Christine Chung, M.D.
VUSM receives eight-year accreditation from LCME
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) has granted the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine full accreditation for the next eight years. The LCME is the nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in U.S. and Canadian medical schools.
“We are very pleased to receive full accreditation and the results of our review,” said Steven G. Gabbe, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine. “I appreciate all those who made contributions to this process and to our school.”
In May, the LCME conducted its on-site visit of the school. The visit is part of the process to renew medical schools' accreditation. The LCME committee evaluates the school during its visit, reviews documents prepared by the administration and determines the accreditation status. There are more than 120 standards the school must or should comply with to receive full accreditation.
In its preliminary report, the LCME committee addressed the school's strengths, areas of noncompliance or partial compliance with the standards and areas of transition.
Gabbe said the school is currently addressing some of the areas of noncompliance or partial compliance. “The committee has also shown us some areas for improvement,” Gabbe said, “which we will certainly work toward.”
The LCME is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association. There are 125 accredited medical schools in the U.S. and 17 in Canada.