Sharpest Scalpel Volume 2, Number 4 | Page 37

PLEASE SUPPORT THE Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science College of Medicine

A NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL FOR SOUTH LOS ANGELES

CDU’ s vision is excellent health and wellness for all in a world without health disparities. Creating a new medical school in a persistently under-resourced area of South Los Angeles is the University’ s bold and strategic response to addressing racism as a health problem.

CDU RESPONDS

After the 1965 Watts Revolt, public and private resources were committed to addressing the significant health needs of this high-impact region, and the University was opened. Today, in the context of COVID-19 pandemic and significant inequalities, poor health care outcomes have persisted. The population of South Los Angeles exceeds one million people without the services of a medical school.

A MODEL THAT IS WORKING

The CDU Advantage curriculum emphasizes social justice, community engagement, health disparities research, health policy, and a global vision of transforming healthcare. With a strong and diverse faculty, multiple clinical partners and an engaged community, CDU is changing healthcare for good through graduating a diverse, prepared force of health care leaders.

THE CDU STUDENT

More than 80 % of current CDU students indicate that they plan to provide much-needed care in underserved communities following graduation and / or residency training. More than 70 % of CDU students qualify for PELL grants, indicating significant family need.

BOLD ECONOMIC IMPACT

The new medical school will build on CDU’ s rich history of service and will have a positive and sustained impact on the local community. By 2027, as the new medical education program graduates its first class, it will support 749 jobs in the County and generate more than $ 86.8 million in total economic impact per year.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 37