LA Care Awards $ 5 Million to the University in Support of the New Medical School
L. A. Care Health Plan, the largest publicly operated health plan in the country, is proud to announce it is committing $ 5 million to support a new medical school in South Los Angeles, which is being launched by Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science( CDU).
This new grant is a continuation of L. A. Care’ s partnership with CDU through the Elevating the Safety Net initiative. With more than $ 8.4 million in funding from our initiative, CDU has awarded full scholarships to 16 medical students and has funded residents and faculty salaries while expanding its Family Medicine and Internal Medicine Residency Programs.
The new medical school program will train an additional 60 medical students each year. CDU, which has a history of graduating racially diverse students, estimates the new school will increase the number of Black medical graduates in the State of California by approximately 30 percent and Latinx medical students by roughly 20 percent after graduating its first class of 60 medical students in 2027.
L. A. Care’ s financial commitment will be used to:
• Develop a community health prematriculation training experience focused on professionalism and wellness activities for medical students.
• Enhancement of the current Simulation Center to offer medical training activities for students and faculty.
• Establish a service-learning program for medical students to offer certifications as emergency medical technicians, community health workers, and patient navigators.
• Establish a center for faculty development to focus on the recruitment, retention, and development of faculty.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 3