Xavier University of Louisiana to Launch New Medical School in Partnership with Ochsner Health
Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA), a prominent Catholic historically Black college and university (HBCU), is set to launch a new medical school in collaboration with Ochsner Health. The Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM) aims to address health disparities and increase the number of Black physicians in the United States.
Ochsner Health, a leading nonprofit healthcare provider in the Gulf South, operates over 45 hospitals and 370 health and urgent care centers. This partnership will position XOCOM as a critical player in the national effort to close the gap in Black medical professionals. XULA, already among the top producers of African American medical students, will join the ranks of other HBCUs with medical programs, including Howard University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.
The new medical school will be situated in downtown New Orleans at Benson Tower, near the Caesars Superdome. It will be integrated into the BioDistrict New Orleans initiative, a project aimed at developing a hub for medical and healthcare companies, research, and biotech startups. This initiative seeks to enhance job creation, equity, and inclusion within the medical field.
Dr. Reynold Verret, president of Xavier University, emphasized the importance of this development. “Our mission is to not only train physicians but also to advance medical research in areas affecting underrepresented communities, such as sickle cell disease,” Dr. Verret stated. “Our goal is to address the urgent need for more physicians in Louisiana and beyond, while also diversifying the medical profession.”
The U.S. faces a projected physician shortage by 2030, driven by an aging population, population growth, and increased healthcare demand post-Affordable Care Act. This shortage is particularly acute in Louisiana, where 60 of 64 parishes are designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSAs), with nearly 1.9 million residents affected.
In response, Xavier aims to both mitigate this shortage and enhance diversity within the medical field. Dr. Verret noted that while Black Americans make up about 14 percent of the population, they represent only 5.6 percent of physicians in the U.S. “Despite significant efforts by many medical schools, this disparity has persisted,” he said. “Our goal is to increase the presence of practitioners of color in medical practice.”
Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine also plans to offer programs for pre-collegiate students to foster early interest in the medical field. The official launch date for the school is pending accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, a process that may take up to three years.
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