Xavier University of Louisiana, a leading undergraduate institution in preparing Black students for careers in medicine, and Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest academic health system, are partnering to launch only the fifth Historically Black College and University (HBCU) medical school in the nation.
Xavier University of Louisiana, a leading undergraduate institution in preparing Black students for careers in medicine, and Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest academic health system, are partnering to launch only the fifth Historically Black College and University (HBCU) medical school in the nation.
The Challenge
Research indicates the state of Louisiana will rank third in the nation for the most severe physician shortage by 2030, particularly in rural and underserved areas¹. Building on the parties’ successful track record of collaboration on health professionals’ education and health equities research, Xavier and Ochsner wanted to develop a medical school that would not only address the projected shortage but also train diverse physicians and biomedical researchers who mirror the communities they serve.
Our Solution
The parties jointly engaged ECG as their strategic adviser to guide the planning and development of XOCOM. ECG assisted the parties in:
- Establishing the corporate, governance, and management structures for XOCOM, in compliance with SACSCOC and LCME accreditation standards.
- Articulating the mission and vision for XOCOM, reflecting the parties’ shared commitment to improve health equity and diverse representation in healthcare.
- Identifying COM resource requirements and conducting a gap analysis across key functional and operational areas including faculty and staff FTEs, facilities, infrastructure, etc.
- Creating a financial model and funds flow framework to guide XOCOM’s development and partner contributions from start-up to full operations.
- Designing the faculty group practice structure, promotion and tenure frameworks, and clinical faculty compensation models.
- Drafting academic affiliation terms to memorialize the partnership between Ochsner and XULA and establishment of XOCOM.
- Developing an implementation plan to achieve SACSCOC and LCME accreditation.
Our Results
XOCOM’s vision is to unleash the power of diversity, transform medical education, and train compassionate physician scientists who will champion inclusivity and excellence in medicine. The school plans to seat 50 students per year with the goal of training physicians who will practice in the local community, state, and Gulf South region. As the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South, XOCOM is poised to be a driving force in promoting healthcare excellence and inclusive, equitable patient care and fostering the wellness of communities throughout the region.
¹ Zhang, X., Lin, D., Pforsich, H. et al. “Physician workforce in the United States of America: forecasting nationwide shortages.” Hum Resour Health 18, 8 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-020-0448-3
