Assistant Dean for Accreditation and Curriculum

We’ve made a lot of progress since opening the doors in 1942, but one thing has never changed – our commitment to serve, heal, lead, educate, and innovate.  We believe that every award earned, every record broken and every patient helped is because of the dedicated employees who fill our hallways. 

At Ochsner, whether you work with patients every day or support those who do, you are making a difference and that matters.  Come make a difference at Ochsner Health and discover your future today! 

In February 2024, the Xavier University of Louisiana Board of Trustees and the Ochsner Health Board of Directors approved the partnership to develop the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM). Becoming the fifth Historically Black College and University (HBCU) medical school in the country, XOCOM seeks an accomplished physician leader to serve as its inaugural Assistant Dean for Accreditation and Curriculum (ADAC). This role will be integral in achieving and maintaining LCME (Liaison Committee for Medical Education) accreditation.

Xavier University of Louisiana (Xavier) stands as a recognized leader in STEM and the health sciences, producing among the most African American students who graduate from medical school each year of all universities in the country. Ochsner Health (Ochsner), a leading academic healthcare system in the Gulf South, is committed to exceptional, patient-centered care and has evolved to include tertiary and quaternary care for Louisiana and the surrounding region. As the largest physician-led clinically integrated network in the Gulf South, Ochsner Health reaches 456,000 patients in 30 hospital locations spanning 50 parishes and counties.

Xavier and Ochsner have been working together since the early 1980s. Through their ongoing partnership, Ochsner and Xavier have advanced healthcare equity through several programs, including a program for physician assistants that has already graduated 108 students. By creating this new medical school, they are taking a big step toward improving healthcare for all the communities they serve. Together, they will train doctors who care deeply about their patients and understand the importance of diversity and high-quality medicine. In addition, Ochsner has 33 wide-ranging, accredited residency and fellowship programs.

At a XOCOM signing celebration on April 29, 2024, Xavier and Ochsner officials announced Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of Ochsner Health, will serve as the new HBCU medical school’s founding dean. The XOCOM’s leadership team also includes Rajiv B. Gala, MD, who will serve as the school’s Associate Dean for Medical Education.  The ADAC will report directly to the Dr. Gala and work collaboratively with the medical education leadership team.

The ADAC is responsible for establishing standards for assessment and curriculum and leading accreditation standards. The ADAC plays a pivotal role in aligning academic and operational processes within XOCOM and is primarily responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously improving the undergraduate medical education curriculum.

The ADAC will be a visionary leader with expertise in curriculum development and evaluation, knowledge of evidence-based and active learning methodologies, including case-based teaching, and an interest in educational research and scholarship.

The ideal candidate will be an MD, DO, PhD, or equivalent and have five or more years of experience with medical student education and assessment, including curricular innovation and accreditation oversight, with a proven record of administrative leadership. They will also have prior experience in medical student curriculum development and oversight, with an emphasis on quality improvement, interprofessional education, teamwork, and maintaining excellence in the learning environment.

WittKieffer has been retained to assist XOCOM with this recruitment. Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries to Tricia Porter, Jim King and Cody Burke, preferably via email, to XOCOMAssistantDean@wittkieffer.com. A copy of the full leadership profile is available upon request.

Are you ready to make a difference? Apply Today!

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