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UQ-Ochsner MD Program celebrates 2025 culmination
The University of Queensland Medical School – Ochsner Health program celebrates Class of 2025
NEW ORLEANS –The University of Queensland Medical School – Ochsner Health (UQ-Ochsner MD Program) honored its 2025 graduating class at its annual culmination ceremony on Nov. 22. With this year’s 87 graduates, the medical program has more than 1,100 alumni. The partnership began in 2009 to provide medical students with an education with a global perspective so that they may become well-rounded leaders in medicine.
About The UQ-Ochsner MD Program
To reach this milestone, students completed two years of medical school curriculum in Brisbane, Australia, at The University of Queensland. The final two years of clinical study were conducted at The University of Queensland Medical School – Ochsner Health campus at Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans. In the 2025 academic year, the students volunteered more than 1,400 hours including participation in over 25 outreach events in the Greater New Orleans metropolitan area.
Leonardo Seoane, MD, FACP, executive vice president and chief academic officer of Ochsner Health and professor with the UQ-Ochsner MD Program, congratulated the cohort on their achievement at the culmination ceremony.
“Ochsner is proud to invest in the next generation of physicians as we work collectively to make healthcare more accessible and compassionate for all the communities that we serve here in Louisiana and beyond,” Dr. Seoane said. “Together, we will improve health outcomes and change patients’ lives. At the UQ-Ochsner MD Program, we teach our students to put patients first, embody professionalism and take care of themselves as they take care of others.”
Professor, Resident Teacher and Student Awards
During the ceremony, several UQ-Ochsner faculty and residents were recognized with awards of excellence in clinical teaching. The highest individual award of excellence – the UQ-Ochsner MD Program Teacher of the Year Award – was bestowed upon Marlon Joseph, MD, internal medicine/pediatric specialist with Ochsner Health Center – West Bank.
Dr. Joseph received his undergraduate degree in microbiology and immunology from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, and his medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine-pediatrics at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Joseph is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics and has been on staff at Ochsner since 2018. He has expertise in the care of infants, children and adolescents, as well as adult primary care. Dr. Joseph also serves as the admissions and enrollment officer and general practice clerkship director with the UQ-Ochsner MD Program.
The UQ-Ochsner MD Program Resident Teachers of the Year for 2025 are:
Andrew Stoddard, MD – Medicine
Harsheen Chawla, MD – OBGYN
Elyssa Mejia, MD – Pediatrics
Rose Kirk, MD – Psychiatry
Reginald Du, MD – Surgery
The following students were also recognized with individual awards:
Kristy Dang - Student Excellence Award for OB/GYN
Raquel Markham Gupta - Student Excellence Award for Pediatrics
Savanah Fowler - Student Excellence Award for Psychiatry
Dhaval Patel and Pooja Punukollu – Internal Medicine-American College of Physicians Excellence Award
Kirsten Johnson – Dr. E. Edward Martin, Jr. Family Medicine Award
Jakob Oury – John Lockwood Ochsner Sr. Surgical Award
Ochsner and UQ are accepting applications for the 2027 cohort. As it is a high-demand program, applicants are encouraged to apply early to secure their place. First interview rounds are scheduled for March 2026.
To apply, visit: How to apply - UQ-Ochsner MD Program - The University of Queensland.
Media contact: PR@ochsner.org
About Ochsner Health
Ochsner Health is the leading nonprofit healthcare provider in Louisiana, Mississippi and across the Gulf South, delivering expert care at its 47 hospitals and more than 370 health and urgent care centers. Ochsner is nationally recognized for inspiring healthier lives and stronger communities through expertise, quality and digital connectivity. In 2024, more than 40,000 dedicated team members and 4,900 employed and affiliated physicians at Ochsner cared for 1.6 million people from every state in the nation and 63 countries. To learn more about how Ochsner empowers people to get well and stay well, visit www.ochsner.org.
