HJNO Mar/Apr 2023

64 MAR / APR 2023  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS Hospital Rounds contributes data to the National Cancer Data- base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society. This nationwide oncol- ogy outcomes database is the largest clinical dis- ease registry in the world. Data on all types of can- cer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC- accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to information derived from this type of data analy- sis, which is used to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports. These reports help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts. Xavier, Ochsner Partner to Create College of Medicine Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health announced an agreement to establish a joint College of Medicine. The two institutions aim to create a strong physician pipeline that addresses longstanding inequities within the nation’s healthcare system and builds the health- care workforce of the future. To launch the College of Medicine, Ochsner and Xavier will form a nonprofit corporation, create a new curriculum, and use facilities, personnel, and administrative processes of both institutions. The new College of Medicine will be governed by a board of directors nominated by Ochsner and Xavier, with each institution appointing an equal number of directors. This initiative builds on a long-standing partner- ship between Ochsner and Xavier that dates to the early 1980s, when Ochsner and Xavier’s Col- lege of Pharmacy came together to offer more clinical training sites for pharmacy students. Xavi- er’s College of Pharmacy is the oldest in Louisi- ana and has for years been among the top in the nation in producing African American graduates with doctor of pharmacy degrees. “Our work with Ochsner and other partners who hold close to their hearts a vision of healing a bro- ken world is a testament to Xavier’s mission to pro- mote a more just and humane society,” said Reyn- old Verret, PhD, president of Xavier University of Louisiana. “Xavier was bestowed that mission by our founders St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament almost a century ago. Our dedication to preparing more Black health care professionals in our fight against health ineq- uity is our answer to the call of our nation’s critical need and makes their legacy proud.” In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world and disproportionately affected people of color, highlighting health disparities faced by historically marginalized communities. Ochsner Health and Xavier again forged partnerships to improve health equity through new graduate programs in health sciences and the establish- ment of the Ochsner Health and Xavier Univer- sity Institute for Health Equity and Research (OXI- HER). A few years before, Xavier and Ochsner also worked to improve diversity within the health sci- ences through a memorandum of understanding to establish a new Physician Assistant (PA) pro- gram. In May 2022, Ochsner and Xavier celebrated the first graduating class of 37 students in the full- time graduate PA program, which leads to a mas- ter’s degree in health sciences. “Ochsner has a long and rich history of excel- lence in medical education, and we are honored to continue our work with Xavier to improve the health of our state and region,” said Pete Novem- ber, CEO of Ochsner Health. “The Xavier medi- cal students will get outstanding clinical training in our integrated health care system, and this sig- nificant expansion of our partnership with Xavier demonstrates our commitment to training the next generation of health care providers to solve the critical shortage of physicians in the United States and meet the needs of the diverse com- munities we serve.” LCMCHealth Launches Minority Administrative Fellowship Program LCMC Health announced its inaugural Minor- ity Administrative Fellowship Program, an initia- tive that aims to diversify the healthcare executive workforce by educating, training, and inspiring recent graduates of master’s programs and expos- ing them to leadership opportunities. LCMC Health is building on its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives with a yearlong program offering young profes- sionals the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders to receive on-site management experi- ence in clinical operations, finance, quality, strat- egy, health equity, and government relations. In addition to developing knowledge of hospital management and operations, each fellow will be compensated with a salary of $60,000 a year and medical benefits. Candidates successfully com- pleting the program could earn full-time positions at LCMC Health. “At LCMC Health, we are committed to enhanc- ing the health, well-being, and quality of life for all our patients by creating a culture that repre- sents the unique needs of the communities we serve,” said Toni Flowers, PhD, LCMC Health chief diversity and social responsibility officer. “Creat- ing a sense of belonging extends beyond hospital walls, and to successfully establish inclusive envi- ronments, we need to build thoughtful programs and administrative pipelines through partnerships with our community and stakeholders. Investing in better healthcare for tomorrow means laying the groundwork today and I’m proud that LCMC Health is creating solutions by investing in mean- ingful change.” As part of a multimillion-dollar investment in diversifying healthcare leadership, LCMC Health is collaborating with community leaders and indus- try partners including the New Orleans Chapter of the National Association of Healthcare Service Executives (NAHSE), area Historically Black Col- leges and Universities (HBCUs), and other Black professional organizations to identify potential candidates of color. The selection process for the inaugural class is currently underway, and four 2023 fellows will be announced and begin the program later this month. The Minority Administrative Fellowship Pro- gram is one of many pipelines LCMC Health is creating to diversify the healthcare workforce. Last month, the local nonprofit announced a $1.5 mil- lion gift to Xavier University of Louisiana to create and retain a diverse physician workforce in Loui- siana. This gift will have an immediate impact by supporting select undergraduate students and medical school residents with direct financial assis- tance. Additionally, LCMC Health and Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO) signed a let- ter of intent with plans to partner for the LCMC Health-SUNO Nurse Scholars Program to support full-time students with tuition-free enrollment at SUNO’s School of Nursing. Additional details about the LCMC Health-SUNO Nurse Scholars Program and other LCMC Health academic part- nerships will follow later this year. n