Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program

Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program. This innovative joint initiative was established in 1978 as a collaboration between Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Its primary mission is to train physicians dedicated to serving underserved populations, particularly in South Los Angeles and similar urban communities. The program represents a unique model in American medical education, combining the resources of a major research university with a historically Black institution focused on health equity.

History and Background

The program was founded during a period of significant social change, emerging from the community health needs identified after the Watts riots and the closure of the original Los Angeles County General Hospital. Key figures in its establishment included Charles R. Drew University leadership and administrators from the University of California, Los Angeles. It was designed to address critical physician shortages in South Central Los Angeles and to create a pipeline for doctors from underrepresented backgrounds. The partnership was solidified through a formal agreement, creating a pathway for students to earn a Doctor of Medicine degree from David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA while receiving foundational training at the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science campus.

Program Structure and Curriculum

Students in the program complete a integrated curriculum that emphasizes primary care, community health, and the social determinants of health. The first two years of basic science education are conducted primarily at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, incorporating early clinical exposure in underserved settings. The final two years of clinical clerkships are completed alongside David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA students at major affiliated hospitals. The curriculum includes specific tracks in Urban Underserved Medicine and requires scholarly projects focused on health disparities. This structure is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education and prepares graduates for residency training across all specialties.

Admissions and Student Demographics

Admissions are highly selective and conducted through a joint process involving both Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The program actively seeks applicants with demonstrated commitment to serving underserved communities and a strong interest in addressing healthcare inequality. Historically, it has enrolled a high percentage of students from groups underrepresented in medicine, including African Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Many students are graduates of Historically black colleges and universities or local institutions like UCLA and University of Southern California.

Affiliated Institutions and Clinical Training

Core clinical training occurs at a network of hospitals serving diverse and often vulnerable populations. Key primary training sites include Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital, a vital anchor institution in Willowbrook, and the county-operated Harbor–UCLA Medical Center in Torrance. Students also rotate through the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood for tertiary and quaternary care experiences. Additional community-based training occurs at numerous Federally Qualified Health Centers and clinics throughout Los Angeles County, such as those operated by the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.

Impact and Legacy

The program has produced hundreds of physicians who practice in primary care specialties and work in Medicaid-serving hospitals and Health Professional Shortage Areas. Its graduates include leaders in public health, such as former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, and numerous department chairs and medical directors. The program's model has influenced other medical education initiatives aimed at increasing diversity, including those at Morehouse School of Medicine and the University of California, San Francisco. It remains a critical pipeline for addressing the maldistribution of physicians and improving health outcomes in communities like Compton and Watts.

Category:Medical schools in California Category:University of California, Los Angeles Category:Medical and health organizations based in Los Angeles