The Martin Delany-Pan African Studies (MDpas) to Medical School Program at Cal State LA prepares students for impactful careers in medicine and health professions. Inspired by the legacy of Nana Martin Delany, the program aims to develop health professionals who are uniquely equipped with a Pan-African perspective to heal the African/Black world.
Students in the MDpas program major or minor in Pan-African Studies (PAS) while fulfilling the prerequisites for medical and other health-related professional schools. Alongside rigorous academic preparation, the program provides wraparound support to help students excel and gain admission to professional schools. Upon completing the PAS major and required pre-med coursework, eligible students earn the Pre-Medicine/MDpas Certificate, solidifying their readiness for the next steps in their health careers.
Who Should Join the MDpas Program?
The MDpas to Medical School Program, housed in the Department of Pan African Studies (PAS) at Cal State LA, seeks students who are:
- Committed to academic excellence, community activism and engagement, and deeply interested in learning about Black history, culture, and Indigenous healing practices;
- Aspiring to pursue careers in the health professions, including medicine (Allopathic MD, Osteopathic DO), dentistry (DMD), pharmacy (PharmD), optometry (OD), veterinary medicine (DVM), chiropractic (DC), occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), podiatry (DPM), physician assistant (PA), audiology (AuD), and other health-related fields.
The MDpas program is open to all Cal State LA students, community college students, and high school juniors and seniors.
What makes the program unique?
- Shadow Experience with Physicians
- Research Opportunities with Professors
- MCAT Preparation
- Personal Statement and Application Review
- Cohort Model for Peer-to-Peer Support
- Guest Speakers
- Education Abroad Opportunities in Africa
- Black Coat Ceremony and Orientation
- Possible Matriculation Agreements with Medical Schools
- Council of Elders Guidance
- Guidance to all pre-health profession students
A program with a history
Who was Martin Delany?
Pan-Africanist Nana Martin Robinson Delany was a physician, abolitionist, author, and newspaper editor who became one of the most influential and successful anti-slavery activists of the 19th century.
Council of Elders
Dr. Costello Brown is Professor Emeritus at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and an active member of the Emeriti Association and various Advisory Boards.
Dr. Brown is currently the Associate Vice President and Dean of Graduate Studies. Prior to this appointment she served as the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research for three years, Director of the School of Social Work at Cal State LA for five years, Director of the BA in Social Work program for six years, and as a faculty member in the School of Social Work for 15 years. She has over 25 years of experience within the field of social work as an educator and practitioner. Her practice experience has been in public and child welfare and medical social work.
Okezie Aruoma, M.B.A., Ph.D., D.Sc.
Dr. Aruoma is Director of the MDpas Program and Health Professions Advising, a Professor of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences and in the College of Ethnic Studies.
MDpas Administration
Dr. Bush is the Chair of the Department of Pan African Studies and Founder of the MDpas Program.
Jill Grayson is the Administrative Support Coordinator for the MDpas Program and the Department of Pan-African Studies.
Contact Information
Pan African Studies Department:
King Hall C-3095
Phone: 323-343-2290
Email: [email protected]
Contact: Dr. Nana Lawson Bush, V