A Message from the Dean

UMMS Prepares for Reaccreditation: Advancing Ourselves, Our Students, Our School, and the Profession

As we prepare for our next Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accreditation review in April 2028, we have an incredible opportunity to celebrate our long-standing tradition of educational excellence, reinforce our key strengths, and identify meaningful opportunities for continuous improvement.


LCME accreditation is an important measure of quality for MD programs nationwide. For the University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS), continuous quality improvement (CQI) isn't just something we do every eight years for the LCME. It is a mindset embedded in everything we do in order to achieve the highest performance standards every single year, ensuring that we are continually striving for better.

 

Over the next two years, the UMMS will be engaging in a comprehensive Institutional Self-Study. Our Self-Study will be guided by the Interim Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education and designated Faculty Accreditation Lead (FAL), Andrew Olson, and supported by the Office of Accreditation and CQI.   


The LCME accreditation process also requires engaging content experts and a dedicated Self-Study Task Force composed of faculty, administrators, residents, and students representing perspectives across our community. Another critical component is a student committee overseeing the Independent Student Analysis (ISA), a student-led survey that pinpoints our strengths and opportunities for improvement. 

This process offers us an exciting opportunity to examine every facet of our medical education program, ensuring we maintain a premier environment for learning, discovery, and patient care.

I would like to thank everyone, in advance, for their dedication, expertise, and shared commitment to our mission. Together, we will uphold our high standards and continue advancing our legacy of innovation and compassionate leadership in medicine.

LCME logo

What is LCME Accreditation?

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredits all medical schools in the U.S. every eight years. It is jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the Council on Medical Education of the American Medical Association.

Re-accreditation assures our stakeholders that our medical education program meets or exceeds nationally accepted standards of quality. As such, the Medical School aims to ensure it meets the standards of accreditation set by the LCME and to identify opportunities for program improvement. 

Why is LCME Accreditation Important?

Maintaining full accreditation ensures the UMMS meets national standards for its curriculum, student services, faculty policies, resources, and overall governance. LCME accreditation assures UMMS students of:

  • access to selected federal grants and programs

  • access to take the United States Medical Licensing Exams (USMLE)

  • qualifying for and participating in residency programs accredited by the ACGME

  • access to federal aid programs

UMMS Prepares for Accreditation

The medical school underwent its most recent full accreditation review in July 2020. As a result of the LCME’s review of our medical education program, the University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS) continues to be fully accredited.

To review the accreditation status of the UMMS, visit the LCME webpage. Concerns about the UMMS’ accreditation status, its efforts to address LCME requirements, the intent of the elements, or for individuals who believe the school is non-compliant in one or more areas can email the LCME Secretariat at lcme.aamc.org:

  • Veronica M. Catanese, MD, MBA
    LCME Co-Secretary & Senior Director, Accreditation Services
    Association of American Medical Colleges
  • Barbara Barzansky, PhD, MHPE
    LCME Co-Secretary &  Director, UME
    American Medical Association

The UMMS has launched its Institutional Self-Study as of the 2025-26 Academic Year. The Institutional Self-Study culminates with a Site Visit scheduled for April 24-26, 2028. 

As part of the Institutional Self-Study, the UMMS is actively preparing through a series of structured and collaborative efforts that include:

  • Collecting data from a variety of sources including the Annual Quality Improvement Survey to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement
  • Engaging faculty, staff and leaders in compiling the Data Collection Instrument (DCI), a comprehensive document developed by the LCME, describing the school's compliance with educational quality standards 
  • Engaging course/clerkship directors and the curriculum committees in phase and whole curriculum reviews to ensure it is meeting intended outcomes
  • Medical students play a key role by conducting an Independent Student Analysis (ISA) and submitting their findings, including recommendations for improvement, to the Self-Study Task Force for inclusion in the review process. The ISA covers a wide range of topics including curriculum, student services, learning environment, research opportunities, advising and career counseling, resources, and facilities, including housing and dedicated-student space.
  • Establishing the Self-Study Task Force composed of key faculty, staff, students, and community members. This Task Force will work over the 2026-27 and 2027-28 Academic Years to critically evaluate the school's performance across all areas of the medical education program, identify needed quality improvement efforts, and write an Executive Summary to be submitted to the LCME.
  • In December 2027, the medical school will submit a completed Self-Study Package to the LCME-appointed Survey Team. This Package consists of the ISA Executive Summary, the completed DCI (including supporting documentation), and a Self-Study Executive Summary. 
  • From April 24-26, 2028 an LCME-selected Survey Team will visit the UMMS to conduct on-site interviews with faculty, staff, residents, and students. Following this visit the Survey Team to will develop a final report with their evaluation of the UMMS' performance across all areas, and recommendations for Findings. The LCME will vote on the school's performance and its accreditation status at a subsequent LCME meeting (anticipated October 2028). 

 

For more information:

Joseph Oppedisano, D.Ac.
Director of Accreditation
[email protected]