Welcome to The Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing

Dean’s Message

Dr. Delia Santana, PhD, MSN, MPH, CNS, RN, PHN
Acting Dean, Mervym M. Dymally School of Nursing and CDU Campus Nursing Officer

Welcome to the Charles R. Drew University Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing! 

As a student of this university, you will be challenged to become a part of a cadre of learners who hold a high standard of achievement as you journey to join the ranks of becoming a Registered Nurse.  Nurses have been the most trusted professionals 19 years in a row, and we continue to celebrate nursing as we move forward into an era of technological advancement with nurses at the helm to provide evidence-based patient care.

Here at the Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing (MMDSON), we seek to advance the science and art of nursing by engaging students in nursing research with high-quality education that emphasizes the health status of underserved communities.  As a student, you will experience the “CDU Advantage”,  a curriculum based on five specific pillars—research, social justice, international exposure, experiential education, and health policy—that gives CDU graduates both solid preparation to practice in their chosen field of healthcare, and a true understanding of health disparities, health policy and social justice. With CDU as a diversity leader, our faculty reflect the faces of the community we serve with an emphasis on community-driven service and integration into local activities. 

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) is a private, nonprofit, community-founded, student-centered University committed to cultivating diverse health professions leaders who are dedicated to social justice and health equity for underserved populations through outstanding education, clinical service and community engagement.  CDU is also a leader in health disparities research with a focus on education, training, treatment and care in cancer, diabetes, cardiometabolic and HIV/AIDS. 

Today, considering that the end of the COVID-19 pandemic is in sight, the MMDSON students, faculty, and staff, continue to be critically engaged in community partnerships to bring vaccination and education to those who need it the most.  As always, we remain ahead of the curve in acknowledging public health needs within the community and seek to create new connections in building and improving the health of the community around us.

For additional information, feel free to contact me at deliasantana1@cdrewu.edu or Adrienne Thompson, the Executive Assistant to the Dean SON at adriennethompson@cdrewu.edu.