Dean’ s Message
Dear Friends, Supporters, Faculty, Staff and Students. THANK YOU.
I have plenty of good news to share because of your effort and work. I am excited to highlight the progress the College of Medicine has made since our last newsletter was published. We are realizing the legacy goal of an LCME accredited MD Program at CDU. With the help of many committed faculty and staff, several new faculty recently hired, CDU executive leadership, and our many friends and supporters, we have transitioned from We CAN do this to We ARE doing this.
On July 12th through 14th, the LCME survey team will be on campus to conduct a preliminary accreditation site visit. The full LCME body will receive the survey team’ s report and act on it at their meeting in October 2022. If all goes well and we receive preliminary accreditation, we will begin accepting applications immediately. During the July survey visit, we will demonstrate the capacity that we have developed over the last four years to secure status as an LCME accredited CDU MD Program.
Our ongoing preparation occurs on the three tracks outlined below. The tracks and leaders are:
• Yellow:
• Blue:
• Green:
LCME Accreditation process with infrastructure and curriculum development,
• Leader: Senior Associate Dean, Ron Edelstein, EdD
The new building to open in 2025 and renovation of the Cobb Building 1st floor for our charter classes in 2023
• Leader: Vice President Carl McLaney, MPA
Fundraising for the MD Program
• Leader: Senior Vice President Angela Minniefield, MPA
On the academic side, we are pleased that our curriculum development team has attracted important key leadership. Dr. Glenda Lindsey, a graduate of the CDU / UCLA Medical
Education Program, has been appointed COM Director of Medical Education. There are over 40 new and existing faculty working on the pre-clerkship and clerkship curriculum who met for the third retreat, this past Saturday. The results of this curriculum development work are impressive: 11 program learning objectives, 5 of which originate directly from the CDU Advantage. We owe a special thanks to Dr. Lindsey, who is leading our curriculum development.
The Health Professions Education Building( HPEB) is on track to open in 2025. For our charter class, the plan is to renovate the first floor of the Cobb Building, creating a state-of-the-art classroom, as well as student study spaces and leisure areas. An RFP will be released to hire the architectural firm for the HPEB. The renovation drawings for the first floor of Cobb are in process.
CDU and COM have received significant donations towards growth from a variety of generous benefactors. Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott gifted $ 20 million dollars to CDU that now stands as the largest single donation from a private philanthropic source in the University’ s history.
Several other words of thanks are in order. COM received a $ 1.5 million bequest from the estate of longtime CDU supporter Dr. Fred Parrott to establish the Fred D. Parrott, M. D. endowment for student scholarships. Dean’ s Advisory Council member Dr. Carol Ludwig has made a pledge through the Carol and Gene Ludwig Family Foundation.
Dr. Eugene Grigsby, Chair of the DAC, has pledged $ 50,000 towards the new MD Program. This last month, a $ 300,000 gift was received from the California Community Foundation, headed by Antonia Hernandez. We are truly appreciative of these gifts that validate CDU, COM, and the work that we are all accomplishing.
There is tremendous enthusiasm at all levels of the CDU family and the MD Program planning is going well. We are fulfilling the dream set in motion with the founding of this University. Just as with UC Riverside, our partnership with UCLA formalized in the first 10-year agreement in 1978 has set a strong platform for a CME accredited MD Program.
Stay Tuned ….. much, much more to come.
Deborah Prothrow-Stith, MD Dean of the College of Medicine Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 2