California Allocates $5M for CDU in State Budget
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science has received a $5 million investment from the State of California to strengthen health professions education and support the University’s ongoing work in cultivating healthcare professionals.
The funding, included in the State of California’s 2027 budget, was announced during a press conference on CDU’s campus featuring CDU President and CEO Dr. David M. Carlisle, Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson (D-Carson), State Senator Laura Richardson (D-South Bay), and other local leaders.
Dr. Carlisle thanked Governor Gavin Newsom, Assemblymember Gipson, State Senator Richardson, and the California Legislature for recognizing CDU’s vital role in preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals and spoke about what the investment means for the University and the communities it serves.
“This investment from the State of California is for our students, for the university, and for the community,” said Dr. Carlisle. “This recognition stands as a testament to the critical role CDU plays in addressing healthcare workforce shortages and advancing accessible healthcare across California.”
Assemblymember Gipson, whose district includes the Watts/Willowbrook community where CDU is located, said the investment reflects the University’s importance to South Los Angeles and California’s healthcare future.
“I’m grateful that the California Legislative Black Caucus got behind this effort and we pushed this through our budget process,” said Assemblymember Gipson. “We believe in planting good seeds, in good soil, that will then manifest in the bright minds of local youth that will one day save lives in this community.”
Senator Laura Richardson (D-South Bay) pointed out the legacy of the University’s namesake, Dr. Charles R. Drew, whose groundbreaking achievements continue to inspire future generations of physicians, and how CDU carries that legacy forward.
“This University is giving students, who maybe didn’t come from a family of doctors or from high income households, an opportunity to follow their heart and what they’ve always wanted to do, which is to be involved in medicine,” said Senator Richardson.
Founded in 1966 by local activists and organizers in the aftermath of the Watts uprising, CDU is a designated Minority-Serving Institution (MSI), recognized as a Historically Black Graduate Institution (HGBI), and home to one of the nation’s four Historically Black Medical Colleges. As the University celebrates its 60th anniversary, it continues to fulfill its founding mission by preparing healthcare professionals dedicated to serving underserved communities.