The Liaison Committee on Medical Education's comprehensive four-day survey of the Wayne State University School of Medicine to achieve full reaccreditation as a medical school was completed March 11.

"We appreciate the outstanding dedication and efforts of everyone who participated in the visit activities and meetings, and contributed to the self-study process, including our medical students, administration, faculty and staff," said Vice Dean for Medical Education Maryjean Schenk, M.D., M.P.H. "The visiting team shared its preliminary findings, and we hope to hear the final outcome by the end of June."

The LCME is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association, and is the nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical education programs that lead to the M.D. degree in medical schools in the United States and Canada. The two-year reaccreditation process - including a self-study analysis and detailed data about the school, its programs, and its faculty, students and resources - certifies quality assurance that determines whether a medical school meets established standards for function, structure and performance. Schools are evaluated in eight-year cycles.

Accreditation establishes eligibility for selected federal grants and programs, and most state licensing boards require that U.S. medical schools be LCME-accredited as a condition for granting licenses to graduates. Eligibility of U.S. students to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination requires LCME accreditation of their school. Graduates of LCME-accredited schools also are eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

The survey team representing the LCME included physician educators from Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Hawaii. The survey team met with Dr. Schenk and Interim Dean Jack Sobel, M.D., off site Sunday before beginning a survey of the educational program Monday, which included student-led tours of the medical school and its affiliated hospitals, and meetings with medical students, residents and faculty. Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson met with the visitors Wednesday, the final day of the site survey, which spotlighted the school's faculty and academic environment.