New Orleans, La. – The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry (UAB + SOD) and Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) have partnered together for an Early-Assurance Program to recruit promising students from Xavier into UAB’s dental program.   

This sophomore-year program, which offers conditional early acceptance into the UAB School of Dentistry, will prepare Xavier’s dental students with a solid foundation for dental school.   

“We are excited to partner with Xavier University of Louisiana to establish this new early assurance program,” said Carly Timmons McKenzie, Ph.D., assistant dean of Admissions and associate professor in the UAB School of Dentistry. “This program enhances our efforts to recruit and develop promising students with backgrounds that are typically underrepresented in dentistry and prepare them for a career in this industry.”  

Xavier students accepted through the EAP are required to take the Dental Admission Test and successfully complete a degree program through XULA. Nominated students will interview for the EAP while participating in the 2022 Summer Health Professions Education Program at the UAB School of Dentistry. SHPEP is a free, six-week summer enrichment residential program for first- and second-year college students. The goal of the SHPEP is to increase diversity in health professions by recruiting and preparing underrepresented students for successful educational experiences and careers in health care.  

Students who successfully complete the interview process are granted conditional acceptance into the School of Dentistry. Those who are accepted through this program are eligible for scholarships provided by UAB. 

“Xavier is proud to join the University of Alabama at Birmingham in partnership to provide opportunities that further develop the talents of students as they gain experience in their chosen professions,” said Anne McCall, provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at Xavier University of Louisiana. “It is the quality of our partnerships that matters most. The University of Alabama at Birmingham, much like Xavier, is committed to educating the future’s leaders.”  

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About the University of Alabama at Birmingham 

Known for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a part of the University of Alabama System, is an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center. UAB consistently exceeds $600 million in annual research awards and totaled almost $850 million last year, including one-time COVID-related funding. UAB is Alabama’s largest single employer, with more than 26,000 employees, and was named America’s Best Large Employer by Forbes in 2021. The institution’s annual economic impact on the state exceeds $7 billion each year. The pillars of UAB’s mission include education, research, innovation and economic development, community engagement, and patient care. Learn more at www.uab.edu.  

About Xavier University of Louisiana 

Xavier University of Louisiana, America’s only historically Black and Catholic University, is ranked among the top three HBCUs in the nation. Recognized as a national leader in STEM and health sciences, Xavier produces more African American students who graduate from medical schools each year than any other university in the United States. Additionally, Xavier’s College of Pharmacy is also among the top producers of African American pharmacists in the country. 

Established in 1925 by Saint Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament as a place for African American and Native Americans to receive a quality education, Xavier has since expanded its programs in art, business, education, biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy and political science. More recent additions in robotics, bioinformatics, engineering, data science, neuroscience and genetics, in addition to new STEM-based master’s programs, have provided Xavier students (2815 undergraduates and 787 graduates) an unbeatable combination of traditional classroom study, hands-on research, service-learning opportunities and life experiences. Xavier students collaborate with world-renowned faculty, who are experts in their fields, to produce award-winning research and notable work. The winning Xavier formula provides students with a well-balanced curriculum and an environment that nurtures their intellect and feeds their souls, thereby facilitating a more just and humane society for all.  

For more information about Xavier University of Louisiana, visit us online at www.xula.edu or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or Twitter @XULA1925. To book interviews and/or to speak with our experts in the field of pharmacy, education, premed, public health, science, technology, math, business, English, communications, and the arts, contact Chelsea Cunningham at (504) 520-5425 or ccunnin@xula.edu.