“We probably have more men of color in this class than most medical schools who have classes of 200.”
By Michael Reel
In 2021, the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science received a 50-million-dollar allocation from the State of California to establish a four-year medical school to provide students the opportunity to obtain a Doctor of Medicine degree.
Less than two years later, on the morning of July 10, 2023, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, College of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class to campus.
Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony and introductory remarks by several university, College of Medicine administrators and faculty, the Doctor of Medicine Programs Founding Dean, Deborah B. Prothrow-Stith, M.D., welcomed the inaugural cohort to the only historically black institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi and the first black four-year medical degree program to open anywhere in the United States since 1981.
While on break from the first day of medical degree program festivities, Dean Prothrow-Stith reflected on the significance of the historic morning and so much more.
“I was very grateful and very prayerful as I was coming in this morning. Of course, the anxiety is pretty high,” expressed Dean Prothrow-Stith.
“I was very grateful and very prayerful as I was coming in this morning. Of course, the anxiety is pretty high,”
The Dean pointed to a silver band that adorned her right index finger. “I started wearing this ring and it tells you how well you sleep, but this morning it told me, ‘Your activity has been really high. Can you slow down today?’ I was like, not today, but maybe tomorrow. Just a little bit of anxiety making sure all of the pieces are in place.”
Dean Prothrow-Stith expressed concern for the students in the College of Medicine’s inaugural class and their ability to financially survive medical school.
“Many of our students are going into significant personal debt to be a physician,” she explained. “I feel so obligated because many come from under-resourced families and that’s what makes our medical school very different.
“There is a strong correlation between family income and acceptance to medical school. Our students are unusual in that regard. But it does mean that I think we have a greater obligation to them to really make it right.
The Dean expressed the challenges many of her students face. “I know it’s more difficult for them because of the death of a grandparent, not to mention the death of a parent or sibling; all of those things can derail financially and emotionally because they emotionally disconnect from family a little bit for four years or maybe a little longer. It’s a big responsibility. That’s what I feel and that’s where the anxiety is. Praying that we are doing this well and in a way that makes them successful.”
On Thursday, June 29th, 11 days before Charles R. Drew University of Medicine Science College of Medicine welcomed its inaugural class; the Supreme Court of the United States deemed the Affirmative Action practice unlawful.
“That was such a sad day,” said Dean Prothrow-Stith. “I don’t know if it will affect our admissions because our applications are from the community we want. We are blessed in that regard. As an HBCU our mission is serving this community; it’s a black and brown community. We are going to look at zip codes as a way of prioritizing some because of the health disparities by zip code. I’m pretty sure we will continue to get the students that we want. But our initial class is exactly what we want!
“We probably have more men of color in this class than most medical schools who have classes of 200; they may have 3 or 4.”
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science is nestled between the Los Angeles community of Watts and the City of Compton. The university was founded in 1966 after the Watts Riots, with the mandate of creating a world without health disparities.
In our final moments with Dean Prothrow-Stith, one could hear in her voice that this mother, grandmother, educator and global health leader beamed with pride.
“I call them kids but they’re not kids. They have such amazing stories. Their histories are incredible. What they’ve done already to get here is refreshing and inspiring.”
University President Dr. David M. Carlisle was unable to attend but his presence was felt throughout the day. “We couldn’t do this if he had not rescued the university and set this financial and leadership team in place that allowed us to build this,” said the Dean.
“We would not have gotten accredited; financial stability is one of the issues that the accrediting body looks at. Dr. Carlisle is here in spirit with us. And on August 19th these guys will have finished their first course and they will get their short White Coats at the White Coat Ceremony and Dr. Carlisle will be here for that.”
Cover Photo: Eric Dearborn
