The Charles R. Drew Medical Society (CRDMS) is a Los Angeles–based affiliate of the National Medical Association, founded in 1948 to advance health equity and support Black physicians and underserved communities.

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Established during a time of systemic exclusion in medicine, the Society was built on a mission to expand access to quality healthcare and advocate for justice within the profession. Officially incorporated in 1958, CRDMS quickly became a driving force for institutional change in South Los Angeles.

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The Society played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s healthcare infrastructure — advocating for and helping establish the Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School in 1966 and supporting the development of Martin Luther King Jr. Hospital, which opened in 1972. Together, these institutions formed the foundation of the King-Drew medical community, a model for community-centered care, education, and service.

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CRDMS was also instrumental in the creation of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science and the first regional Sickle Cell Disease Center in California.

Today, the Society continues its mission through four core pillars: advocacy, mentorship, community service, and professional development. Its members have led at the highest levels of organized medicine and founded numerous national organizations, extending the Society’s impact far beyond Los Angeles.

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CRDMS remains committed to building a more equitable healthcare system and improving the health and well-being of the communities it serves.