Sutter Health, which recently announced its sixth community-based market on the Greater Central Coast, is partnering with Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) in a long-term collaboration to expand access to a more inclusive and equitable care experience in California, Sutter has announced.
CDU is the only federally-designated Historically Black institution west of Texas.
The joint effort kicks off with opening of two initiatives. The first is one of the largest scholarship programs in CDU’s history, designed to build a stronger pipeline of diverse physicians. The second is the creation of the Health Equity Alliance for Research & Evaluation (HEARE) to serve as an incubator lab to accelerate health equity research into clinical practice.
“This unique collaboration marks a significant step toward building a more equitable health care system in California,” said Dr. David M. Carlisle, president/CEO of CDU. “Today’s announcement is just the beginning of our work to clear paths for medical education, enhanced clinical care, robust research and improved community health.”
CDU opened its new, nationally accredited medical school in 2023, making it one of only four Historically Black medical schools in America.
Sutter’s $7.5 million initial investment will provide five full-tuition scholarships across five cohorts (2024-28), totaling 25 scholarships. Additionally, it will fund HEARE over the next five years to help accelerate interventions that address root causes of inequities.
Sutter Health and CDU will also explore opportunities to broaden the partnership and train more physicians with future initiatives. The investment is part of Sutter’s broader commitment to address California’s growing physician shortage and persistent health inequities by enhancing access to culturally competent care for under-represented populations.
The 10-year commitment also includes academic and experiential learning opportunities across Sutter Health’s system, including its Institute for Advancing Health Equity, which serves to help ensure all patients experience optimal health outcomes across one of the most geographically and demographically diverse areas in the country.
One of the institute’s focus areas is maternal health disparities, and in response launched a Maternal Health Equity Innovation Lab dedicated to addressing racial inequities in childbirth by advancing research and solutions.
“We do not train enough physicians in California given the current and projected shortage we’re facing,” said Warner Thomas, president/CEO at Sutter Health. “In fact, we train far fewer physicians per capita than most every other state in the country.
“Sutter is making it our goal to tackle that, which is why we also are making significant investments to expand our graduate medical education programs, and why this partnership with Charles R. Drew University is so important to us.
“Our two organizations will leverage more than 150 years of combined experience to create tangible solutions that reduce disparities and elevate care — starting with this scholarship launch.”
CDU’s inaugural class of 60 medical students reflects the diversity of California — nearly a quarter of the cohort is Latino, and half are Black, speaking numerous languages and practicing several different religions.
“Over 80% of CDU students are from communities of color, many of whom return to practice and provide care in underserved communities after graduation,” said Dr. Debra Prothrow-Smith, dean and professor of medicine at CDU. “This scholarship is a game-changer for our aspiring physicians — and for the patients they’ll go on to serve.”
Sutter Health is developing and implementing new graduate medical education programs, expanding its footprint to train and graduate approximately 1,000 residents and fellows by 2030.
Learn more about Sutter Health at www.sutterhealth.org.