August 2023 Page 14
CDU Newsletter Dr . Ellen L . Rothman Speaks to MD Program Students
Dr . Ellen L . Rothman , Chief Medical Officer , MLK Jr . Outpatient Center and Professor of Pediatrics visited CDU to speak with the College of Medicine ’ s new 4-year MD program ’ s inaugural class .
During her visit she shared excerpts from her book “ White Coat : Becoming A Doctor at Harvard Medical School ,” which offers a vivid account of her four years at Harvard Medical School .
Students listened attentively as she described the arduous hours and emotional hurdles she overcame in pursuit of a medical degree . “ I think most of us anticipate that is going to be the main outcome of our work as doctors , but what they don ’ t tell you is the flip side of that , which is the harm that we do ,” said Dr . Rothman . “ It ’ s like a two-sided coin , you can ’ t do good without having the potential for harm there too , and that ’ s the hard part of medicine .”
As the presentation continued , Dr . Rothman imparted pearls of wisdom to the inaugural class , encouraging them to be humble on their journey .
“ One of the greatest things you need to learn from medical school is humility . There ’ s so much out there that you have to know , and you will never know it , I will never know it ,” explained Dr . Rothman . “ The most important thing you need to carry with you is to know what you know , and you need to know what you don ’ t know . You also need to have the humility to ask , look it up , or dig deeper because , in my opinion , that is the mark of an amazing doctor .”
CDU Simulation Center Awarded Accreditation
The CDU Simulation Center has achieved a significant milestone in its pursuit of excellence in healthcare education as it has been awarded National Provisional Accreditation by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare ( SSH ).
This prestigious accreditation comes after an 18-month-long journey of rigorous preparation and evaluation , and it places CDU ’ s Simulation Center on par with only a handful of such centers in Los Angeles , including those at USC , UCLA , and Loma Linda .
“ This remarkable achievement is a testament to the commitment and passion we have for delivering high-quality healthcare education through simulation ,” said Dr . Lam , CDU Director of Simulation Education . “ The National Provisional Accreditation not only boosts our simulation program ’ s reputation but also instills confidence in our stakeholders and clinical partners , setting the stage for new grant opportunities to further enhance our initiatives .”
The CDU Simulation Center comprises a range of locations and equipment across campus that allow students to learn and immerse themselves in high-fidelity simulation technology utilized by healthcare professionals . This provides an opportunity to practice making potentially life-saving decisions in a safe learning environment while preparing them for real-life experiences in their careers .
The SSH Accreditation Council reviewed CDU ’ s simulation program and expressed their appreciation for the organization ’ s efforts in developing a robust and effective simulation program .