Accreditation
What is accreditation?
From the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME): "Accreditation is a process of quality assurance in postsecondary education that determines whether an institution or program meets established standards for function, structure, and performance. The accreditation process also fosters institutional and program improvement.”
Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
From the Liaison Committee on Medical Education: "The U.S. Department of Education recognizes the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for accreditation of programs of medical education leading to the M.D. in the United States. For Canadian medical education programs, the LCME engages in accreditation in collaboration with the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS). The LCME is recognized as the reliable accreditation authority for M.D. programs by the nation's medical schools and their parent universities. It also is recognized for this purpose by the Congress in various health-related laws, and by state, provincial (Canada), and territorial medical licensing boards.”
More information about accreditation can be found on the LCME Web site.
Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS)
From the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada: “The Committee on the Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS), working with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) in the United States, ensures that Canadian medical faculties’ MD programs meet the quality expected when producing tomorrow’s doctors. Medical schools demonstrating compliance are afforded accreditation, a necessary condition for a program’s graduates to be licensed as physicians.
CACMS came into formal existence in 1979 as a joint effort of the then-Association of Canadian Medical Schools (ACMC) and the Canadian Medical Association. Since 1965 the ACMC had worked with the LCME in the accreditation process for Canadian MD programs.
The LCME is a similar joint effort between the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association. Since mid-century it assumed responsibility for accrediting programs leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada based on a long-standing collaboration extending to the beginning of the 20th century and the famous 'Flexner Report.' There was active Canadian participation in the LCME until CACMS was formed.”
More information about accreditation can be found on the AFMC Web site.
Accreditation status of our MD Undergraduate Program: Memo from Dean Gavin Stuart, November 21, 2011
UBC MD Undergraduate Program Accreditation Timelines
June 2012: Interim Review
2012 - 2014: Ongoing quality improvement, with attention to complying with accreditation standards
2014 - 2016: Preparation for Full Accreditation Survey Visit
2016: Full Accreditation Survey Visit (date TBD)
• Further accreditation details will be posted as they become available. For further information please contact Lua Lynch at llynch@medd.med.ubc.ca.
