizophrenia. Indeed, the Bible even speaks of such individuals who struggled with pride. Nebuchadnezzar thought that he had done marvelous things before he became an animal eating grass. I wonder if placing such a significant responsibility upon Dr. Nedley for other people’s transgressions is not the actual problem here. Elevating Dr. Nedley to such a high responsibility of being responsible for someone else’s personal moral decision, is putting him in the place of God, unfortunately, on your account, not mine. The individual made a choice that stands as a witness to the awful effects of sin upon the human race, not the imperfections of imperfect human beings, for we are all imperfect. Ever since Adam and Eve’s day, the number has been increasing. Ask any well-versed geneticist in their field, and they will tell you that we are not destined for immortality but for degradation. Some have even calculated a date for such an occurrence. I prefer not to be so gloomy but rather realize that Jesus is coming soon, and we need to be ready. Oh, and by the way, the reason we are bonded together, I believe, is also because those who were not committed left, and those who came actually did not care about the drama that IA might like to be credited for forming.
Unfortunately, the DR program is of absolutely no benefit to anyone at Weimar. However, it does greatly benefit Nedley. Weimar makes very little money from the program. This is his personal business that he runs on the campus of a nonprofit where he is president . He has several places on campus that his personal employees live, when the rule on campus is you must work for Weimar or volunteer full time. It’s one of those things- the rules are for thee, not for me. Not sure why HR is allowing this.
AY: plz get some sleep or are you in another time zone?
Thank you for your concern. I have slept very well, thank you!
When I saw that Eugene Prewitt had put post-nominal initials behind his name, I immediately thought of George Santos who has been making headlines for doing the same.
The world is dying to see men of integrity. Where are they??
Who do you think I am?
Don??
No
As I have been musing over your comments, laughing now and then and being concerned about others, I want to remind you all that being preoccupied with death is a symptom of depression. This is why I wrote anything in the first place to let you know that there is help available at the Nedley Clinic. Please see a professional, whatever you do, and I’m not getting paid to say this. I never was paid to say anything here.
AY, if you make statements as fact, I assume you have evidence to back them up. You were asked two questions which remain unanswered by you.
1. What was inaccurate about this article?
2. Where is you get evidence to say that Dr. Nedley is a board certified gastroenterologist?
Will you please correct my mistake in question #2?
It should say –Where is your evidence…
Thank you
Here are my brief answers to your questions.
1. Seeing that this is a very sensitive issue, as it deals with personal information, I cannot respond to this question directly. If you will look at my remarks, and ask the people related to the deceased and the people working at the Nedley Clinic, you may find the most accurate answers to your questions.
2. If you read the Nedley Clinic website and know the Nedleys, you can come to that conclusion.
Rather than argue about things many of you don’t even know about, why don’t you turn to the Bible and behold Christ, who died for our sins? Examine His character. Study His life. Spend a thoughtful hour each day meditating upon these things, as Sister White recommends. Then you will behold Him, His love, His unselfishness, His tender, pitying love for all of humanity. Then you will be changed into His likeness–step by step. God is a God of love. He delights in making His children happy. You can be happy–every last one of you. Rest in peace, in His care.
I know who this man is in the sexual harassment story. At least 2 of the women told Dr. and Mrs. Nedley about the sexual harassment quite some time ago. Yet this man was allowed to be hired to work for NEWSTART,( where he was for at least a year until the board member made some noise this fall, then he was fired )and also work for DR. And of course campus housing was provided. But the fact that Dr. Nedley knew about it, he never should have allowed this man to be hired for any position on campus. When a board member learned about this situation last summer, an investigation took place. As stated above, Dr. Nedley would not allow the report to be seen by the board. Here in California, by law, the board is the highest entity, but not on Weimar. (Maybe it’s a bit like the Vatican- its own country. )
Without seeing the report, the board explicitly said this man could not be on campus for any reason. Yet, here he was working at DR in December, living in the Inn, and driving Nedley’s vehicles. Here is a fine example of conflict of interest– Nedley’s need him for their business. They are willing to put those on the campus at risk because of the benefit to them personally. The board has failed to carry out their duties. So now my question is, where is HR?
Who are you even talking about? I think you are a bit off topic for this news article.
Off topic? I’m sorry, but many of your comments border on delusional. The amount of cognitive gymnastics and gaslighting you are employing to try and defend the indefensible is disheartening to read through.
A.B. I appreciate your response, but you are not Truth matters (to some). Please let him speak. Thank you for saying that they “border on delusional,” rather than are delusional, since they are not actually delusional. I feel that you and others have been the ones who are gaslighting and employing cognitive gymnastics. I believe the reason why we both feel the same way is because few have taken the time even to answer the gaslighting that has been going on in an attempt to degrade Weimar’s reputation. You do not need to be disheartened by hearing my position or make personal attacks upon me rather than addressing the truth. Again, this personal attack is a bit off-topic.
AY
Did you not read the entirety of the artice?
Truth matters (to some): I don’t remember if I did or not. I do not know about that particular situation. I do not even know if it is true or who it could be if it is true. If it is, I am glad that it is not made a public concern because I think the administration are well equipped to handle it.
Why are you commenting so much on something you cannot confirm to have actually read? The article directly addresses the subject matter of the above comment. Your thoughts on the concealment of serious sexual allegations are definitely an interesting angle.
AY: I believe you have disqualified yourself for offering informed opinions here. This article has relevant and real issues that do carry truth. You said you don’t know what this is about or if you read the article?? That seems true,
You seem to know something about this issue. I’m sure the waiting audience is eager to hear what you have to say. I do agree that the article is not completely false, but it does have a lot of error.
It’s been a long week. Now that I think about it more, I remember reading the section. I remember finding it absurd because, although I know a lot about Weimar, I don’t know anyone to match those specifications, especially when combined with these comments. This confirmed in my mind the ridiculousness of the article that was labeled “Suicide at Weimar University” when it talked about something so illogical and off-topic to me and when it skewed other facts as well that have been mostly already mentioned. The only connection I can gather from the article is that the writer clearly feels strongly about the fact that there apparently appears to be serious errors in management at the DRP program.
I focused my comments on what people asked about that was related to the article’s title. This is what was most important to me, as I stated before. My desire is that people do not take this article and reject the idea of receiving much-needed help from the Nedley Depression and Anxiety Recovery Program when there is nothing to be concerned about in the management or outcome of the program, from my fairly well-educated perspective. I have honestly not even bothered to ask if these statements are true; it is that absurd to me. Sometimes, I wonder if it is true because of what you seem to be saying, but seeing there is so much misinformation, it looks ridiculously false.
I agree that what I have said has an interesting angle because few have the bravery, time, or interest to challenge these nonsensical ideas, which some may take as reality and die without help. Additionally, having shadowed the program, I realize that the care received at Weimar treats the core issues of the disease rather than managing symptoms. This means that those who come there have a far better chance at life, in my current opinion.
I am honestly so grateful that I have had the opportunity to share my thoughts about this matter to such an interactive audience. I believe that without a measure of wisdom from God I could not have had the courage to say anything. I love life and want to share that love with others. Ultimately, as I said before, this love of life comes from Christ who died for my sins so that I do not have to die, rose from the grave, and who lives to intercede for me in heaven (see Romans 3:23 and Hebrews 12:1-3). Because of the fact that I realize I am a sinner saved by grace, I extend that same grace to those who make mistakes. If that unselfish love for others can be reflected in even a small degree in my dedication to presenting my perspective of the truth, irrespective of what people think, for their eternal good, I am eternally satisfied. I do not believe Dr. Nedley, Mrs. Cetean, the board, or anyone else can rightly be held responsible for someone else’s choice to end their life. The rest of the issues are not even on the topic. If anything, the article should be titled “Mistakes of the DRP Program,” if it actually wanted to be accurate. I’m sure the title as is gets more views though, and maybe it is a blessing in desguise for people to also know the truth.
You implied by your question that I have commented “so much” on a topic I do not remember. I have at this point commented in depth about it, but not previously. At this point, I believe I have answered most of what there is to say about the topic since there is not much to say. I might check back in a while to see if there is anything major to refute. Before I do that, I would like to investigate the issue further by posing a few questions.
How can you say someone is off topic if you don’t know the topic?
The topic of the article is “Suicide at Weimar University.” That’s all I know about and believe is true until I hear otherwise.
AY, so sorry, I have one more question that I forgot to add-
3. What do you mean by “those that were not committed left”? Committed to what?
Truth matters: I very much agree w you. The lack of professionalism and integrity and DISCIPLINE in this confirmed sexual misconduct case should be a “no-brainer” for the Board. When a Board member requests an investigation and that investigation result is withheld from the Board, by administration and the Board chair…….something stinks (let’s not forget there is another case in court at this time as well). For those who are loyal to administration, I ask you to consider what philosophy is being upheld by not calling this out. I believe it is called “the end justifies the means”.
Just remember that there are distinct boundaries to personal information. Some of those boundaries are upheld by law, such as HIPPA and FERPA. Some of those boundaries are just common sense. When more people learn about an issue than are needed to solve it, it creates drama because people not involved in a situation don’t know the backstory behind the drama and may jump to conclusions. This is just human nature. I don’t blame you all for it, but please don’t perpetuate the lies by talking about things you do not know about. It really causes other people undue heartache. Ultimately, this can bring them closer to God, but I don’t know if that is what your intention is.
I don’t particularly know what you speak of, @TBH, but I do believe that if information was withheld, it was a decision filled with much professionalism and integrity. Discipline was clearly meted out, since Dr. Araya is no longer at Weimar. We don’t need to bring up past issues in a post completely unrelated to the subject you speak of. Let. it. go. My prayers are with you.
3. Committed to the purpose of Weimar despite its imperfections and committed to supporting its growth
I’m sure those who left each had their reasons, but obviously they are now committed to something else or feel unable to be committed to supporting its growth through challenging times.
I noticed that Eugene Prewitt has taken down his Facebook post where he apologized for using post-nominal initials. I imagine that someone in administration counseled him against this.
At Weimar, leadership has found that it is much more profitable to lie than admit wrongdoing.
Every. Single. Time.
Degrees definitely are not the be all, end all, although the coursework required to get the degrees can be good tools to help a person think critically and provide a broad perspective of various disciplines. As springboards to open doors of opportunity, degrees are often a necessity. What’s sad, however, is when individuals accept honorary degrees and employ them as if they actually did the work and use them as the tickets to overcome certain barriers.
The Oxford example aside, I have no experience with honorary bachelors degrees being conferred, which can then be used to get an actual graduate or post-graduate degree. In the grand scheme of things, honorary degrees are generally awarded when one’s professional contribution has been significant — over a long period of distinction — such that a pause for academic pursuits was not possible. Can Prewitt’s situation be considered in this light? I don’t know.
It seems to me, the current example is a disturbing example of cronyism — a common practice at WU. Whether or not the subject person could’ve received the same consideration at another institution of higher learning remains to be seen and is, at this point, irrelevant. However, it must be understood, the clear example of “insider trading” in this case lends itself to accepting Prewitt’s soon-received credentials with skepticism and even prejudice.
Just my opinion….
Unless you actually know Prewitt and the circumstances leading up to his honorary degree, which it appears to me that you do not, please do not gossip about it.
The circumstances of Prewitt being granted an honorary bachelors degree are public knowledge. If you were in person at grad 2022 or watched online, that’s all you need to be informed. Gossip would entail reports that have not been confirmed, which does not include these cold hard facts.
Gossip is what people say about the backstory, intentions, implications, etc. when they do not know what they are talking about.
AY– Honorary degree aside, Prewitt was lying about his degree in a public space. The evidence is there for all to see. I am curious to know if he will be kicked out of the program or even disciplined.
I think he realized that you would misunderstand him. Administration would not be so micromanaging as that. They have better things to do with their time.
Better things to do with their time? Does this include a large-scale coverup of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and a scheme to protect the president of an institution that is more interested in making money than the safety of his patients and gospel work? I would agree that yes, they are very busy.
No, doing their actual jobs