A Message from President David Carlisle
Congratulations to COM Dean Deborah Prothrow-Stith and the entire CDU community on the auspicious achievement of securing preliminary accreditation status for the University’ s new four-year medical degree program by the LCME. This is a momentous and signature accomplishment in the history of our institution.
It is particularly noteworthy that this success is the fulfillment of one of the core aspirations of the CDU’ s founders from even before our University’ s first days. Throughout the years, the dream of such a medical program was always tantalizingly within reach while remaining slightly elusive. It took a University-wide cooperative effort to finally make this aspiration into a reality. Watts, Compton, Willowbrook, and the surrounding communities across South Los Angeles and beyond will benefit from this long-in-the-making achievement.
CDU is situated in a community that has historically lacked broad-based comprehensive health care services and has endured a noted dearth of trained healthcare professionals, particularly those of color. The most recent Martin Luther King Hospital Community Health Needs Assessment revealed a severe shortage of physicians in all specialties studied, showing a shortage of over 1,400 full-time equivalent physicians trained in primary, medical, and surgical specialties. Notably, the largest shortages were found to exist in the primary care specialties of family practice, internal medicine, and pediatrics— specialties that are critical for effective care coordination and managing the health and wellness of our community.
Beginning in 2018, Dr. Prothrow-Stith’ s team seized upon that reality in redesigning and revitalizing the medical residency programs offered through the College of Medicine. The formation of the new fouryear program will only amplify that work as we continue to our vision of a world without health disparities.
CDU’ s training and deployment of physicians skilled in addressing complex healthcare challenges will continue to rely on a broad-based team effort. It will require an eye towards the best applications of medical technology, insightful researchers, and committed frontline caregivers along with the support of institutions and persons with the resources to build and evolve our University.
We are certain that the hard work that lies ahead will accrue rewards that will provide tangibly beneficial outcomes for generations to come. We invite everyone in the extended CDU community to celebrate, benefit from, and participate in this historic endeavor come alive.
CDU College of Medicine | PG. 2