April 20, 2017 

LAWT News Service

 

As part of its local outreach strategy—and mission—to increase access to quality medical education in traditionally underserved areas of Los Angeles, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lynwood Unified School District (LUSD) on April 10 that will enable qualified Lynwood students to be “guaranteed admission” to the South Los Angeles University.

 

CDU has entered into similar arrangements with Los Angeles Unified School District-South, Compton Unified School District, Verbum Dei High School and West Los Angeles College over the last 12 months and expects to sign additional MOUs in the future.

 

Through these “pipeline programs”—so-named because they give local students a direct path to the undergraduate program at CDU—the university hopes to create more access to medical education while graduating additional healthcare professionals into chronically underserved areas of Los Angeles.

 

“CDU is entering a new era of partnership with our local school districts,” said CDU Executive Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Steve O. Michael, PhD.  “The relationship with Lynwood Unified School District promises to be one of our closest, strongest, and most productive, partly because of the district leadership’s unreserved commitment to academic excellence, high graduation rates, increased college participation, and expanded interest in health professions.  Their commitment is right in line with CDU's mission; hence, all qualified LUSD graduates will have guaranteed admission with varying levels of scholarships from the date that the MOU is signed.”

 

“These partnerships with local schools and school districts are a big part of our mission—and our growth strategy,” said CDU President and CEO Dr. David Carlisle. “It’s very gratifying for us to be able to provide high-quality health professions education to students who are quite likely to return to those very same underserved and under-resourced communities where they attended high school and help address the healthcare shortages there.

 

“It’s good for the students, the school districts, our local Los Angeles communities and CDU.”

 

For more information, visit http://www.cdrewu.edu/, and follow CDU on Facebook, Twitter (@cdrewu), and Instagram(@charlesrdrewu).

Category: Education