Xavier University of Louisiana announced that it is entering the planning phase to establish a Graduate School of Health Sciences and a medical school. For decades, Xavier has consistently produced more African American students and students of color who obtain medical degrees and Ph.D.’s in the health sciences than any other higher education institution in the nation.
Experts agree the way to address the physician shortage is to create new medical schools. But in the last century, there have been few new medical colleges until recently, and only one at a historically Black college and university.
Reynold Verret, president of Xavier University of Louisiana, stated that “Xavier was founded with the mission of promoting the creation of a just and humane society through education. The establishment of graduate education programs dedicated to the preparation of more Black healthcare professionals is a natural extension of our legacy as we approach our second century of service. It is also where we are called to answer a critical need of our nation.”
If a medical school is establshed at Xavier, it will be the fifth HBCU medical school. The other HBCU medical schools are Meharry Medical College in Nashville, the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Howard University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., and the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles.
