NEW ORLEANS — Humana Inc. has established a $3 million scholarship fund for incoming medical students at Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM) to help address physician workforce shortages and improve access to healthcare for communities across Louisiana.
The Humana Health Workforce Scholarship Fund will provide annual full tuition scholarships for incoming medical students. XOCOM is working toward accreditation as the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South and this scholarship fund will help attract top talent and expand opportunities for students who face financial need to access medical education.
“As someone who grew up in Louisiana and as the son of a New Orleans physician, I understand the challenges many communities face in accessing care,” said George Renaudin, who oversees Humana’s Medicare and Medicaid business as the company’s Insurance President. “Having also spent more than a decade working within the state’s healthcare system, I’ve seen firsthand the dedication of Louisiana’s clinicians. This scholarship will help ensure more physicians are available where they’re needed most.”
XOCOM – Addressing Louisiana’s Physician Shortage
Xavier University of Louisiana and Ochsner Health founded XOCOM in April 2024 to address the urgent need for more physicians in the United States and improve health outcomes in Louisiana and the nation. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) projects the U.S. will face a significant physician shortage, potentially up to 86,000 doctors by 2036, with Louisiana estimated to become third in the nation for physician shortages by 2030.
Driven in part by slow growth in medical education and residency training slots, studies show the shortfall impacts both primary care and specialty fields and leads to increased wait times, delayed diagnoses, and reduced access to care.
In helping to address the physician workforce shortage, XOCOM aims to promote compassionate healthcare for all and train physicians who increase trust because they understand the cultures of the communities they serve.
“The Humana Health Workforce Scholarship Fund will help us train more physicians who can address the complex health intersections of behavioral health, preventive health and chronic disease,” said Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, XOCOM’s Founding Dean. “Humana’s support will directly impact our mission to train physician leaders committed to innovation and the reimagination of healthcare to improve outcomes for our communities.”
Humana Scholarship Criteria and Long-Term Impact
Humana’s scholarship fund is intended to increase the number of physicians who are trained in delivering integrated care that addresses critical social and medical needs. Scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate financial need or hardship, as well as a commitment to practice or specialize in primary care, internal medicine or maternal care in Louisiana following graduation. The scholarship will be open to all qualified applicants.
The endowment builds on Humana’s existing relationship with Xavier University of Louisiana, where for the past three years, Humana has funded scholarships for three students at the school’s Physician Assistant Program to help provide access to clinical education.
By expanding the clinical workforce and supporting physician education, XOCOM and Humana aim to build healthier, more resilient communities and improve access to essential services across Louisiana.
“Investing in future clinicians means investing in families,” said Tamara Smith, Vice President of Health Equity and Social Impact at Humana. “These scholarships will help ensure healthcare is available across all communities, giving everyone the opportunity to achieve their best health.”
Humana’s commitment to improving health outcomes in Louisiana extends beyond education. Through strategic partnerships and investments, the company is addressing physical, behavioral and social health needs across the state by:
- Expanding access to digital health tools for Louisiana Medicaid members through Ochsner Digital Medicine programs for Hypertension and Type 2 diabetes
- Supporting the opening of a Family-Focused Recovery Center in New Orleans with Volunteers of America, helping mothers stay with their families during substance use treatment
- Contributing to the Bastion Community of Resilience , an intentional living community for injured veterans and their families
- Addressing food insecurity with the Humana Foundation’s grant to Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
- Improving nutrition for school-aged children through the Humana Foundation’s support of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Culinary Garden and Teaching Kitchen
- Boosting seniors’ emotional health by bringing together elder musicians with a Humana Foundation grant to the New Orleans Musicians’ Clinic and Assistance Foundation.
Humana serves 203,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and more than 120,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in Louisiana, as of Sept. 30, 2025.
