Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) held a powerful White Coat Ceremony on March 27, marking a milestone for 158 nursing students entering clinical practice.
The event, hosted on CDU’s South Los Angeles campus, celebrated ten cohorts across multiple nursing programs — including the debut of the LVN-to-BSN track.
Dr. Delia Santana, Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at the Mervyn M. Dymally College of Nursing, described the event as a key moment in each student’s professional journey.
“The White Coat Ceremony recognizes our students’ successful progression toward becoming professional nurses,” said Santana. “It symbolizes their transition into clinical practice and highlights the compassion and humanism at the heart of healthcare.”
Santana emphasized that CDU’s commitment to underserved and Black communities is reflected in every aspect of the curriculum and student experience.
“Our students often tell us they chose CDU because of the mission — to serve beyond the underserved,” Santana explained. “We offer what we call the CDU Advantage, built on pillars like social justice, research, and health policy.”
This year’s ceremony included the first graduates of CDU’s LVN-to-BSN pathway, developed in partnership with AltaMed and supported by a federal HRSA grant.
“This program came from a long-standing community partnership,” said Santana. “It allows working LVNs to advance their education without stepping away from their jobs — and they return to serve their communities.”
Santana hopes the program will be expanded to other organizations, helping to address California’s ongoing nursing shortage.
“If we can replicate this model, we can help turn that shortage around,” Santana said. “And we’ll continue preparing nurses who reflect and serve the communities they come from.”
More than 500 guests attended the ceremony, which included family members participating in the symbolic “coating” of their loved ones.
“It was incredible to see so many smiling faces,” Santana recalled. “We had grandparents, children, significant others — it truly became a multi-generational celebration of resilience and achievement.”
But Santana also acknowledged the challenges many students face, especially Black and Brown nursing candidates navigating financial barriers.
“Our students often need more than academic support — they need financial and emotional help, too,” Santana said. “We pursue grants and resources, so they have the support they need to succeed.”
CDU’s support includes a state-of-the-art simulation center, academic coaching, and access to on-campus mental health professionals.
“We want our students to be as competitive as anyone in the country,” Santana added. “We assess individual needs and connect them with the tools and resources to thrive.”
Looking ahead, Santana said CDU is preparing not just clinicians, but leaders ready to push for equity and justice in healthcare.
“Our curriculum weaves social justice into everything we teach,” Santana said. “Our students volunteer in the community — and when they graduate, they serve it.”
As the ceremony ended, the pride in the room was unmistakable — a shared moment of progress for families, faculty, and the South LA community CDU proudly calls home.
