New Orleans – October 15, 2026 -- The Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine has received preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), clearing the way to recruit its inaugural class, which starts in 2027.
The school describes itself as the only HBCU college of medicine in the Gulf South. It will begin recruiting students in the coming weeks, with applications available through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).
Partnership of Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health reached accreditation in two years
Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health formed the College of Medicine in 2024. It earned candidate status in October 2025 and hosted an LCME survey visit in June 2026. The LCME then determined that the school met the requirements for preliminary accreditation.
Ochsner brings more than 80 years of operating experience, more than 60 years of training residents and fellows, and 17 years of medical student education. U.S. News and World Report ranked it the No. 1 hospital in Louisiana for 15 consecutive years. The two institutions already collaborate through the Ochsner-Xavier Institute for Health Equity and Research, Xavier's Physician Assistant Program, and its Genetic Counseling Program.
Louisiana shortage areas cover 60 of 64 parishes as national physician gap looms
The National Health Resources and Services Administration projects a U.S. shortage of more than 141,000 physicians by 2038. In Louisiana, 60 of 64 parishes are federally designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.
HBCU medical schools train nearly 70% of the nation's Black physicians. According to the release, their graduates are more likely to serve communities with the greatest healthcare needs.
BioDistrict campus projected to add $152.5 million in Louisiana economic impact by 2040
The College of Medicine is located in New Orleans' BioDistrict. By 2040, its operations are projected to contribute $152.5 million in economic impact across Louisiana, including $122 million in New Orleans, and to support more than 1,185 jobs statewide. Physicians trained by the College are projected to add a further $2.9 billion to the U.S. economy by 2040.
Xavier President Reynold Verret said the school expands who has the opportunity to become a physician. Ochsner Health President and CEO Pete November tied the project to economic development in the communities the system serves. Leonardo Seoane, M.D., is president and founding dean of the College of Medicine.