Bruin alum helps train doctors to address health disparities in Los Angeles

The Charles R. Drew University–UCLA partnership has trained physicians for underserved South Los Angeles since 1981 and is transitioning as CDU opens a four-year medical school; CDU will graduate its first class in 2027 while the Drew/UCLA program will end.

A long-running partnership between the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Watts-Willowbrook trains doctors for underserved parts of Los Angeles. Dr. David Carlisle, CDU president and CEO, says many students come from the neighborhoods they intend to serve and are motivated to reduce health disparities. Students receive their medical education at UCLA and complete clinical rotations in South Los Angeles through the program. The collaboration has evolved into the Urban Health Equity Pathway and CDU opened a four-year accredited medical school in 2022. Key facts: - The Drew–UCLA partnership began in 1981 to train physicians for underserved communities in South Los Angeles. - Students earn their medical education at UCLA and complete required clinical rotations in South Los Angeles under the program. - A 2007 study reported that 55% of Drew/UCLA graduates practice in underserved communities. - CDU became the 157th accredited U.S. medical school in 2022; CDU will graduate its first class in 2027 and the Drew/UCLA program will graduate its last. Summary: The program has helped place physicians in historically underserved areas and has grown into formal pathways at both UCLA and CDU. As CDU transitions to a standalone four-year medical school, training for future cohorts will shift to CDU, with CDU's first graduating class scheduled for 2027 while the Drew/UCLA program concludes. Undetermined at this time.