Office of Medical Student Affairs

Undergraduate Medical Education Program

The Office of Medical Student Affairs and Curriculum provides academic, matriculation and personal support services to students in the Charles Drew/UCLA Medical Education Programs.  In addition, the Office is responsible for the administration of the Charles Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program curriculum.  Medical Student Affairs also supervises the student clubs and organizations of the Charles Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program.

Some of the highlights of the activities and programs administered by Medical Student Affairs include:

• Pre-matriculation program for first-year medical students
• Career advisement and mentoring

• Medical Student Performance Evaluation “Dean’s Letter”
• Commencement
• Multi-Specialty Conference/college seminars

Medical Education Program (MD)

The Charles Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program provides training in the scholarly and humane aspects of medicine and fosters the development of leaders who will advance medical practice and knowledge in underserved areas in the United States and abroad. Students are selected on the strength of their academic record and on the basis of their demonstrated commitment to serving disadvantaged and underserved populations with compassion. Each year, twenty-four students enroll in the four-year community-based medical education program. Our students represent the full range of gender, ethnic, and educational diversity of our society which contributes to the strength of our institution. Students admitted into the Charles Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program benefit from the bet of the Charles Drew University and UCLA in a combined curriculum. The first and second years of the program are conducted at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. The first and second year curricula stress the development of a firm foundation in the basic sciences with an emphasis on clinical applications. The third and fourth years of the program are spent on the Charles Drew University campus and in affiliated clinics and hospitals. Our small student-to-faculty ratio allows for students to benefit from intensive interaction with supervising faculty and to have hand-on clinical experience in treating patients.

Contact Us

Office of Medical Student Affairs and Curriculum
1731 E. 120th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90059
323-563-5956
323-563-4957 (fax)

Daphne Calmes, M.D
Associate Dean
323-563-4816
daphnecalmes@cdrewu.edu

Peregrina Arciaga, M.D.
Assistant Dean
323-563-5956
peregrinaarciaga@cdrewu.edu

Lorraine Smith, M.D.
Assistant Dean
323-563-5956
lorrainesmith@cdrewu.edu

Teresa Cook, M.Ed.
Director
323-563-4888
teresacook@cdrewu.edu

Cathy Jalali
Assistant Director Learning Skills
323-563-4961
cathyjalali@cdrewu.edu

Sandra Rodriguez, MA.Ed.
Admissions Manager
323-563-4952
sandrarodriguez@cdrewu.edu

Desiree White
Curriculum Coordinator
323-563-4917
desireewhite@cdrewu.edu

Lesley K. Vizcarra
Clerkship Coordinator
323-563-9311
lesleyk.vizcarra@cdrewu.edu

Patricia Avila
Senior Secretary
(323) 563-5956
patriciaavila@cdrewu.edu