# About

**Source**: https://ochsner.uq.edu.au/about
**Parent**: https://about.uq.edu.au/strategy-values/sustainability/sustainable-development-goals/sdg-3-good-health-wellbeing

A unique global medical education and experience.

## Our program

###### Study global. Practice local.

Earn your Doctor of Medicine (MD) across two world-class medical systems.

As a UQ-Ochsner MD student, you’ll spend your first two years in Brisbane, Australia, studying at The University of Queensland—one of the world’s top medical schools. You’ll then complete Years 3 and 4 in New Orleans, Louisiana, gaining hands-on clinical experience at Ochsner Health, one of the United States’ leading academic health systems.

Throughout your journey, you’ll learn from expert clinicians and researchers, practice in diverse hospital and community settings, and build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to launch your medical career anywhere in the world.

The program is jointly led by [The University of Queensland’s Medical School](https://medical-school.uq.edu.au/about/leadership) and [Ochsner Health](https://medical-school.uq.edu.au/team/ochsner-clinical-school), combining Australian and U.S. medical education excellence into one seamless MD pathway.

You’ll graduate:

- eligible for [ECFMG](https://www.ecfmg.org/) certification
- prepared to take the **USMLE Step 1 and Step 2** exams for your NRMP match
- qualified to practice medicine in the United States
- eligible for medical practice in Australia.

[Explore the UQ-Ochsner MD pathway](https://my.uq.edu.au/programs-courses/requirements/program/5741)

## Program structure

### Year 1

Your four-year MD journey begins in Brisbane with the Foundations of Medicine, where you’ll learn the core principles of biomedical science, clinical reasoning, and professional practice.

You’ll be introduced to the “whole-of-person” approach that defines patient-centered care and explore the role of doctors within modern healthcare systems.

As a first-year medical student you will:

- join a **close-knit learning community** designed to support your transition to medical school,
- begin with a **four-week transition block** that sets you up for success, and
- spend **one day each week** in clinically relevant experiences, including simulations, small-group coaching, and hospital or community visits.

### Year 2

In your second year, you’ll continue to build depth in the medical sciences while spending more time in real clinical settings.

You’ll refine your diagnostic and communication skills and start shaping your professional identity as a future physician.

As a second-year medical student you will:

- spend **up to two days each week** in clinical environments,
- develop your clinical and professional skills through **case-based learning, clinical coaching,** and **longitudinal placements**, and
- personalize your degree through a **Scholarly Choice elective**, exploring areas of research or clinical interest.

### Year 3

From Year 3, your medical education shifts from classroom learning to full clinical immersion at **Ochsner Health** in New Orleans.

You’ll train in hospital and community settings, working alongside physicians, residents, and healthcare teams caring for patients across every stage of life.

As a third-year medical student you will:

- spend **four days each week** in clinical placements (in eight-week blocks or longitudinal clerkships),
- gain experience in hospital medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics and gynecology, and
- attend **structured teaching sessions** each week to strengthen your clinical knowledge and confidence.

### Year 4

Your final year builds on your clinical experience, continuing with clinical immersions, and prepares you for residency.

You’ll focus on managing complex and emergency cases and step into a **pre-intern role**, working as an active member of a clinical team.

As a fourth-year medical student you will:

- focus on **emergency care and complex chronic conditions** across hospital and community settings,
- split your time between **structured learning and hands-on clinical experience** (20/80 in Semester 1 and 10/90 in Semester 2), and
- graduate with the skills, confidence, and global perspective to thrive in your medical career.

## 97% match rate for 2025

Join a program with a proven track record of success.

Our 2024 graduating class achieved a **97% residency match rate**—placing UQ-Ochsner graduates in competitive programs across the United States.

[Discover where they matched](https://ochsner.uq.edu.au/stories/match-day-2025-97)

### #42 in the world

*The University of Queensland*

QS World University Rankings 2026

### #37 in Life Sciences and Medicine

*The University of Queensland*

QS World University Rankings 2026

### #41 for Social & Environmental Sustainability

*The University of Queensland*

QS World University Rankings 2025

### Best Hospital in Louisiana

*Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans*

US News & World Report 2025-26

### Best Hospital in New Orleans

*Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans*

US News & World Report 2025-26

### #13 in the US for women's healthcare

*OBGYN at Ochsner Health*

US News & World Report 2025-26

## Accredited and Recognized

The UQ-Ochsner MD Program meets the rigorous accreditation standards of the **[Australian Medical Council](https://www.amc.org.au/) (AMC)** and is recognized by the [**Medical Board of Australia**](https://www.ahpra.gov.au/accreditation/approved-programs-of-study.aspx?ref=medical%20practitioner&type=general).

The AMC is an independent national standards body, similar to the **[Liaison Committee on Medical Education](https://www.aamc.org/services/first-for-financial-aid-officers/lcme-accreditation) (LCME)** in the United States. UQ is also accredited by the **U.S. Department of Education** to administer various need-based loans to eligible U.S. students and/or parents as part of the [William D. Ford Direct Loan Program](https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/federal-direct-loan-program).