W.M. Keck Foundation Awards CDU $3 Million Grant for Health Professions Education Building
The W.M. Keck Foundation has awarded Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) a $3 million grant to support construction of the Health Professions Education Building (rendering shown above), a 60,000 GSF state-of-the art academic building that will house the University’s newly accredited medical degree program. This generous donation significantly advances the University’s CDU Rising five-year comprehensive campaign toward its $95 million goal. Funded through the Foundation’s Southern California Program, this grant recognizes institutions, like CDU, that bolster healthcare access and resilience in Los Angeles County’s medically under-resourced communities.
Resilience is woven into the fabric of CDU, dating back to its establishment in 1966. From the ashes of the Watts Riots, CDU arose as a beacon of hope, initially addressing healthcare access challenges and now confronting the evolving healthcare needs that continue to plague the Watts-Willowbrook area. Today, this region, also known as Service Planning Area 6 (SPA 6), is grappling with a pronounced shortage of healthcare professionals, a situation exacerbated by broader social determinants of health. Recognizing these challenges, the W.M. Keck Foundation is committed to CDU’s dismantling of the barriers that disproportionately burden the communities the university serves.
“This transformative gift extends beyond the mere construction of a new building. It emphasizes CDU’s enduring commitment to revolutionizing healthcare by nurturing a diverse generation of healthcare leaders,” remarked CDU’s President and CEO, David M. Carlisle, MD, PhD. The designation of the Watts-Willowbrook area as a Health Professional Shortage Area underscores a pressing need for healthcare professionals equipped to address complex health issues that also bear the burden of cultural and community contexts. In direct response, the forthcoming facility represents a significant leap towards bridging this gap. Specifically, the building will play a pivotal role in addressing the critical shortage of healthcare professionals in SPA 6 by providing first-in-class training in its classrooms, laboratories, and state-of-the-art simulation facilities that will feature virtual and augmented reality technology.
Beyond addressing immediate needs, the health professions education building is a cornerstone in CDU’s strategy for sustained growth and increased impact. The ambitious facility design will support over 240 medical students and hundreds of other CDU students annually. The facility will accommodate the University’s current rapid expansion and anticipates future needs. Through this initiative, CDU reaffirms its commitment to spearhead efforts to alleviate health disparities, aligning with the strategic goals of both the University and the W.M. Keck Foundation.
This meaningful contribution from the W.M. Keck Foundation underscores a pivotal moment in the University’s role in achieving health equity for the South Los Angeles community. In a written statement Joe Day and Steve Keck, Co-CEOs, commented: “As long term partners with CDU, we are grateful to this outstanding Historically Black University for its continuing commitment to training medical professionals from diverse backgrounds. We believe that the medical degree program’s future graduates can have a significant impact on improving access to high quality health care for this historically underinvested community.”
CDU warmly invites philanthropic partners to consider contributing toward the health professions education building or the College of Medicine. Your gift will support CDU’s 58-year history to educate and train doctors and other healthcare workers who are ready and willing to serve and uplift communities in South LA and beyond while fulfilling their dream. Please contact Angela Minniefield, Senior Vice President, Advancement and Operations and COO for more information.
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About Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
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, and treatment for cancer, diabetes, cardiometabolic, COVID, and HIV/AIDS. Founded in 1966 in the heart of South Los Angeles, CDU offers a range of undergraduate degree, graduate degree, doctorate, and certificate programs including nursing, medicine, biomedical science, public health, computed tomography, physician assistant, and psychology. Learn more about CDU at www.cdrewu.edu.
About the W. M. Keck Foundation
The W. M. Keck Foundation was established in 1954 in Los Angeles by William Myron Keck, founder of The Superior Oil Company. One of the nation’s largest philanthropic organizations, the W. M. Keck Foundation supports outstanding science, engineering, and medical research. The Foundation also supports undergraduate education and maintains a Southern California Grant Program that provides support for the Los Angeles nonprofit community, with a special emphasis on organizations that strengthen the resiliency of children, youth and families living in under-resourced communities. For more information, visit www.wmkeck.org