The Jacobs School has received full accreditation from the LCME for the next 8 years.
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is the accrediting body for programs of medical education leading to the Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) in the United States and Canada.
The Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences received the LCME Survey Team in April 2019 for the accreditation visit.
In October 2017, Michael E. Cain, MD, vice president for health sciences and medical school dean, appointed Alan J. Lesse, MD, senior associate dean for medical curriculum, as the Faculty Accreditation Lead (FAL) and charged six subcommittees to begin the self-study by completing the 2018/2019 Data Collection Instrument (DCI), which contains all of the information requested by the LCME pertaining to the current academic year.
In April 2018, Dean Cain called together a Self Study Task Force of faculty, staff and students. Each subcommittee presented their findings, detailing our strengths and weaknesses as well as suggestions for improvement to the task force. This task force was charged with reviewing the reports submitted in March, prioritizing action items, formulating a plan of action to address all areas of concern, and implementing change.
Students also play a vital role in the accreditation process. While faculty and administration prepared the DCI, a group of students, with guidance from POLITY, formed to conduct the Independent Student Analysis (ISA). The ISA consisted of a detailed questionnaire containing questions mandated by the LCME, as well as questions the group drafted to tailor the questionnaire to the Jacobs School. The data was collected throughout the month of February 2018, and the student group presented their findings to the task force in late April 2018.
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredits U.S. and Canadian programs leading to the MD degree. Students and graduates of LCME-accredited medical schools are eligible to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination. Graduates can enter residencies approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Graduating from an LCME-accredited school and passing the national licensing examinations are prerequisites for medical licensure in most states.
Accreditation signifies that we have met established standards for structure, function and performance. The accreditation certificate is the most visible result of the process. Its ultimate value lies in the ongoing self-analysis, peer review and participation in broader conversations about medical education that it engenders.
Accrediting agencies verify that our school’s curriculum is current, rigorous and wide-ranging, developing graduates’ skills in clinical practice, basic science and translational research as well as in communication and relevant behavioral and socioeconomic subjects. They confirm that our facilities, research support, professional development and other resources prepare students and residents for lifelong learning and the provision of excellent medical care.
