The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the accrediting body for medical schools in North America, has continued full accreditation of the Wayne State University School of Medicine through the 2030-31 academic year.
The LCME notified Wayne State President Kimberly Andrews Espy, Ph.D., and School of Medicine Dean Wael Sakr, M.D., of the full accreditation Oct. 31.
“I congratulate everyone involved with this significant accomplishment, and commend Dean Wael Sakr for his leadership,” said President Espy. “Accreditation for the full eight years through 2031 is strong validation of the outstanding work of our faculty, students and staff in our School of Medicine. Our Detroit and metro communities will continue to reap immeasurable benefits from Wayne State’s impressive record of training Michigan’s future doctors and medical scientists.”
The full eight-year accreditation is the maximum period granted by the LCME.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to each and every member of the amazing medical school team that devoted many thousands of hours of diligent work to achieve these results,” Dean Sakr said. “I have witnessed the strongest commitment our faculty, students, staff, administrators and community friends invested in this key milestone.”
Dean Sakr noted that while LCME accreditation is the foundation the school must achieve, its goals and plans “far exceed” those requirements.
“As we celebrate the fruits of our efforts, it is crucial that we maintain the momentum of adhering to our continuous quality improvement program as the guide to enhance, modernize and strengthen all the key drives and initiatives of our school,” he said. “Our aspirations have been embodied within the school’s strategic plan and that of the university at large. The plan commits all of us to aim for and, indeed, achieve defined goals with the diversity, equity and inclusion domain for our students, trainees, and clinical and research faculty. This drive was further supported through a medical school charge that spells out a detailed DEI implementation plan. We also have committed to the key ‘pillars’ of the plan to be national leaders as a school that provides transformative education and continues a steadfast approach to community engagement, pioneering research and financial sustainability.”
WSU Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Mark Kornbluh, Ph.D., said the administration is grateful not only to the faculty, staff and administration for this achievement, but also to the students who entrust the School of Medicine with their education.
“Wayne State medical students are special,” said Provost Kornbluh. “Not only are they among the smartest – as evidenced by their 100% match rate in 2023 – but they come to Wayne State because they have a passion to serve others, especially those in underserved communities."
Preparation for the LCME’s April 2023 survey visit began in 2022 with the commissioning of a Self-Study Taskforce co-chaired by Dean Sakr and Senior Vice Dean Richard Baker, M.D., that consisted of administrators, department chairs, faculty, students and clinical affiliates.
From February to July 2022, three working groups of the Self-Study Taskforce met biweekly to conduct a self-evaluation and determine whether the medical education program met the prescribed LCME standards and elements. The self-study process involved collecting and reviewing data about the medical school, identifying institutional strengths and challenges, and defining strategies to ensure that strengths are maintained and that problems are addressed effectively. Each working group collected and analyzed data in order to make informed judgements related to performance in each element and proposed strategies to ensure continued strengths and address identified challenges. The findings were translated into continuous quality improvement plans and immediately implemented.
“Because of the school’s continuous quality approach to its curriculum and operations, the school was well prepared for its 2023 survey visit,” said Jason Booza, associate dean of continuous quality improvement and compliance. “This full LCME accreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the many stakeholders who were involved in preparing for the visit.”
To view the accreditation status of the WSU School of Medicine, or any medical school accredited by the LCME, visit https://lcme.org/directory/.