CDU News | Page 14
Photo courtesy of Dr . Lance Williams
CDU Hosts Memorial for Dr . Frederick Parrott
CDU hosted a memorial for Dr . Frederick Douglass Parrott on campus in September , celebrating his life . Among his many philanthropic efforts , Dr . Parrott founded the “ Real Men Cook Foundation ” in 1986 which raised more than $ 3 million for the four Historically Black Medical Colleges ( HBMCs ) including CDU . Later in life , Dr . Parrott when on to champion the fight against prostate cancer .
Remarks were shared from a range of guests during the memorial , reflection , and remembrance in Keck Hall . These included representatives from the three other historically black medical colleges such as Dr . James Hildreth , President of Meharry Medical College ; Dr . Valerie Montgomery Rice , President and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine , and Dr . Andrea Hayes , Dean of Howard University College of Medicine . Other featured guests also took to the podium to share their memories and thoughts about the acclaimed Dr . Parrott including Dr . Jessie Sherrod , Co-Founder of the Association of Black Women Physicians and Dr . C . Suzanne Cutter , President of the Charles Richard Drew Medical Society .
“ He was accomplished and well regarded throughout the state of California , the United States , and I would daresay known internationally for his efforts to save lives from prostate cancer ,” shared Dr . David Carlisle , CDU President and CEO . “ He wasn ’ t just a visionary ; he was also an activist . He set the bar for all of us and like a fine wine , his trajectory got better with age .”
Attendees also heard from his family , and an invocation and closing prayer from John Patton , CDU General Counsel and Secretary to the CDU Board of Trustees . A reception followed the service in the LSRNE Courtyard that featured a tribute performed on trumpet by one of the late Dr . Parrott ’ s colleagues .
Prior to his passing , Dr . Parrott had donated $ 200,000 from the Real Men Cook Foundation in September 2020 as a matching fund for the CDU Medical Education Program . He has remained active in this philanthropic benevolence after his passing , having bequeathed $ 1.5 million to the Fred D . Parrott , MD Endowed Academic Scholarship Fund at the CDU College of Medicine . These programs annually support two CDU African American medical students who have demonstrated academic excellence and strong community service . It is a continuation of Dr . Parrott ’ s longstanding vision of increasing the number of minority health care providers by awarding scholarships to medical students attending HBCUs . CDU is honored to have been a direct benefactor of his unyielding generosity and vision .