NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University and Ochsner Health recently announced that they are creating a new medical school. When Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine opens its doors, it will be the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South.
As part of Xavier’s Centennial Homecoming celebration, XOCOM will sponsor the inaugural Dr. J.W. Carmichael Symposium, bringing together medical professionals and community leaders to discuss the school’s progress, accreditation milestones, and the future of healthcare education in the Gulf South. This event celebrates and supports the launch of the Dr. J. W. Carmichael Jr. Premedical Society, a giving society dedicated to funding pre-med initiatives and mentorship opportunities for the next generation of medical professionals. Specific updates include:
Introducing XOCOM’s Leadership Team: XOCOM has hired several associate deans to guide XOCOM’s development of the medical education, clinical affairs, public health, and student affairs departments. Appointed deans include:
- Rajiv Gala, MD, Associate Dean for Education and Academic Affairs
- Brian Moore, MD, FACS, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs
- Eboni Price-Haywood, MD, MPH, MMM, FACP, Associate Dean for Health Equity and Public Health
- Tamika Webb-Detiege, MD, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
- Randal (Randy) Langford and Edward Phillips, Co-Associate Deans for Finance and Administration
- Nneka Ifejika, MD, MPH, and Kaneisha Bailey Akinpelumi, PhD, XOCOM Interim Associate Deans for Research
Progress in the LCME Accreditation Process: XOCOM has been granted candidate status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for MD-degree medical education programs in the United States. Now that XOCOM has moved to candidate status, the budding medical school will be granted a survey visit onsite at its Benson Tower location, the next step in the journey to receiving preliminary accreditation, bringing XOCOM a step closer to opening.
To increase the number of medical school graduates, XOCOM will provide merit-based scholarship opportunities, providing greater access and resources to more students who wish to practice medicine.