Aruba’s Xavier Univ Marks 18 Yrs Under Ravi Bhooplapur With Growing US, Canada Pathways

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA – Marking eighteen years under President Ravi Bhooplapur, Xavier University School of Medicine, based in the Caribbean island of Aruba, is highlighting its expanding academic and professional links to the United States and Canada.

Since Bhooplapur assumed leadership, the institution has focused on building pathways that allow graduates to train and practice in North America, a press statement said.

A key step has been securing unconditional accreditation from the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine, with recognition from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates and the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation under the U.S. Department of Education.

The university has also received approval from the New York State Education Department, enabling students to access clinical training and licensure pathways in New York.

These recognitions have supported consistent outcomes for graduates entering the U.S. system. The university reported an 85 percent residency match rate this year, along with first time pass rates above 85 percent on USMLE Step 1 and 90 percent on Step 2 CK, benchmarks that are central to securing residency positions.

In recent years, Xavier has also strengthened its connections to Canada. The school has expanded residency placement opportunities for graduates and facilitated access to provincial loan programs, making it easier for Canadian students to finance their education and transition into medical training pathways at home.

While maintaining its core medical program, the university has also introduced new offerings, including a veterinary medicine program launched in 2023 under the One Health Initiative, and a nursing program that has graduated two cohorts. Additional plans include an online Master of Public Health program expected to launch in September 2026.

Infrastructure development in Aruba remains ongoing, with investments in a new campus, laboratory facilities, student housing, and land to support veterinary education. University leadership, including Chancellor Dr. Bhat and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Dubey, credited institutional support and long term planning for sustaining growth.