SMHS MD Program Receives Full, 8-Year Accreditation

The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program has received a full, eight-year accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

The accreditation came on July 2.

"I am thrilled by the results of our reaccreditation process," said SMHS Dean Barbara Lee Bass, S, professor of surgery, Walter A. Bloedorn Chair of Administrative Medicine and GW vice president for health affairs. "I am deeply grateful to our talented team of faculty, staff and students for their hard work, their engagement with our broader community and the dedication they demonstrated in earning our reaccreditation status. This was particularly welcome news this year as SMHS celebrates its bicentennial and embarks on its third century of delivering an outstanding medical education."

Jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association, the LCME determines the accreditation status of programs leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada.

The peer-reviewed process of quality assurance determines whether a program meets national standards and accredits established medical schools on an eight-year cycle. Programs must demonstrate that graduates exhibit general professional competencies that are appropriate for entry to the next stage of their training and that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and proficient medical care.

Most state boards of licensure require that programs be LCME-accredited as a condition for licensure of their graduates. Graduates of LCME-accredited schools are eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Following a comprehensive, 20-month self-study that included approximately 125 faculty, staff and students, the LCME conducted an intensive, three-day site visit at SMHS Feb. 25-28.

"This was a remarkable accreditation survey that reflects the wonderful strengths of our school's MD program and the commitment of our faculty to continuous quality improvement for our educational mission," said Richard J. Simons, senior associate dean for MD programs, who oversees accreditation efforts for SMHS. "We have much to be proud of, and we will continue to strive for excellence."