A Message from the Dean
Thanks to our many friends and family, we have now reached an amazing and exciting moment in the fast-paced CDU story. The University is literally abuzz with pride and anticipation. As you can well imagine, COM is no exception to this infusion of upbeat energy. We are planning, designing, developing, implementing- and growing.
Last November, we received applicant status with the LCME for CDU ' s Independent Medical Education Program( IMEP). That achievement kicked off our 18-month clock for the completion of the mandatory self-study that is integral to the process. Last week, following the annual President ' s Breakfast at the Marina Del Rey Marriott Hotel, seventy of us participated in a full day meeting of the LCME subcommittees led by the chairs and co-chairs.
We ' ve been busy on other fronts. The University has received two planning grants supporting the IMEP; one from the Cedars Sinai Foundation and the other from The California Endowment. With the support of Senior Vice President Angela Minniefield and her staff, CDU is seeking additional state and federal dollars to plan the effort. That work entails submitting a companion HRSA grant to supplement our current five-year funded initiative to enhance primary care training. And we have engaged Brakeley Briscoe, a 100 year old nationallyrecognized strategic planning and development firm, to assist with our fundraising activities.
Building out GME is an essential part of setting the stage for the IMEP. On the GME front, things are as active as ever. CDU ' s Family Medicine and Psychiatry Programs have received the next level of ACGME continuing accreditation. Both programs have recently completed this admissions cycle and are looking forward to Match Day and to accepting their third class of residents in June. Thanks to the GME team for the hard work.
The Internal Medicine Residency Program is due for a preliminary accreditation site visit March 31st with a plan to accept a first class of residents in July 2021. Next up is Surgery, under the dynamic leadership of department chair Dr. Eleby Washington, actively planning now for a 1st class of residents in 2022.
Over the last two years of what I call the IMEP“ pre self-study” planning phase, we have hosted nearly 80 meetings with students, faculty, staff, administrators, community partners, clinical partners, consultants, architects, friends and supporters. We have presented our plans to the CDU Board of Trustees four times, most recently at its January retreat. We have also initiated a monthly call with the UCLA / Geffen leadership to make sure that we plan for the continuation of the MEP as our IMEP vision comes to fruition.
In closing, this newsletter is dedicated to the IMEP planning and the LCME self-study process that is described herein. In addition, I am pleased to have the insightful interview with our UCLA / Geffen partner, Dean Kelsey Martin, in this issue as well. CDU ' s College of Medicine offers: the Enhanced Post Baccalaureate Program; the UCLA / CDU Medical Education Program( MEP); GME with both Psychiatry and Family Medicine Residency programs and Continuing Medical Education( CME). We are working enthusiastically, and hard, to add the Independent Medical Education Program to accept a class of 60 to matriculate in 2023. The University and COM are in full gear. What an exciting time!
DEBORAH PROTHROW-STITH, MD
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