Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine to open downtown

By Macie Capote
Clarion Herald

Xavier University of Louisiana’s new medical school – the first in the Gulf South to be operated by a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) – will be launched in downtown New Orleans at the Benson Tower adjacent to the Caesars Superdome, university and Ochsner Health executives announced April 29.

Dr. Reynold Verret, Xavier's president, said both Ochsner and Xavier are seeking to address the longstanding healthcare injustices and foster a more robust healthcare community. He said the medical school aligns with the vision of St. Katharine Drexel, the university’s founder, to promote a more just and humane society.

“The Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM) represents a bold step toward addressing longstanding inequities within our health care systems,” Verret said. 

Xavier has produced more Black graduates who earn medical degrees and doctorates in health sciences than any other higher education institution in the nation, Verret said.

“Xavier's legacy of producing trailblazers in medicine and other fields stands as a testament to our commitment to excellence and equity,” he said. 

Bridging the gap

Dr. Leonardo Seoane, founding dean of XOCOM, said that the medical school’s mission to train physicians and represent the communities they serve is “critically urgent.”

“The facts are alarming,” he said, referring to the under-representation of Black physicians in the medical field. “And the truth is, there has been no significant progress over the last 30 years.” 

Seoane said while Hispanics make up 19% of the population, they comprise only 6.9% of the physicians, and while Black and African Americans represent 14% of the population, they make up only 5.7% of the physicians. 

These statistics contribute to the overall physician shortage in the U.S. of up to 86,000, a whole Superdome full of physicians, according to Seoane. 

“It is more urgent than ever to form this medical school,” he said.

With Ochsner Health on its side, Ochsner Health chief executive officer Pete November said XOCOM will train the next generation of physicians who look like and represent the communities of the city of New Orleans. 

Vote of Confidence

He also said that by locating the school at the Benson Tower, they are showing their commitment to New Orleans, and their intention for this school to become a beacon of hope for those who visit the city. 

“Throughout this country, we're experiencing a shortage of physicians – and particularly diverse physicians,” he said. “And together, all of us in this room are now forever part of helping solve that problem so that patients and communities can receive the equitable and quality care they deserve.”

November also expressed gratitude to Gayle Benson, the owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, for her assistance with the project.

Benson said she was “delighted to commemorate the latest milestone in the establishment of the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine, knowing that it will help address the critical shortage of physicians in New Orleans.”

“I am very grateful for the incredible impact Ochsner Health and Xavier University have on our city and our region,” Benson said. “I am particularly excited that the college will be housed in Benson Tower and will serve as a job-creating medical college of excellence, contributing to the vibrancy and continued growth of the BioDistrict and downtown New Orleans.”

November said he wants the new partnership to bring younger generations hope that they, too, can become a physician, no matter their circumstances.

“The day we are all looking forward to is the first graduating class from this medical school, when we see students walking across the stage to receive their medical degree and know they're going to live their dreams and help others in need,” November said. “That's what success looks like.”

Scholarship to be created

November also announced that Ochsner Health will create a scholarship to attend XOCOM for a young man graduating from the Son of a Saint program, which was created to help mentor young men whose fathers either passed away or were imprisoned. 

“We're honored to work with partners like Son of a Saint, Xavier and other organizations committed to STEM education in our communities,” he said.

The new school will boast state-of-the-art medical technology and facilities, providing students with immersive learning experiences and hands-on training opportunities, according to Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, who will serve on the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine board. 

She said that XOCOM’s curriculum will emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, clinical proficiency and compassionate patient care, equipping graduates with the skills and knowledge to address the complex healthcare challenges of the 21st century. 

“I know that the future for Louisiana is bright because of this medical school’s graduates who will become physicians and care for the people of Louisiana,” Gillispie-Bell said.

It just makes sense

New Orleans Mayor and Xavier University alumna Latoya Cantrell said the partnership between Ochsner Health and Xavier University “just makes sense.”

“It’s a proud moment to be here experiencing this real marriage and real partnership,” she said. 

Cantrell said Xavier not only teaches its students to stay focused and on track but also that the Lord is within them. 

“I know firsthand that Xavier nurtures your spirit,” she said. “You know who you are, and whose you are.”

Dominican Father Victor Laroche, Xavier University chaplain, prays that the Xavierites remember to count their blessings over this historic moment for the U.S. 

“It is a miracle,” Father Laroche said. “The prayers of so many, including St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, continue to be answered.”

According to Gillispie-Bell, XOCOM aims to seat 50 students in the first class, and the medical school will continue to grow as it develops.

Xavier said the school’s next steps in opening its doors are to seek approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). XOCOM will then seek preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Accreditation is expected to take about three years and will be followed by recruitment.

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