Alumni Outcomes

Maria Zesati

Undergrad: University of California, Los Angeles
Post Bacc Grad: 2024
Medical School: UC San Diego School of Medicine

When I started the Charles R. Drew University Postbaccalaureate Leadership Program in 2023, I was determined to make the most of the experience and prepare to reapply to medical school. As a reapplicant, I carried the doubt and nervousness from my previous cycle, which pushed me to stay focused and motivated. The program helped me find my stride as both a student and a leader, building confidence I had struggled to discover on my own.

The PLP structure gave me the tools to craft a strong and competitive application through personalized mentorship and meaningful learning opportunities. Our program director and staff guided us through uncertainty with expertise and encouragement, always pushing us to grow. As a first-generation Latina student entering medical school, developing my voice and confidence was essential, and this program helped me fully believe that I belong in this field.

With the skills I gained through PLP, I feel prepared to navigate the challenges of medical school and the larger hurdles ahead. I not only discovered my potential in this program, I also found a community that feels like family.

Tina Vo

Undergrad: San Diego State University
Post Bacc Grad: 2025
Medical School: Applying 2026-2027 Cycle

The CDU Postbaccalaureate Leadership Program was truly life changing. As a first generation student, I found a sense of belonging and purpose through the program’s mentorship, rigorous academics, and commitment to health equity. The CDU team is genuinely invested in student success, and I have never felt more supported.

Throughout my year in the PLP, I grew not only as a student but as a future advocate for meaningful structural change. Conversations about systemic inequities, hands on service learning, and intentional guidance from the PLP staff helped me step into my leadership voice with confidence. I left the program better prepared for medical school and deeply committed to creating spaces where patients feel seen, respected, and empowered. CDU offered a community that stayed with me long after graduation.

I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to be part of this program.

Sumana Krishnakumar

Undergrad: University of California, Santa Cruz
Post Bacc Grad: 2023
Medical School: CDU College of Medicine

CDU’s Post-Baccalaureate Leadership Program was a true turning point for me. It strengthened my academics and my medical school application, but it also gave me the confidence and clarity I needed as a first-generation college graduate. The personalized advising was invaluable, especially because, like many first-generation BIPOC students, I sometimes questioned whether I belonged in medicine.

What made the biggest impact was how intentionally the program connected every lesson to community, advocacy, and justice. Whether I was in a seminar with the CDU president discussing current events and the responsibility of health leaders, or hearing from physicians already doing the work I hope to do, I felt supported and reminded of my purpose.

PLP also gave me a community of peers, mentors, and professors who are committed to serving overlooked communities. Looking back, I see PLP not only as preparation, but as the moment I truly began to see myself as a future physician.

Anthony Benitez

Undergrad: CSU, Dominguez Hills
Post Bacc Grad: 2024
Medical School: UC Davis School of Medicine

I completed the CDU Postbaccalaureate Leadership Program in 2023–2024 and started medical school at UC Davis as part of the Class of 2029. The program was one of the hardest years of my life, yet the growth I experienced made every challenge worth it.

The faculty and my program director helped me build real confidence in my abilities, and working with the program’s educational specialist gave me the structure I needed for both my coursework and the MCAT. The individual attention I received made me feel seen in a way I never had before.

Opportunities to attend conferences, participate in research, and serve the community strengthened my application and deepened my commitment to medicine. Now, in my first month of medical school, I know the road ahead will not be easy, but the skills and support I gained at CDU continue to guide me every day.

Samad Acklin

Undergrad: Northwestern University
Post Bacc Grad: 2025
Medical School: Applying for 2025-2026 Cycle

My experience in the CDU Postbaccalaureate Leadership Program gave me the confidence and tools I needed to succeed. During undergrad, I struggled to feel a sense of belonging, and the COVID-19 pandemic made the transition to college even more difficult. The program’s small, supportive environment and the close relationships I built with professors and peers helped me recognize my potential and sharpen my academic skills.

I strengthened my time management, engaged in experiences that deepened my commitment to underserved communities, and received MCAT preparation that significantly improved my score. Thanks to CDU PLP, I am ready to apply to medical school and feel supported as I move forward on my path to becoming a physician.

Veronica Gonzalez

Undergrad: University of California, Los Angeles
EPB Program Grad: 2018
Medical School: CDU/UCLA Medical Education Program

Through this program, I saw firsthand that Charles R. Drew’s commitment to underserved communities is unlike anything I found elsewhere. The faculty truly invests in student success, and the small class environment made it possible to fully understand challenging material and receive real-time support.

In undergrad, I didn’t have a premedical advisor to guide me, so having that support here made a significant difference. I felt confident in my progress and supported through every stage of the application process. Despite how competitive the medical field can be, I found a strong, uplifting network within my cohort.

From the mission to the mentorship, this program has shaped the kind of physician I hope to become, one who listens to and advocates for their community.