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Upcoming Events
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2/6
Dr. Carlisle's Presidential Inauguration Ceremony and Black Tie Gala
2/13
Undergraduate Cancer Research Training Program Application
http//bit.ly/VNGSQE
2/18
President's Day
4/11
Legacy and Leaders Spring Gala
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ICYMI
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Yamanda Mack, 4th year COM, UniHealth Foundation Medical Student Scholarship, $50,000
Dr. Robert A. Jenders, MD, and his co-authors received the 2012 Health and Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Book of the Year Award. Read more here.
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Kaiser Permanente, $500,000 over 2-years to support student scholarships across the College of Medicine, College of Science and Health and the Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing
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Parson’s Foundation, $100,000 to support security surveillance system and equipment upgrades
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The California Wellness Foundation, $25,000 —Board discretionary gift—to support faculty development
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New Chairman of the Board of Trustees
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Dignity Health Senior Executive Vice President and COO Marvin O’Quinn has been elected as the newest Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU).
O’Quinn is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Dignity Health. He is responsible for all operations in all of Dignity Health’s markets and for integrated process management and ambulatory operations. Since he joined Dignity Health in 2009, his responsibilities have grown substantially, including an organizational restructuring of operations leadership. Overall, O’Quinn has improved accountability and oversight of the organization’s operations.
“Mr. O’Quinn is a true leader in the healthcare industry focused on compassion and excellence,” said Dr. David M. Carlisle, President and CEO of CDU. “I look forward to collaborating with him to strategically foster educational initiatives and programs to best serve CDU students, staff and faculty.”
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Alert Line
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“Alert Line is a CDU program that provides students, faculty and staff an avenue to confidentially report information what you consider to be contrary to CDU’s policies, unethical or otherwise harmful to the university. Reports can be made on-line at http//www.MySafeCampus.com/ or by calling 1-800 716-9007. For additional program information please click-on the hyperlink.”
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On Saturday, January 12, 2013, the Office of Medical Student Affairs hosted its third round of interviews for entrance into the College of Medicine. Twenty-eight applicants were expected to interview on this day and approximately thirty students, faculty, and staff in attendance to make the day run smoothly. A warm welcome was extended to all those who visited the campus!
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[COM] N
avigating the Match & Choosing a Residency Program Seminar
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On Saturday, January 19, 2013, the Office of Medical Student Affairs and the Urban/Underserved College hosted an informational session to students in the third and fourth year classes. Fourth year medical students had an opportunity to sit down with alumni and faculty to help them determine the best residency program that suits their individual and educational needs, and how to navigate through the Match. Match strategies and advice on creating Match lists will also be discussed. Third year medical students had a chance to talk to alumni who have just matched in their various career specialties. Strategies on choosing a specialty were also discussed, as well as planning for the fourth year and the upcoming residency application season in the fall of 2013.
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A Message from the Internal Audit and Control Services Department
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Senior management and the Board of Trustees have reinstalled CDU’s Internal Audit Program under the direction of Nate Clark, CIA, CISA, CFE, University Auditor. Internal Audit is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve the University’s operations. Internal Audit assists the University’s management accomplish their objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of CDU’s internal control, risk management, regulatory compliance and governance processes. Since internal audit’s organizational status and the support accorded it by senior management are major determinants of the function’s range and value, the University Auditor administratively reports to the President and functionally to the Board of Trustees’ Audit and Compliance Sub-Committee.
If you have questions regarding internal control; fraud prevention / detection; control self-assessment; and/or, regulatory compliance, feel free to stop by for a discussion with Nate. He is located on the second floor of the Cobb Building.
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Mission Maker
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The CDU Annual Campaign is a great way to make a difference at CDU. Every year, alumni, staff, faculty and friends support our University by giving to the CDU Annual Campaign. Mission Makers are friends and supporters of Charles R. Drew University who believe in our mission and have made a contribution to ensure our success. As a Mission Maker, you too can help CDU to continue to produce well-trained healthcare providers who will serve those in need. CDU is dedicated to offering excellence in health professional education, research, and in training physicians and health providers to meet the needs of the underserved.
Donate today:
http//alumni.cdrewu.edu/AnnualCampaign/index.asp
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A Message from The President
Happy New Year and welcome back from the holiday break. I hope everyone is rested and charged for the Spring Semester. I personally spent the time reflecting on my New Year’s Resolutions for the University.
Here are just a few of the goals I will continue to strive for this year:
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Commit to our students
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Foster Academia and Research
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Engage with our Community
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Advance the institution
Perhaps my most prominent resolution is to listen to you. CDU is our University and we want to cultivate a culture of shared governance. We want to hear your voice and it is through your active support that we are moving this University forward.
Our days ahead are looking brighter than ever and I resolve to make sure we maintain the upward path in 2013.
Sincerely,
Dr. David M. Carlisle
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13th Annual Research Centers in Minority Institutions Symposium on Health Disparities
The COSH Urban Public Health Program atended the 13th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities, December 10-13, 2012, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Collaborating with research faculty at CDU, recent COSH MPH graduate Ms. Nichole Nicholas presented research on the potential stress-reducing health benefits of compassion in a poster titled “The Development and Evaluation of a Compassion Scale.” According to Ms. Nicholas, "I had a wonderful time at the RCMI Conference and was able to network with other researchers and students within public health. I do hope that CDU can be as involved with this conference in the future because it is beneficial to for the professional growth of our students." In addition to being an opportunity for CDU students to showcase their research and to build networks, the conference was also a good opportunity for the professional development of junior faculty by giving them an opportunity to build relationships and learn about potential funding opportunities. Urban Public Health Assistant Professor Dr. Bita Amani, who a lso attended the conference, expressed how inspired she felt by CDU’s well recognized role among Minority Serving Institutions. Additionally, she states, “The conference was a great opportunity to tap into the national conversation on representation, health disparities and community involvement.”
CDU Alumna, Nichole Nicholas, MPH '12 presenting at the 13th RCMI International Symposium on Health Disparities: “The Development and Evaluation of a Compassion Scale,” authors D. Martins, N. Nicholas, M. Shaheen and K. Norris.
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CME Accredited Cancer Journal Club
A significant milestone was met at CDU when the 1st Continuing Medical Education (CME) Accredited Cancer Journal Club took place on January 7th, 2013. This was the first CME activity for the University in a significant amount of time and resulted due to the amazing effort of COM Dean Dr. Daphne Calmes as well as Dr. Ron Edelstein, Jeonathan Rodriguez, and the CME Committee, particularly Dr. James Smith and Dr. Yanyuan Wu. There were more than twenty-five attendees at the Journal Club, which included clinicians/internists, basic science and community outreach faculty, staff, and students from CDU and other universities. The Journal Club topic explored drug-resistance in multiple cancers and provided important insights into clinical arms which can be utilized in combination to combat resistance. The response of the audience to the Journal Club was outstanding. Many participants indicated the Journal Club improved their clinical understanding of cancer and drug resistance. ;Most notably, many students present- particularly from CDU’s Post-Baccalaureate Program- expressed their excitement and “inspiration” at seeing real-life application of the scientific information they learned in their biochemistry and molecular biology classes. The Cancer Journal Club hopes to include more participants and encourages the entire campus community and colleagues to all attend.
The Journal Club is a weekly meeting that takes place every Monday, from 12-2pm, in the Augustus F. Hawkins Building, Room 3071 at CDU. For more information, weekly announcements, and speakers please go to the Divisional website: http//www.cdrewu-dcrt.org.
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13th Annual Junior White Coat Ceremony
On Saturday January 12, the 13th Annual Junior White Coat Ceremony and Reception honored 130 students who completed a full year in the Saturday Science Academy II, a program that encourages K-12 South Los Angeles students to excel in math, science and technology and pursue careers in the health professions. Families gathered around as graduates received a white lab coat, a universal symbol of the medical profession.
“The White Coat Ceremony is a time to honor the successful path these students are on and inspire them to become health professionals,“ said Dr. David M. Carlisle, President and CEO of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. “It is a powerfully emotional, transformative, and affirming experience for the students, their families, and CDU staff.”
The Saturday Science Academy II, sponsored by Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science for over 20 years, is dedicated to providing minority youth exposure to the fields of math and science disciplines. This rigorous academic program is designed to foster knowledge, self-esteem, discipline, positive study habits,confidence and the encouragement to succeed.
K-12 students from Saturday Science Academy II were honored in the 13th Annual Junior White Coat Ceremony and Reception for their dedication to STEM.
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Publication Highlight-- Division of Cancer Research and Training, Center to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities
We are glad to announce the most recent publication of a paper titled “Expression of Wnt3 Activates Wnt/ß-Catenin Pathway and Promotes EMT-like Phenotype in Trastuzumab-Resistant HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells.” (Molecular Cancer Research, Dec 2012 -PMID: 23071104) by Dr. Yanyuan Wu and team at the Center to Eliminate Cancer Health Disparities supported through the CDU/UCLA Cancer Center Partnership Grant (NCI/NIH U54 CA 143931). Dr. Wu and her colleagues ( C. Ginther , J Kim, N Mosher, S Chung, D Slamon, and Center Director and Senior PI on the study -Dr. Jay Vadgama) demonstrated that a basic developmental pathway, involving the protein called Wnt 3, plays a role in the lo ss of therapy-resistance in a certain breast cancer type called “HER2+.” HER2+ breast cancer cells express a certain molecule on the surface that is targeted for therapy with a drug called trastuzumab. Unfortunately, many women who develop the HER2+type of breast cancer experience relapse of the cancer and trastuzumab does not work anymore (called drug-resistance). These women have reduced survival. This study is significant for exploring the molecular pathways that lead to loss of response to trastuzumab so that better molecular targets can be identified in the future for women with this type of cancer. It should be noted that one of the co-authors, N. Mosher, was an undergraduate intern in the Undergraduate Cancer Research Summer Training (UCRTP) Program at CDU.
Full Citation of paper: Wu Y, Ginther C, Kim J, Mosher N, Chung S, Slamon D, Vadgama JV.Expression of Wnt3 Activates Wnt/ß-Catenin Pathway and Promotes EMT-like Phenotype in Trastuzumab-Resistant HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells. Mol Cancer Res. 2012 Dec;10(12):1597-606. doi: 10.1158/1541-7786.MCR-12-0155-T. Epub 2012 Oct 15. PMID: 23071104)
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Dr. Mylene Rucker, 76 (CoSH), ‘86 (CoM Medical Education)
Dr. Mylene Rucker has a generous spirit. When the daughter of an employee was diagnosed with leukemia, Rucker offered to host a yard sale in the parking lot of her wellness center in Visalia. This fundraiser on Nov. 15 also included a bounce house, and pizza and tacos were sold. They raised $1,500. “It was almost like a little fair,” Rucker said. “A lot of my patients are very giving.”
Four times a year, Rucker, a family practice physician, sets up a free health care screening clinic in Allensworth where she treats mostly farmworkers. She takes a staff of two to three medical assistants, and her son, Kweku Middleton, helps move equipment.They see about 15 patients each visit.
“I see myself as a community physician,” she said. “You go out and reach the community and make the world a better place to live.” Each time she visits Allensworth, it costs her $1,000. “Nobody pays me,” she said. “Not even a penny.” In Allensworth, she has diagnosed some cancers and a lot of diabetes. “Many didn’t know they had it,” she said.
“I’m a very community-oriented person,” she said. “I had a hard time myself.” She raised her son and daughter as a single mother. She left her alcoholic husband in Chicago and moved back to Los Angeles with two children and two 6-foot lockers. During an economic recession in the late 1970s, she couldn’t find work. So she took advantage of a government program that paid for her child care and purchased her uniforms while she studied to become a physician assistant at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
As a physician assistant, she worked with child-abuse victims at Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital in Watts. She said she remembers her young patients crying, and she cried with them. At 32, she began medical school at Drew and became a family practice doctor. Later, she earned her master’s degree in public health from the University of California, Los Angeles.
She moved to Visalia in 1998 as a visiting doctor to be near her nephew, Jeremiah, who now lives in Fresno. Four years ago, she built the wellness center at 2305 Midvalley Ave. She cares for 2,000 patients and serves as the di-rector of community medicine at Kaweah Delta Medical Center under Dr. Robert Allen.
Next door to her office is a community garden that she started with Sister Friends, a nonprofit organization of six women. Rucker said she works in the garden because it’s therapeutic. “It calms my nerves,” she said.
Article reprinted with permission, Visalia Times-Delta. Copyright ? 2013 www.visaliatimes.delta.com
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A Message from Dr. Shay Concerning WASC Accreditation
In July 2011 the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) granted CDU full academic accreditation through 2018. The WASC Commission also scheduled an Interim Report in spring 2013, a Special Visit in spring 2014, and a Comprehensive Review for re-accreditation in 2018. CDU faculty, staff, and students have worked diligently since 2011 to implement the recommendations of the WASC Commission, and the university continues to remain in compliance with accreditation standards.
The Interim Report requested by WASC is due on March 1, 2013 and must focus on the financial status and sustainability of the university. Over the past several months a CDU WASC Team with faculty, student, and staff representation has collaborated with the offices of finance and advancement to draft the Interim Report. Over the next few weeks the draft is being vetted with various faculty governing bodies and Board of Trustee sub-committees; the full Board will review the draft report in its early February meeting.
In preparation for the Special Visit in 2014, several working groups are being reactivated to analyze and document the success of the university in responding to three key areas of persistent WASC concern, for CDU as well as most higher education institutions.These areas of concern include: (1) financial sustainability, planning and management; (2) faculty-related policies and governance; and (3) assessment, student success, and program review. With the focus of the 2013 Interim Report on the financial foundations of the university, and the integral role of comparable working groups leading up to full accreditation in 2011, we are well positioned to continuously improve upon the accreditation status of CDU and our reputation as a high-performing institution of health professions education.
For more information on the current status and history of our accreditation by WASC see the CDU accreditation website at http//www.cdrewu.edu/about-cdu/wasc. You may also contact the CDU Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO), Dr. William L. Shay at williamshay@cdrewu.edu, about any WASC accreditation matters. He serves under the direction of the CDU Provost as the official conduit for all communication with WASC.
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