rically Black Medical Degree ( MD ) f the Mississippi rkforce Diversity in California and Beyond
t independent 4-year medical degree ( MD ) program after receiving notice of preliminary accreditation by the ered through a Historically Black institution west of the Mississippi and represents the culmination of a dream ened its doors in 1966 .
CDU is the second-most diverse university nationally in terms of student and faculty diversity . CDU is also one e Institution . The University is also a charter Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools member as well as ing with a vision of creating a world without health disparities , the new MD program is accepting applications ere currently more than half of all practicing physicians in the U . S . are white .
s our mission of cultivating diverse health professional leaders who are dedicated to social justice and health ents , staff , faculty , and media on campus . “ Our community , and in fact the entire western United States , has
e ground up with diversity , equity , and inclusion fused into its very bones . No more . It is a great honor and remedy this once and for all .”
Medicine , which along with the College of Science and Health and the Mervyn M . Dymally School of Nursing , ally take place in the College of Medicine ’ s current facilities on campus and will be relocated to a future statewhich is currently in the planning phase .
re abundantly clear and supported by research . Doctors of color are more likely to practice in underserved mes when attended to by a physician of the same ethnicity ,” noted Dr . Deborah Prothrow-Stith , Dean of CDU ’ s ing of this program after so much hard work by CDU staff and faculty is not just an amazing achievement , it ’ s inequities in healthcare .”
DU MD Program will join more than 20 undergraduate degree , graduate degree , and certificate programs ntly offered by the University , and will draw from a 40-year history of partnering with UCLA to train future rs through a joint MD program . The new independent CDU program will be the first Historically Black medical e program to open anywhere in the US since 1981 .
has been fundraising for this program since before the application process began through its five year , $ 75 n CDU Rising Campaign . Significant gifts and grants from individuals , institutions , and state budget allocations been pledged or received in recognition of the valuable and positive impact the MD program will have on ng doctors of color . With this preliminary approval , fundraising efforts will be accelerated to support the launch volution of this historic program , to secure scholarships for incoming students , and to bring a state-of-the-art
ng to house the program to the CDU campus .
“ We are greatly appreciative of the many people beyond our University , including the community , local , state and federal government representatives , partners , and stakeholders , as well as the many dedicated professionals within CDU , who have contributed so much and labored so diligently for so long to bring this dream to a reality ,” concluded President Carlisle . “ The Mighty Lion spirit runs deep with the extended CDU Community and this success stands as proof that there is nothing we cannot achieve when we work together towards common goals and the greater good .”