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Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) celebrated a pivotal milestone for the Class of 2029 during its annual College of Medicine White Coat Ceremony.

Held on campus, July 12, 2025, the event honored the newest cohort of 60 medical students enrolled in the University’s historic 4-Year Medical Degree (MD) program.

The ceremony marked the beginning of the students’ journey into the medical profession and served as a powerful affirmation of CDU’s mission to cultivate health professionals dedicated to social justice and health equity.

During the ceremony, David M. Carlisle, MD, PhD, CDU President and CEO, reflected on the University’s founding following the 1965 Watts uprising and reminded students of the institutions’ enduring purpose.

“If you remember nothing else about CDU, remember that we are a community-founded institution committed to fulfilling the dreams, desires, and expectations of this community—to ensure that South L.A. and the people in it are better and healthier,” said Dr. Carlisle.

Delivering the keynote address was Pamela Simms-Mackey, MD ’94, FAAP—Chair of Pediatrics and Chief of Graduate Medical Education at Alameda Health System, and the first Black woman to serve as President of the American Board of Pediatrics. A proud CDU alumna, Dr. Simms-Mackey spoke to the resilience, responsibility, and compassion required of physicians, emphasizing the vital role these future doctors will play in communities historically overlooked by the healthcare system.

“Training at an institution with faculty and attending physicians that look like you, want the best for you, and more importantly see the best and potential in you has a profound impact on how you can see yourself,” she said.

“The world profoundly needs physicians like you—students who will advance medical practice and knowledge in underserved areas, students who are from diverse backgrounds, bright, committed, and ripe with potential.”

Many of the incoming students hail from historically underserved communities and bring with them lived experiences that reflect and align with the populations they will one day serve. The class is composed of 33 women and 27 men, with over half reporting proficiency in languages other than English, including Spanish (66%), French, Arabic, and American Sign Language. Approximately 60% of students reported a family income of less than $50,000, and many are first-generation college students—a stark contrast to national trends.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), only 5% of U.S. medical school matriculants come from the lowest-income households, while 76% come from the top two income quintiles. CDU’s incoming class represents a deliberate step toward increasing socioeconomic and cultural representation in medicine.

The presence of family, friends, and loved ones added heartfelt significance to the day. Many had the privilege of cloaking their student in a white coat for the first time—a symbolic gesture that underscored the emotional weight of the moment and the vital support systems surrounding each future physician.

Students recited the D.R.E.W. Legacy Oath at the conclusion of the ceremony, pledging to serve, lead, and transform medicine for all. The Class of 2029 were the inaugural speakers of the oath, which was collaboratively drafted by student leaders from the class of 2027 and 2028.

CDU is a Historically Black Graduate Institution (HBGI), one of only four Historically Black Medical Colleges, and a Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities charter member.

This cohort of students and CDU’s MD program represent meaningful steps towards addressing a state-wide physician shortage and closing the healthcare accessibility gap in underserved communities.