City of Hope and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU), the only Historically Black Graduate Institution west of the Mississippi River and one of only four Historically Black Medical Schools, announced the launch of a new partnership to educate a more diverse workforce in specialized medicine through internships, curriculum, training, mentorships, joint research projects and more.
The partnership provides for a range of collaborations that will facilitate a pathway for medical students to pursue careers in specialized medical practice and research in the fields of oncology and diabetes, as well as access to participate in joint research projects and clinical innovation opportunities.
"We know that more diverse representation is needed in cancer care and research,” said John Carpten, Ph.D., chief scientific officer, Irell & Manella Cancer Center Director's Distinguished Chair and Morgan & Helen Chu Director's Chair of the Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope. “We also know that there is important work to be done to close health equity gaps for people of color in the areas of early detection, clinical trials enrollment, treatment outcomes, and more. That’s why we are honored to join together with Charles R. Drew University. Through this partnership, we hope to fuel a robust pipeline of diverse talent for the future, while engaging and building trust with underserved, historically excluded communities.”
Gaps in racial and ethnic diversity in the medical field are a well-recognized issue in the U.S., particularly in medical specialties like oncology. The partnership provides for a range of collaborations that will facilitate a pathway for medical students to pursue careers in specialized medical practice and research in the fields of oncology and diabetes, as well as access to participate in joint research projects and clinical innovation opportunities.
City of Hope National Medical Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated academic medical center in Los Angeles, will offer clinical and research summer internship tracks for students, along with didactic curriculum in health equity, diversity, equity and inclusion, and other training topics in health care. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in mentorship and coaching opportunities with City of Hope faculty. Additionally, City of Hope experts will teach a four-week class on hematology/oncology as part of CDU’s new M.D. program.
"This partnership between City of Hope and CDU represents a significant step towards fostering innovative research and educational opportunities that will benefit both our institutions.” said David M. Carlisle, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of CDU. “By working together, we aim to address health disparities and promote diversity in specialized medical fields, ultimately improving health care outcomes for the communities we serve. This partnership will pave the way for groundbreaking research and provide our students with unparalleled training and mentorship opportunities."
Other potential partnership collaborations include academic exchange programs; training programs in areas such as genetic counseling and radiology; translational research workshops; research projects in cancer, diabetes, metabolic disorders, HIV, autoimmune-related diseases, nursing and precision medicine; and the opportunity to perform clinical trials of novel therapeutics from collaborative projects.
City of Hope plans to use the CDU partnership as a model for other exchange and training programs with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions in communities across their national network of cancer centers.