Overview
The Drew/UCLA Medical Education program seeks to provide an education in the scholarly and humane aspects of medicine and to foster the development of leaders who will advance medical practice and knowledge in underserved areas of the United States and abroad. The Admissions Committee seeks to admit students who seem best suited for the educational program and mission of the School. In particular, it looks for intelligent, mature, and highly motivated students who show promise in becoming leaders in medicine. The Admissions Committee also considers very carefully personal qualities necessary for the successful study and practice of humanistic medicine. These include integrity, professionalism, personal stability, dedication to community service, scholastic accomplishments and potential.

The Drew/UCLA Medical Education admissions committee is committed to diversity by ensuring adequate representation of women and all minority groups with diverse interests and backgrounds. All applications are given careful consideration without regard to sex, race, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or financial status. In evaluating candidates, the committee takes into consideration many factors including academic record, MCAT scores, record of activities and accomplishments, recommendations from premedical committees and science teachers, as well as personal obstacles in one's life. The personal interview with faculty is an integral part of the selection process.

Students who are admitted into the program spend the first 2 years of medical school on the campus of UCLA at the David Geffen School of Medicine. A new and innovative preclinical curriculum has been implemented by world renowned leaders in medical education which ensures a quality science foundation. The 3rd year of medical education is spent at the Martin Luther King Jr. / Drew Medical Center located in South Los Angeles approximately 35 miles from the Westwood campus. Here students rotate through the various services including pediatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, surgery, radiology, and internal medicine. A unique component of the Drew/UCLA Medical Education program is the longitudinal primary care clinical experience. Students in the 3rd year spend 1 day a week at a primary care clinic located in an underserved area of Los Angeles. In addition, students are required to develop a primary care research thesis proposal and project with a faculty mentor that will be presented at the annual research colloquium just prior to graduation. The fourth year, called the Urban Underserved College, begins with a one week time commitment designed to hone clinical skills and prepare students for residency. The mentorship program in the 4th year allows students to work closely with faculty to ensure appropriate career and academic guidance and successful completion of the research thesis.

Students successfully matriculating through the program are encouraged to pursue additional postgraduate training or scholarly activity on the UCLA campus. Students may choose programs in either the Schools of Public Health or Business. Graduates of the Drew/UCLA Medical Education have also successfully completed join MD/Ph.D. degrees.

Accreditation
The College of Medicine at Charles Drew University offers a stimulating and challenging environment to anyone interested in changing the cycle of poor health and disease that characterize disadvantaged populations, particularly those of the inner cities. The College is headed by a Dean, who is supported by Associate and Assistant Deans, all dedicated to educating people for a new era in urban medicine. Training programs are approved and accredited at postgraduate level by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, through their Residency Review Committees. The MD degree for the Drew/UCLA program is offered by the University of California, through UCLA and accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA). The College of Medicine is also home to a variety of education and training programs both on campus and community based. They are designed for a) youths interested in knowing firsthand about health sciences and the health care delivery system; and b) community groups interested in enhancing knowledge about specific disease entities.

Application Process
AMCAS Application The Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program participates in the application process of the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). All applicants must submit an AMCAS application, indicating in the application that they wish to apply to the Charles Drew University of Science and Medicine. The AMCAS application deadline is November 15 for all MD applicants. An early application is strongly encouraged.

Inquiries regarding AMCAS should be addressed to the American Medical College Application Service, 2501 M Street, NW, Lobby 26, Washington, DC 20037-1300. AMCAS can also be reached by telephone at 202-828-0600 or by email at amcas@aamc.org.

In addition to successful completion of all pre-medical requirements, three letters of recommendation or a composite report from a pre-professional advisory committee of the student's college or university must be submitted to Drew University in support of all applications. Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores must be submitted in support of each application for admission. The MCAT examination should be completed no more than one year prior to matriculation.

An applicant processing fee of $50.00 will be required of all applicants. An application shall not be considered complete without remittance of the applicant processing fee. Waivers are granted only with approval of the Admissions Committee Chair and submission of a copy of the AMCAS fee waiver documentation.

Pre-Medical Educational Requirements
Applicants are required to have successfully matriculated from an approved college of arts and sciences or engineering. The following courses are required. One year of college mathematics. Calculus is highly recommended.

• One year of college Physics, with laboratory;
• One year of college Biology, with laboratory. One year of upper division courses are highly recommended
• One year of college Chemistry, with laboratory, must include at least one course in inorganic Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis, and organic Chemistry. (Biochemistry is highly recommended).
• English Composition or literature
• Spanish is highly recommended
  

Courses recommended under the Biology requirement are: AIDS, Cell biology, Genetics, Embryology, Physiology, Histology, and Anatomy. Courses under the requirement for English may include Composition, Literature or other courses emphasizing reading comprehension. Remedial English courses will not be considered as meeting this requirement. Courses in Statistics, Computer Programming, Psychology and Ethics are recommended, but not required. Preference shall not be given to undergraduate science majors over non-science majors. Applicants are urged to acquire a broad experience in the humanities, behavioral sciences, and social sciences in their college years, but they should follow their own interests whether in the arts or in the sciences. Prior research experience and conversational Spanish is highly recommended but not required.

High school and advanced placement courses do not fulfill these requirements. If an applicant has been excused from a required college-level course, another course at the same or higher level must be substituted. Applicants currently enrolled in a professional or graduate school must be in the terminal year of the degree program to be considered for admission to the first-year class. Post-Baccalaurette students are encouraged to apply.

All students must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and should communicate directly with the American College Testing Program, P.O. Box 4056, Iowa City, IA 52243-4056, for information concerning the examination and tests dates. Applicants are strongly urged to take the MCAT in the spring of the year of application. Applicants who took the MCAT in the fall of the application year may cause undo delays in the application process.

Students in Post-Baccalaureate or Graduate Programs
Students who have successfully completed post-graduate studies or premedical requirements in a post-baccalaureate program are encouraged to apply. Students who are enrolled in graduate programs may apply in the final year of the graduate program for which they were originally accepted. Students will be required to submit at least one letter from a thesis advisor or an equivalent. Students in post-baccalaureate programs are urged to request a letter of recommendation from the Premedical Advisory Committee of the undergraduate college or from the college or university where they are pursuing the post-baccalaureate program. A final transcript or other evidence of completion of degree requirements must be sent with your application for it to be considered complete.

Admission
The Admissions Committee chooses applicants who are best qualified as evidenced by the scholastic record, college letters recommendations, interview, and involvement in college and community activities. Other tangible qualities such as personality, character, and maturity are equally important.

After initial review by the Admissions Committee, a secondary application is sent to a select number of applicants. The secondary application allows the applicant to further describe their activities which are related to the institutional mission. During the course of the admissions process, selected applicants will be invited to the Drew campus for personal interviews with members of the Admissions Committee. Regional interviews will not be arranged. All students must possess the physical and emotional capabilities required to undertake the new basic science curriculum at UCLA during the first 2 years of medical school and the demanding clinical rotations at the King/Drew Medical Center during years 3 and 4. All students are expected to act independently and achieve a high level of competence as required by the faculty. Successful completion will result in a four-year M.D. degree in conjunction with UCLA.

Registration
Registration is held at the UCLA campus for a total of eight semesters and one summer during the four years. Financial assistance and support is offered by the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Freshman Year: Fall, Spring
Junior Year: Fall, Spring
Sophomore Year: Fall, Spring
Senior Year: Summer, Fall, Spring

Inquires
Applicants may also receive additional information form the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Thank you for your interest in the Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program.

Patrick Aguilera, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine
Director of Admissions