CHARLES R . DREW UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
College of Medicine Celebrates Another Successful Match Day
Drew CARES and Storefront Program Receive Grant from LA County HIV and STD Programs Office
Thirty-six College of Medicine ( COM ) graduates , including two from the Class of 2020 , joined their peers around the world when they learned where their paths would take them on Match Day 2021 , which took place via Zoom in light of pandemic protocols .
COM Dean Deborah Prothrow-Stith gave remarks during the virtual ceremony , commending students for their resiliency and dedication during the most unusual of times . “ I do want to acknowledge the work you ’ ve done as a class – not only in terms of your successful completion of medical education , but also the outreach and volunteer work you ’ ve done during this pandemic ,” said Dr . Prothrow Stith . “ You ’ ve lived up to fulfilling the vision of this University .”
Over 137 participants attended the virtual ceremony to watch the newly minted physicians announce where they would complete their residencies and celebrate with their loved ones .
The top residency matches for the year were in primary care specialties , with 58 % of students pursuing fields such as family medicine , internal medicine and obstetrics and gynecology . The remaining 42 % will pursue sub-specialties such as emergency medicine , anesthesiology , and orthopedic surgery . Of all CDU students matched , 70 % will complete their residencies in California .
“ This is truly one of the best Match Day ’ s we ’ ve ever had at CDU ,” said Daphne Calmes , MD , Associate Dean of the CDU / UCLA Medical Education Program , who served as the event ' s emcee .
The College of Medicine ’ s Drew CARES and Storefront Program received a grant in January 2020 from the LA County HIV and STD Programs Office . The grants fund Drew CARES at $ 250,000 per year for three years and the Storefront Program at $ 350,000 per year for three years .
Drew CARES is using the grant to develop , implement and evaluate Social and Sexual Networking ( SSN ) HIV rapid testing program . This new project , which is led by Program Director Cynthia Davis , targets vulnerable populations in Los Angeles County , with a special focus on conducting outreach and HIV testing in Service Planning Area 6 ( SPA 6 ).
“ SSN has the potential to identify and refer to care numerous at-risk individuals living in SPA 6 who do not know their HIV positive status . This new intervention / model for reaching undiagnosed HIV positives has proven to be very effective around the country where there are high HIV seroprevalence rates among racial / ethnic minority populations ,” said Davis . “ My staff and I are working diligently to ensure the success of the SSN Project .”
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