CDU Hosts Memorial for Dr. Frederick Douglass ParrottROTT
CDU hosted a memorial for Dr. Frederick Douglass Parrott on campus in September, celebrating his life. Among his many philanthropic efforts, Dr. Parrott founded the “Real Men Cook Foundation” in 1986 which raised more than $3 million for the four Historically Black Medical Colleges (HBMCs) including CDU. Later in life, Dr. Parrott when on to champion the fight against prostate cancer.
Remarks were shared from a range of guests during the memorial, reflection, and remembrance in Keck Hall. These included representatives from the three other historically black medical colleges such as Dr. James Hildreth, President of Meharry Medical College; Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President and CEO of Morehouse School of Medicine, and Dr. Andrea Hayes, Dean of Howard University College of Medicine.
Other featured guests also took to the podium to share their memories and thoughts about the acclaimed Dr. Parrott including Dr. Jessie Sherrod, Co-Founder of the Association of Black Women Physicians and Dr. C. Suzanne Cutter, President of the Charles Richard Drew Medical Society.
“He was accomplished and well regarded throughout the state of California, the United States, and I would daresay known internationally for his efforts to save lives from prostate cancer,” shared Dr. David Carlisle, CDU President and CEO. “He wasn’t just a visionary; he was also an activist. He set the bar for all of us and like a fine wine, his trajectory got better with age.”
Attendees also heard from his family, and an invocation and closing prayer from John Patton, CDU General Counsel and Secretary to the CDU Board of Trustees. A reception followed the service in the LSRNE Courtyard that featured a tribute performed on trumpet by one of the late Dr. Parrott’s colleagues.
Prior to his passing, Dr. Parrott had donated $200,000 from the Real Men Cook Foundation in September 2020 as a matching fund for the CDU Medical Education Program. He has remained active in this philanthropic benevolence after his passing, having bequeathed $1.5 million to the Fred D. Parrott, MD Endowed Academic Scholarship Fund at the CDU College of Medicine.
These programs annually support two CDU African American medical students who have demonstrated academic excellence and strong community service. It is a continuation of Dr. Parrott’s longstanding vision of increasing the number of minority health care providers by awarding scholarships to medical students attending HBCUs. CDU is honored to have been a direct benefactor of his unyielding generosity and vision.