Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
A Message From Interim Dean Digna S. Forbes, M.D.
The Meharry Medical College School of Medicine had the opportunity to host the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for an accreditation site visit March 21-23, 2022. During this time, the Survey Team had the opportunity to evaluate our educational program and speak with Meharry students, faculty and staff. Recently, we received a complete report of their findings and the LCME highlighted some areas of concern.
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education has decided to place our medical degree program on probation. We are, of course, disappointed to be in this position, but we appreciate LCME’s feedback and are confident in our ability to successfully address the LCME findings. Prior to the site visit, we had already identified and made progress on several of the issues as part of our larger strategic planning process.
Probationary status does not impact our medical degree program’s accreditation nor our students’ degrees and futures. Our program is still accredited, and our day-to-day operations and classes will continue as normal.
We are committed to being as transparent as possible throughout the process toward resolution, and will communicate regularly with students, faculty, staff and supporters. Meharry will take this opportunity to grow stronger as a 21st century medical school and is grateful for the continued support from our community.
Sincerely,
Digna S. Forbes, M.D., FASCP
Interim Dean, Meharry Medical College School of Medicine
On March 20-23, 2022, Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine will host a visit from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Medical education programs leading to the MD degree in the United States and Canada are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME is jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA).
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. LCME accredited schools 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.
Accreditation by the LCME establishes eligibility for selected federal grants and programs, including Title VII funding administered by the U.S. Public Health Service. Most state boards of licensure require that U.S. medical schools granting the MD degree be accredited by the LCME as a condition for licensure of their graduates. Eligibility of U.S. students in MD-granting schools to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) requires LCME accreditation of their school. Graduates of LCME-accredited schools are eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). This visit and review occurs every 8 years.
We are currently in the data-collection phase of our institutional self-study, which will be submitted to the LCME secretariat in February 2022. Preparation of the self-study requires a massive effort by virtually every faculty member that contributes to the SOM educational mission. The students also contribute a critical element to the self-study by providing their opinions via the Independent Student Analysis (ISA) and the AAMC Graduation Questionnaire (GQ).
The institutional self-study is not just an exercise in collecting data about our educational program, but it provides us with an opportunity to improve the educational experience for our students. Indeed, a key element of the self-study involves strategies for Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). Together with the ISA, the CQI provides us with the tools needed to offer an exceptional medical education program.
Click here to view LCME Survey Handout
ISA Timeline
October – November 2020
Survey Launch Date: October 6, 2020
Survey Completion Date: November 7, 2020
November 2020
Analysis of Data
March 2021
Provide Final ISA Report to FAL
ISA Committee Members
Mohamed Hammoud, Chair – c/o 2022
Rebekah Yearwood, Co-Chair – c/o 2023
Mr. Gerald Jones – c/o 2021
Ms. Alexis Hood – c/o 2021
Ms. Brittany Hopkins – c/o 2022
Ms. Ayotola Fatola – c/o 2021
Ms. Laurie Temiz – c/o 2022
Mr. Jordan Patrick – c/o 2022
Mr. Siddharth Patel – c/o 2022
Mr. Hasan Entwistle – c/o 2022
Mr. Oladipupo Anibire – c/o 2023
Mr. Terry Henry – c/o 2023
Ms. Brittny Dike – c/o 2023
Ms. Adetayo Abdulrazak – c/o 2023
Ms. Geryn Hasty – c/o 2023
Ms. Dorian Hill – c/o 2023
Mr. Kardeem Joseph – c/o 2023
Ms. Alexandria Clemmons – c/o 2024
Ms. Morgan Williams – c/o 2024
Ms. Simone Moore – c/o 2024
Mr. Alexander Fuentes – c/o 2024
Ms. Aisha Morafa – c/o 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the aim of the ISA?
The ISA is one of three major sources of student-based information that the survey team will use when it evaluates the medical education program. The other two sources of information are the AAMC GQ, and the students who meet with survey team members during the survey visit. These students will come from all years of the curriculum but may not necessarily constitute a representative sample of students’ opinions. To complement these other information sources, the ISA should be based on a comprehensive survey of students in all four years and cover a wide range of subjects important to students.
An accreditation survey is not an opportunity for individual students, faculty members, deans, or anyone else to involve the LCME in discussions about personal or academic grievances with the medical school. As an accrediting agency, the LCME and its survey teams concentrate only on making determinations about whether the medical education program is performing in a satisfactory way related to the accreditation standards and elements.
How many survey completions are we aiming for?
An effective ISA is based on data from the entire student body. A high response rate (at least 70-80% in total and by year) to the questionnaire survey is critical for the credibility of the data.
How long is the survey?
The survey should take between 30 – 40 minutes to complete.
Are my responses anonymous?
Yes. All survey responses are de-identified upon submission.
What if I have not had any sort of contact with any of the specific individuals mentioned in several of the survey questions? How am I supposed to rank them?
Please select the option – N/A = No opportunity to assess/Have not experienced this yet
What sort of changes will be made with the ISA findings?
Institutional responses to the ISA findings will be determined and communicated with students.
Who can I send a message to if I have questions regarding the survey or how my answers may be used?
The ISA committee chairs. Mr. Mohamed Hammoud, mhammoud19@email.mmc.edu or Ms. Rebekah Yearwood, ryearwood20@email.mmc.edu
Institutional Response to ISA Findings
The ISA is currently underway, and the responses are not yet available at this time. A notification will be sent to the student body when this information becomes available.
Resources: The Role of Students in the Accreditation of U.S. Medical Education Programs
Self-Study Task Force Chair
Dr. Digna Forbes
DCI Committee Chairs
Dr. Samuel Adunyah
Dr. Monique Bennerman
Dr. Allysceaeioun Britt
Dr. Roland Jones
Dr. Regina Offodile
Dr. Susanne Tropez-Sims – FAL
Dr. Calvin Smith
Dr. Ruth Stewart
Dr. Cassandra Ward
Medical School/University Administrators
Dr. Peter Millet
Dr. Regina Offodile
Ms. Sandra Parham
Dr. Theodora Pinnock
Dr. Duane Smoot
Dr. Barbara Tharpe
Ms. Carmen Jones
Junior and Senior Faculty
Dr. Tameka Clemons
Dr. Millard Collins
Medical School Graduate in Residency
Dr. Michael Oluwole
Representatives of Clinical Affiliates
Dr. Sam Sells – VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System
Dr. Susanne Tropez-Sims
Trustees of University
Dr. Jeannette South-Paul – Board of Trustee Member
Student Members
Mohamed Hammoud – Class of 2022
Rebekah Yearwood – Class of 2023
Nataki Duncan – Class 2024
Standard 1: Mission, Planning, Organization, and Integrity
Standard 2: Leadership and Administration
Chair – Dr. Digna Forbes
Administrative Staff – Dr. Mitzy Johnson
Dr. Peter Millet
Atty. Ronette Adams
Dr. Roland Jones
Dr. Duane Smoot
Dr. Susanne Tropez-Sims
Dr. Edward Hills – Faculty Council Chair
Standard 3: Academic and Learning Environments
Chair – Dr. Samuel Adunyah
Standard 4: Faculty Preparation, Productivity, Participation, and Policies
Chair – Dr. Allysceaeioun Britt
Dr. Roland Jones
Dr. Cassandra Ward
Dr. Duane Smoot
Student Members
Ms. Yohanna Tesfaye – c/o 2022
Ms. Mary Skrabut – c/o 2023
Standard 5: Educational Resources and Infrastructure
Chair – Dr. Roland Jones
Administrative Staff – Ms. Melicent Davis
Dr. Monique Bennerman
Dr. Jamaine Davis
Dr. Damian Clarke
Dr. Digna Forbes
Dr. Peter Millet
Ms. Sandra Parham
Dr. Ruth Stewart
Dr. Carolyn Szetela
Dr. Susanne Tropez-Sims
Dr. Cassandra Ward
Student Members
Ms. Vanessa Dlamini – c/o 2022
Mr. Brandon Anamah – c/o 2023
Standard 6: Competencies, Curricular Objectives, and Curricular Design
Standard 7: Curricular Content
Chair – Dr. Ruth Stewart
Administrative Staff – Mr. Javaris Neal
Dr. Stephanie Bailey
Dr. Billy Ballard
Dr. Monique Bennerman
Dr. Millard Collins
Dr. Susan DeRiemer
Dr. Tammi Lavender
Dr. Regina Offodile
Dr. Carolyn Szetela
Dr. Susanne Tropez-Sims
Dr. Cassandra Ward
Dr. Kimberlee Wyche-Etheridge
Student Members
Mr. Julius Henderson – c/o 2022
Ms. Oyindayo Hassan – c/o 2023
Ms. Maylander Menard – c/o 2023
Mr. Mauricio Downer – c/o 2023
Mr. Allison Randolph – c/o 2022
Standard 8: Curricular Management, Evaluation, and Enhancement
Chair – Dr. Cassandra Ward
Standard 9: Teaching, Supervision, Assessment, and Student and Patient Safety
Chair – Dr. Monique Bennerman
Dr. Richmond Akatue
Dr. Larry Alexander
Dr. Ruth Stewart
Dr. Susanne Tropez-Sims
Student Members
Mr. Robert Hammond – c/o 2023
Ms. Shantal Salandy – c/o 2022
Standard 10: Medical Student Selection, Assignment, and Progress
Chair – Dr. Calvin Smith
Standard 11: Medical Student Academic Support, Career Advising, and Educational Records
Chair – Dr. Stephanie McClure
Atty. Ronette Adams
Dr. Monique Bennerman
Ms. April Curry
Ms. Carmen Jones
Dr. Theodora Pinnock
Ms. Miacia Porter
Ms. Pamela Rucker
Dr. Mitzy Johnson
Mr. Vincent Wilson
Student Members
Ms. Jennifer Black – c/o 2022
Mr. Andrew Grush – c/o 2022
Standard 12: Medical Student Health Services, Personal Counseling, and Financial Aid Services
Chair – Dr. Regina Offodile
Dr. Barbara Tharpe
Ms. Rochelle Tisdale
Dr. Sharda Mishra
Dr. Lisa Battle-Gwathney
Ms. Tammi Lavender
Mr. Sid Curry, CEO, Financial Wellness Group
Student Members
Ms. Ashley Vallesarmand – c/o 2022
Ms. Stephanie Smith – c/o 2023
Student ISA Team
Mr. Gerald Jones – c/o 2021
Ms. Alexis Hood – c/o 2021
Ms. Brittany Hopkins – c/o 2022
Ms. Ayotola Fatola – c/o 2021
Ms. Laurie Temiz – c/o 2022
Mr. Jordan Patrick – c/o 2022
Mr. Siddharth Patel – c/o 2022
Mr. Hasan Entwistle – c/o 2022
Mr. Oladipupo Anibire – c/o 2023
Mr. Terry Henry – c/o 2023
Ms. Brittny Dike – c/o 2023
Ms. Adetayo Abdulrazak – c/o 2023
Mr. Mohamed Hammoud, Chair – c/o 2022
Ms. Geryn Hasty – c/o 2023
Ms. Dorian Hill – c/o 2023
Mr. Kardeem Joseph – c/o 2023
Ms. Rebekah Yearwood, Co-Chair – c/o 2023
Ms. Alexandria Clemmons – c/o 2024
Ms. Morgan Williams – c/o 2024
Ms. Simone Moore – c/o 2024
Mr. Alexander Fuentes – c/o 2024
Ms. Aisha Morafa – c/o 2024