Interview with Richard Fernandez, CDU Major Gifts Officer
How is the University pursuing funds to support the new medical school building project?
Richard Fernandez CDU has embarked on a campaign that will increase the new medical school’ s stature as an on-campus resource. We are developing and working through a strategic plan, as well as a governing document case statement. That allows us to make outreach to certain individuals of high net worth value, corporations, foundations, and alumni to be able to build the medical school over the long term, with the anticipated date of our first class of students beginning in 2023.
What are other priority needs in this effort beyond the building?
Richard Fernandez There’ s a number of different priorities. The first one is to increase the amount of health facilities and health resources in Los Angeles, specifically into South LA, a community of about a million individuals within that area that need adequate health care. And part of that is building out the campus, the medical school, and secure accreditation for the MD program. So, we’ re looking at various opportunities there to address our mission of helping individuals and eliminating health disparities in the area.
How can members of the CDU family participate in the fundraising effort?
Richard Fernandez Yes, high net worth individuals are extremely important as we move through in this process for a number of reasons. Most philanthropists and individuals with high net value are always looking for opportunities to make a statement in their communities and beyond. They are looking to invest into projects that are important to them, as well as have a long-term benefit on the community. They’ re very important along with the corporations, foundations, and alumni resources.
Are high net worth donors important to this effort, and how is CDU pursuing them? Richard Fernandez The premise of the of the campaign is to look at the opportunity to have alumni, as well as community donors and partners to build out the program and to make contributions towards the program. We encourage all individuals to consider their sphere of influence as well as their local contacts, whether that be their religious affiliations, their government affiliations, corporate foundations, or individual contacts.
They can always reach out to me at richardfernandez @ cdrewu. edu. My phone number is 323.563.4995.
Any last thoughts about this effort?
Richard Fernandez We need to have individuals give thought to particular areas in the health care field that are of interest to them and see if there’ s a match to the MD program, as well as our proposed Centers of Excellence that we are planning over various disciplines. In addition, there are opportunities available at the new medical school to name the various dedicated spaces within the building, such as the auditorium, the lobby, the classrooms, and the labs. There’ s plenty of opportunity and good will available for all.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 4