Program areas at CDU
The University has 487 faculty members, 100 full-time and 387 part-time. The college of Science and health (cosh) has 23 full-time faculty and 25 part-time faculty. Cosh student enrollment for fall 2022 stood at 297. The college of Medicine (com) has 40 full-time active faculty and 243 part-time and clinical faculty members. Approximately 50% of the com faculty members have dual appointments with ucla. Current com student enrollment consists of 122 students, and 66 medical residents. The college of nursing (con) has 129 faculty members, 21 full-time and 108 part time. Son enrollment consists of 373 graduate students and 97 undergraduate students.
Academic & institutional support: the University offers 23 academic programs organized into three colleges: 1) the college of Science and health which features masters of public health, physician assistant and biomedical sciences,one associate and five bachelors degree, and two certificate programs;2) the college of Medicine which is comprised of six programs - the Drew/ ucla medical education program, continuing medical education program, four graduate medical education programs, and our new cdu medical education program, and 3) the mervyn m. dymally college of nursing with two bachelors one master of Science degrees, two post-masters certificate programs, and a doctor of nursing practice program.
Research: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science has a vital research enterprise where groundbreaking research drives our mission to transform healthcare and empower communities. Our research enterprise is organized around five pillars: cancer, cardiometabolic disease, hiv/aids, mental health, and health services/policy research. Our efforts in these areas are a testament to our commitment to advancing knowledge and addressing pressing health disparities. Our dedicated faculty, researchers, research partners and student work tirelessly to uncover new insights, develop solutions, and contribute to a brighter, healthier future for all.the University's research portfolio has achieved national recognition, particularly in advancing medical solutions to meet the unique health care needs of underserved communities. Diabetes, hypertension, cancer, reproductive health, chronic kidney disease, neuro-psychiatric disorders and hiv/aids are just a few of the areas where Charles R. Drew University researchers, faculty and staff members make a difference. Our nationally and internationally renowned researchers are breaking new ground, integrating research advances into the basic sciences and setting new standards in healthcare disparities research for underserved communities. Research activities at the University encompass the entire spectrum of research endeavors, from molecular biologists discovering genes which identify patients at increased risk for breast cancer and clinical researchers studying advanced pharmacologic treatment of diabetes and hypertension, and epidemiologists assessing risk factors for blindness in diverse populations to assisting and helping train medical providers, equip hospitals and clinics, and testing people for hiv in countries as far as zambia. Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is engaged as a true research partner with nationally recognized institutions, such as the University of California - los angeles and the chan-zuckerberg initiative.in fy22-23, cdu added to its portfolio of five patents with a new patent for a computer-based approach to tailoring clinical and behavioral health interventions and cdu's u54 axis center, led by dr. jay vadgama, secured three covid-19 related supplements to collaborate with communities in south los angeles in covid-19 testing, tracing, prevention, and treatment opportunities. In 2022, the cdu research enterprise and the pharmaceutical company novartis reached an agreement for 10 years of support for $5.7 million under the beacon of hope initiative.in 2023, a team of cdu faculty members led by dr. bita amani received a 5-year, $9 million hrsa award to provide training for a black maternal health center of excellence. Additionally in 2023, the nimhd awarded cdu president dr. david carlisle a 5-year, $10 million research endowment grant to attract and retain talented faculty members and to establish new phd programs.
Charles R. Drew University is actively committed to training future generations to make a difference through a number of novel and innovative youth education "pipeline programs" which are unique among medical education programs in southern California. The pipeline programs have two important goals: expose urban minority students to Science studies while helping them develop a strong interest in Science and research, and improve opportunities for urban minority students who wish to pursue careers in Medicine and Science. The programs are a series of educational steps that establish an academic continuum in medical education. The academic continuum starts at preschool with the saturday Science academy (ssa) programs, including the ssa junior white coat ceremony, and extends upward through the lincoln-drew elementary school (grades k-6). Lincoln-drew middle school (grades 7 through 9) and the king/drew magnet high school of Medicine and Science (grades 10 through 12). The white coat ceremony is a nationwide medical school activity to signal the transition of medical students from book learning and lab work to the world of clinical practice and direct interaction with real patients. The ssa junior white coat ceremony seeks to embrace the spirit of this exercise through encouraging students to commit to lifelong learning.