Ochsner Health extends partnership with The University of Queensland for joint Doctor of Medicine (MD) Program

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – The University of Queensland (UQ) and Ochsner Health (Ochsner) have extended their unique partnership, pledging to grow the world’s physician pipeline in the joint transnational Doctor of Medicine (MD) program through 2030. Officials from the organizations signed a contract on Monday, September 11 renewing the joint venture, The University of Queensland Ochsner Doctor of Medicine (MD) program.

The UQ-Ochsner MD program welcomed its first class in 2009 and continues to educate medical students across two continents. Students spend their first two years at UQ’s Brisbane, Australia campus, consistently ranked among the top 50 global universities by U.S. News and World Report, before completing two years of clinical immersion in Ochsner’s facilities. Upon completion of the MD, graduates are qualified to enter U.S. residency and Australian internships. The unique collaboration allows students to broaden their medical training and experience, taking advantage of the exceptional educational opportunities offered by both UQ and Ochsner.

“When given the opportunity to partner with The University of Queensland, one of the world’s top universities, we saw so much possibility – and this partnership continues to make a difference for our community and beyond,” said Pete November, CEO of Ochsner Health. “By training and investing in physicians through the UQ-Ochsner MD program, we are addressing the critical physician shortage, improving the quality of life in our region and investing in our future.”

“UQ is extremely proud to continue this collaboration with Ochsner Health,” said Professor Deborah Terry, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Queensland. “Learning in both Brisbane and New Orleans gives medical students the opportunity to foster unique perspectives and address a wide variety of healthcare challenges.”

The partnership is particularly relevant today, as the U.S. continues to experience a shortage of physicians. A recent Association of American Medical Colleges study estimates that the physician shortage could increase to as many as 124,000 by 2034. Pipeline programs such as the UQ-Ochsner MD program are proactive solutions to help create medical systems of the future.

UQ-Ochsner has graduated 856 medical students since 2009 with approximately 30% remaining in Louisiana. The UQ-Ochsner MD program averages an impressive 95% match rate through the National Residency Match Program. The UQ-Ochsner MD program also has national impact, as graduating physicians are practicing in 46 states and 24 specialties.

The UQ-Ochsner MD program has an emphasis on primary care, the foundation of a health system’s ability to proactively impact the health and wellness of a community. This emphasis is consistent with the Australian healthcare system, which has a curriculum that prioritizes primary care rotations. Because of this exposure, 55% of the medical school’s graduates have chosen a primary care specialty, which is more than double the average of U.S. medical schools.

In the past eight years, UQ-Ochsner medical students have also logged over 10,000 community service hours. By embedding in communities and volunteering at clinics, public schools and community health fairs, they have been invaluable to the collaborative Healthy State initiative. Through Healthy State, Ochsner partners with colleges and universities, non-profit organizations and government leaders to create healthier, happier and more productive communities, with health equity at the forefront of these efforts. As part of Healthy State, the UQ-Ochsner MD program is also supported by Ochsner Physician Scholars, which covers medical school expenses for students interested in careers in primary care and psychiatry, in exchange for commitment to working at Ochsner.

“A medical school does more than train future physicians – it also positively affects our community and its health,” said Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer for Ochsner Health. “Our UQ-Ochsner medical students prove that year after year. Because of our approach, our students understand culturally competent care and systemic barriers to wellness, and they make Louisiana a place where more of our community members can thrive.”

For more information on the UQ-Ochsner MD program, click here.

To access photographs of the signing event, click here

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About The University of Queensland

Ranked in the world’s top 50, The University of Queensland (UQ) is one of Australia’s leading research and teaching institutions. UQ’s purpose is to deliver for the public good through excellence in education, research and engagement with communities and partners: local, national and global.

The University of Queensland’s Medical School is one of Australia’s most respected and internationally recognised medical schools. As part of UQ’s Faculty of Medicine, the Medical School provides high-quality teaching and practical training through world-class programs in medicine, mental health and skin cancer.

The Medical School is at the forefront of innovative research that advances knowledge, practices and discoveries to improve the health and wellbeing, and offers research training and experience for students within the Medical Program, in addition to higher study opportunities for PhD and MPhil candidates. More than 18,000 students have graduated from the Medical School, entering the health workforce in Australia, and throughout the world.

In the 2022 Shanghai Jiao Tong rankings, UQ was placed in the 76-100 band for Clinical Medicine. UQ also ranked 56th in the subject of Clinical and health according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022, and 32nd in the subject of Life Science and Medicine according to the 2023 QS World University Rankings. To learn more, visit https://www.uq.edu.au/

About Ochsner Health

Ochsner Health is an integrated healthcare system with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Celebrating more than 80 years of service, it leads nationally in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, liver and kidney transplants and pediatrics, among other areas. Ochsner is consistently named both the top hospital and top children’s hospital in Louisiana by U.S. News & World Report. The not-for-profit organization is inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities through its Healthy State initiative, a bold and collaborative plan to realize a healthier Louisiana. Its focus is on preventing diseases and providing patient-centered care that is accessible, affordable, convenient and effective. Ochsner Health pioneers new treatments, deploys emerging technologies and performs groundbreaking research, including 4,000 patients enrolled in 685 clinical studies in 2022. It has more than 37,000 employees and over 4,700 employed and affiliated physicians in over 90 medical specialties and subspecialties. It operates 46 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Gulf South; and its cutting-edge Connected Health digital medicine program is caring for patients beyond its walls. In 2022, Ochsner Health treated more than 1.4 million people from every state and 62 countries. As Louisiana’s top healthcare educator of physicians, Ochsner Health and its partners educate thousands of healthcare professionals annually. To learn more, visit https://www.ochsner.org/.