Xavier announces groundbreaking date, building details for proposed medical school

Xavier University today announced a groundbreaking date for its proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine, with construction of a 130,000-square-foot facility slated to begin in December.

The University will hold a celebration on Dec. 6 to officially kick off the medical school’s construction, which will be completed by Cincinnati-based construction manager and general contractor Messer Construction Co.

Designed by national architecture firm The S/L/A/M Collaborative and Cincinnati-based firm MSA Design, the new facility will include features such as a state-of-the-art simulation hospital with 16 exam rooms and five flexible simulation rooms, a nearly 200-seat lecture hall and a 5,600-square-foot meeting hall.

“After a period of thoughtful discernment, planning and community engagement, I am excited to see this vision becoming reality,” said Xavier University President Colleen Hanycz. “As we break ground on what will become one of the region’s premier medical teaching facilities, we also recognize the life-changing outcomes our College of Osteopathic Medicine will produce for future students and communities. This project truly embodies our Jesuit Catholic mission and identity, building on Xavier’s spires of academic excellence, and enabling us to more fully contribute to the universal good while forming students for and with others.”

When established, the college will become the first Jesuit osteopathic medical school in the world and Ohio’s first new medical school in 40 years, addressing key community health needs and a widespread shortage in primary care physicians. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts Ohio will be short 1,200 physicians by 2025, while the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the U.S. will face a national physician shortage of up to 86,000 by 2036.

Currently seeking programmatic accreditation, the University remains on schedule to complete the building in 2026 and to welcome its first class of aspiring physicians in fall 2027. The college’s inaugural class of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine will graduate in 2031, adding a notable highlight as Xavier celebrates its bicentennial anniversary that year.

“This milestone marks another step forward in establishing a vibrant, innovative and purpose-driven medical school at Xavier,” said Steven Halm, DO, the Xavier University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s founding dean. “This facility will allow our medical students to thrive not only in their studies and training, but also in terms of their personal well-being and fulfillment. I’m so thrilled to break ground on the home of our new program, which stands to impact so many lives in our community and beyond.”

Construction of the college will support 742 jobs, produce $3.2 million in state and local tax revenue and generate $125.5 million in immediate economic impact in Ohio, according to a feasibility study by consulting firm Tripp Umbach.

“Messer is excited to continue our partnership with Xavier and lead construction on the first-of-its-kind Jesuit College of Osteopathic Medicine,” said Messer Operations Vice President Clint Berry. “We’ve had a successful preconstruction process alongside Xavier, SLAM and MSA, and we look forward to breaking ground and bringing this vision to life.”

Over the next decade and a half, the short- and long-term impacts created by the college will generate a total economic impact of $548.9 million for Ohio’s economy, according to an analysis by Lightcast Capital.

By 2038, the college will have educated 1,300 physicians, many of whom will actively work in Ohio’s healthcare workforce.

“Designed in the spirit of the Jesuit tradition, we envision an osteopathic school of medicine for Xavier University that harmonizes innovative design with a commitment to holistic healing,” said Design Principal Mark Rhoades of The S/L/A/M Collaborative. “Together, we are striving to create spaces that promote connection and growth; we aspire to create an environment where future healers are nurtured, grounded in compassion, and equipped to transform lives through mindful practice and community engagement.”

Learn more about plans for the Xavier University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

About Xavier University
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-longest-running Catholic university in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranks Xavier as one of the best universities in the country, while The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 390 Colleges in America." Follow Xavier on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.