From the Desk of Xavier University School of Medicine President Ravishankar Bhooplapur
Xavier University School of Medicine has had a tremendous year. We welcomed many new students and celebrated three White Coat ceremonies in 2022, along with welcoming new faculty and staff members. We are proud to be one of the Top 10 Caribbean Medical Schools and have a 95% USMLE Step 1 passing rate. We provide our students with quality medical education as we prepare them for successful careers in the medical field.
It is important to recognize that, year after year, our students are excelling in academics. This is a direct result of the hard work of our faculty and administration under the leadership of Chief Academic Officer Dr. Dubey, Dean of Basic Sciences Dr. Mohan, VP of Academic Affairs / Dean of Clinical Science Dr. Pestell, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Carey, Dean of Pre-Med Dr. Pawlak, Associate Dean of Clinical Science Dr. Abazid, and all our Department Chairs. I would also like to recognize the members of our great Board of Trustees who help guide the success at Xavier University School of Medicine.
Xavier University School of Medicine 2022 Graduation
Xavier celebrated our 2022 commencement ceremony in June. There were a total of 52 graduates in the class, with more than half of them joining the ceremony in-person in Aruba. Our keynote speaker was His Excellency Endy Croes, Minister for Education and Sport of Aruba. Minister Croes beamed with pride that Aruba played a role in developing 52 new doctors for the global healthcare system. He also urged the graduates to remember their time in Aruba fondly, telling the graduates, “You may all not have been born in Aruba, but I am sure that wherever you go, you will remember us and will keep the nation of Aruba in your hearts.”
We try to make attending medical school as attainable for as many students as possible. In 2022, we awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships to new students. We offer 15 different scholarships, including the Congressman John Lewis Equality Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is the second largest scholarship that Xavier offers, providing students with $60,000 towards their medical education. We are honored to recognize the legacy of such a great man with the Congressman John Lewis Equality Memorial Scholarship. Xavier is proud to promote diversity in medicine in his name, and we look forward to continuing to provide access to a quality medical education to many deserving students.
Jagadeesan and Kanchana Poola with Aruba Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes and President Ravi Bhooplapur at the opening ceremony of the new residential campus.
At Xavier University, we are unwavering in our dedication to upholding the highest academic standards in medical education, and our commitment to excellence is continually validated by many international accrediting bodies. These vital recognitions enable our graduates to secure exceptional residencies and become licensed physicians in the US, Canada, and all over the world.
This past March, Xavier University School of Medicine administration, faculty, staff, students, and alumni met with representatives from the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine (ACCM) regarding Xavier’s re-accreditation. The ACCM granted Xavier its initial accreditation in 2015. In June, we received official word that we received the full 6-year re-accreditation, meaning that Xavier’s accreditation from ACCM now is valid through December 31, 2028. We are proud of this recognition and will continue to support our graduates on their journeys in the medical field.
The Poola family donated $1.5 million to the Xavier Foundation to support the building of a new residential campus in Aruba.
In September of 2021, Xavier University School of Medicine opened a new residential campus to help make students’ transition to Xavier and Aruba as easy as possible. Our all-inclusive residential complex offers students fully furnished suites. Meals 7 days a week are included in our full-service cafeteria that provides all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets, and transportation in our luxury Xavier vans.
Just a few weeks ago, Xavier University School of Medicine announced that construction on phase two of the Aruba campus will begin on January 9, 2023. Phase two of Xavier’s campus transformation will see the creation of a new academic area of campus. The total cost of the new academic block is projected to be $70 million.
We are very excited to secure funding and begin construction on our new academic campus. Xavier’s new academic campus, combined with our new residential campus that opened in September 2021, will become not only one of the best medical school facilities in the Caribbean, but one of the best in the world.
Xavier University School of Medicine’s new residential campus in Aruba.
Set to open for the Fall 2024 semester, construction on the new academic campus will last for approximately 18 months. This new academic area of campus will include a theater-style auditorium, state-of-the-art classrooms and labs, research facilities, seminar rooms, a new library, study areas for individuals, small groups, and large groups, student lounges, and a walk-in clinic.
This new academic building will continue to attract some of the best and brightest students to medical school in Aruba, continuing the tradition of success Xavier University School of Medicine has had in preparing students for successful careers in the medical field.
We have a very bright future at Xavier University School of Medicine. To learn more about Xavier University School of Medicine, visit XUSOM.com.
