---
title: "Sutter-CDU Partnership Wins Collaboration of the Year | Sutter Health"
description: "Sutter Health and Charles R. Drew University earned a top award for a partnership funding scholarships and health equity research in California."
url: "https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/our-people/sutter-health-and-charles-r-drew-university-earn-outstanding-collaboration-of-the-year"
---

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# Sutter, CDU Earn “Outstanding Collaboration of the Year”

Sutter Health and Charles R. Drew University earned a top award for a partnership funding scholarships and health equity research in California.

August 26, 2024 by Lara Azar

![Sutter, CDU Earn “Outstanding Collaboration of the Year”](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/our-people/LABJ-outstanding-collaboration-graphic-16-9-scaled-f217e71b.jpg?h=1440&iar=0&w=2560 "Sutter, CDU Earn “Outstanding Collaboration of the Year”")

A partnership between Sutter Health and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (CDU) designed to address the physician shortage and health inequities across California earned the “Outstanding Collaboration of the Year” distinction from the Los Angeles Business Journal during its recent [Health Care Leadership Awards](https://labusinessjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2024-HCLA_opt.pdf).

The collaboration has already launched two major initiatives: one of the largest scholarship programs in CDU’s history and the Health Equity Alliance for Research & Evaluation (HEARE). These initiatives are designed to widen pathways for diverse physicians and accelerate health equity research into clinical practice. Learn more about [the goals of and driving forces behind this collaboration](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/sutter-health-and-charles-r-drew-university-partner-to-address-physician-shortage-and-health-inequities-across-california/).

Sutter Health’s initial $7.5 million investment has provided full-tuition scholarships for 25 medical students and funded HEARE to address root causes of health inequities. The partnership also includes academic and experiential learning opportunities across Sutter Health’s system, aiming to train approximately 1,000 residents and fellows a year by 2030.

The health system—which spans one of the most diverse regions of the country—[recently announced](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/sutter-health-and-charles-r-drew-university-announce-first-student-scholarship-cohort-under-new-partnership/) the first five of 25 California students who will enter the university’s medical school with full-tuition scholarships, academic support and experiential learning opportunities from Sutter.

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