An important component of our School is LCME accreditation, and we are in the process of working with the LCME governing bodies for our re-accreditation process for the four-year program in Winston Salem as well as our third and fourth-year rotations in Charlotte. There is a tremendous amount of active work going on currently in this space by many of the faculty and staff to ensure we are prepared for our application and site visit coming in the fall of 2023 and 2024. As we move through this process, we will provide regular updates on our LCME status in future communications.
What is the LCME?
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is the nationally recognized accrediting body for medical education programs in the United States and Canada. Medical schools are accredited by the LCME every eight years by demonstrating compliance across 12 standards and 93 elements. The accreditation process takes about two years to complete and consists of four main components: Data Collection Instrument (DCI), Student-lead Independent Student Analysis (ISA), Faculty-led Institutional Self-Study, and the Site Visit lead by Faculty and Deans from other medical schools.
What is the Purpose of LCME Accreditation?
LCME accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed process of quality assurance that determines whether the medical education program meets established standards. This process also fosters institutional and programmatic improvement. To achieve and maintain accreditation, a medical education program leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada must meet the LCME accreditation standards contained in the LCME document Functions and Structure of a Medical School. Programs are required to demonstrate that their 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. While recognizing the existence and appropriateness of diverse institutional missions and educational objectives, the LCME subscribes to the proposition that local circumstances do not justify accreditation of a substandard program of medical education leading to the MD degree. (from LCME.org)
What is the DCI?
The Data Collection Instrument (DCI) is the document that each medical school completes answering specific questions related to the 12 standards and 93 elements. The document consists of both narrative explanations, supporting policies or procedures and tables with student data from both the Graduation Questionnaire and the Independent Student Analysis. Wake Forest SOM will begin drafting the DCI in July of this year.
What is the ISA?
The Independent Student Analysis (ISA) is a survey consisting of both required questions from the LCME and questions added by the student body of a medical school. This survey is 100% designed, sent out and analyzed by students in a medical program. The ISA will be distributed in August of this year.
What is the ISS?
The Institutional Self-Study (ISS) process takes about 18 months to fully complete. The ISS starts with a kick-off event which Wake Forest School of Medicine will hold in June of this year. The ISS Task Force is led by the Dean and consists of faculty, administration, and student representatives. The Self-Study sub-committees will draft and edit components of the DCI and report out to the ISS Steering Committee monthly.
Wake Forest Accreditation Contacts?
Faculty Accreditation Lead (FAL): Angela Sharkey, MD, Sr. Associate Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education
Site Visit Coordinator(s): Melissa Johnson, MBA, Director of Accreditation
For more information, please visit our website.