Medical Degree Program at the School of Medicine & Dentistry fulfills complete accreditation granted by the National Committee
The University of Rochester Medical Center's School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD) has received full accreditation for the next eight years from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), following a rigorous review process.
In the fall of 2023, the LCME survey team visited SMD to evaluate its performance in accreditation standards. The review concluded that SMD was "compliant" in all 12 standards, demonstrating its commitment to delivering high-quality medical education.
David C. Linehan, MD, CEO of the University of Rochester Medical Center and dean of SMD, expressed his pride in the achievement, stating that the accreditation demonstrates the program's ability to prepare graduates for lifelong careers in medicine. He added that the success was a testament to the quality and strength of the SMD program and the collaborative spirit that sets it apart from other institutions.
According to David R. Lambert, MD, senior associate dean for Medical School Education, the curriculum review processes and the collegial and supportive atmosphere at SMD played a significant role in achieving the highest rating possible. He commended everyone at SMD for their contributions to the success of the accreditation.
The LCME determines whether medical education programs meet established quality standards in areas such as educational resources and infrastructure, curriculum management, evaluation and enhancement, and student support. The MD program at SMD underwent a self-study process in the two years leading up to the visit, showcasing progress in each of the 93 elements.
The MD program team at SMD will continue to monitor its performance in the elements for accreditation on an ongoing basis. The LCME requested follow-up data on four elements to ensure SMD sustains its performance.
Graduates from accredited programs are eligible for licensing exams required to practice medicine in the U.S. Moreover, accreditation by the LCME qualifies an institution for relevant federal grants and programs.
Established programs like SMD typically undergo the self-study process and a full survey visit every eight years. The University of Rochester Medical Center and SMD will undergo another full accreditation review in 2032, eight years after the previous one in 2016.
The LCME is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA). The success of SMD's accreditation is a reflection of the school's dedication to maintaining excellence in medical education and its commitment to training the next generation of physicians. The University of Rochester Medical Center and SMD are excited to continue this tradition.
While the LCME accreditation process generally evaluates medical schools based on several key areas, including mission, governance and administration, curriculum management, faculty, educational resources, student services, clinical resources, and continuous quality improvement, the specific areas of excellence demonstrated by the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry during the accreditation process are yet to be identified. Direct access to their LCME accreditation reports or communication with the school would be necessary to determine these specific areas.
The University of Rochester Medical Center's MD program, under the School of Medicine and Dentistry (SMD), not only excels in medical education, but also exhibits a strong commitment to health-and-wellness and education-and-self-development. This is evidenced by the program's ability to prepare graduates for a career in medicine, while maintaining a high-quality curriculum aligned with science and medical-conditions. The accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) not only qualifies SMD for relevant federal grants, but also signifies its dedication to delivering excellence in medical education, setting it apart from other institutions.
