Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is a private non-profit student-centered University that is committed to cultivating diverse health professional leaders who are dedicated to social justice and health equity for underserved populations through outstanding education, research, clinical service, and community engagement.Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian, minority-serving medical and health sciences institution located in South Los Angeles, California. The University was founded in 1966 after a report by the McCone Commission ("Violence in the City: An End or a Beginning" - Governor Edmund G. Brown) cited poor health status and diminished access to quality education, healthcare, employment, and safety as key factors sparking the 1965 civil revolt in the local community. CDU is the only designated minority-serving health sciences University in a county with a population of more than 10 million residents, 70% of whom are from minority communities. The University earned designation as a minority serving institution by the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, and is recognized by the Department of Education under Title III, Part B as a Historically Black Graduate Institution. CDU is also a charter member of the Hispanic-Serving Health Professions Schools, a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the health of Hispanic people through research initiatives, training opportunities, and academic development. The University serves as the only academic health sciences center for the 1.5 million residents of South Los Angeles. The University has contributed significantly to the diversity of the nation's healthcare workforce for nearly 50 years by graduating more than 550 physicians, 1,200 physician assistants (PAs), and hundreds of other health professionals. Additionally, CDU has trained over 2,700 physician specialists through its sponsored residency programs. The University's most recent degree program, the Mervyn M. Dymally School of Nursing (MMDSON), has graduated over 560 nursing professionals, including over 400 family nurse practitioners, since its opening in 2010. More than 70% of the University graduates since 2000 are ethnic minorities, and more than 80% of alumni report serving underserved communities following graduation. In addition to direct patient care, CDU graduates work in research centers, universities, and government settings to redress health disparities and promote health equity. Alumni, faculty, and research and clinical fellows have become national leaders in higher education, government service, research institutions, and clinical enterprises. Academic quality is further validated by prestigious regional and national programmatic accreditations. CDU was first accredited in 1995 by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. The MD degree for the Drew/UCLA Medical Education Program is granted by the University of California, through UCLA, and is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. The associate degree of the Radiologic Technology Program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, and also must be certified by the California Department of Public Health. The Master of Public Health (MPH) Program in Urban Health Disparities is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, and the MPH program also offers a Graduate Certificate in Public Health Concepts. The Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. The MMDSON also offers post-master certificates in Family Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Nursing Education. All of the degree programs at the University have earned the maximum duration of national programmatic accreditation.

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