The Florida State University College of Medicine has been granted a maximum eight-year accreditation by the sanctioning body of U.S. medical schools.

“This news was not unexpected based on the remarkable outcomes this medical school has produced since the first class of 30 students arrived in 2001.”  – John P. Fogarty Dean College of Medicine

LCME accreditation occurs every eight years as part of a nearly two-year process that includes a rigorous self-study by the applying institution and a thorough inspection from the site visit team.

The survey team was made up of representatives from six medical schools and included two deans, a professor of internal medicine, a fourth-year medical student, a vice dean for academic affairs and an associate dean for medical education.

Their report served as the basis for the decision regarding Florida State’s compliance with accreditation standards in five areas: institutional setting, educational program for the M.D. degree, medical students, faculty and educational resources. Only accredited institutions may receive federal grants formedical education and participate in federal loan programs.

In addition, attendance at an Laccredited program is required for U.S. allopathic medical students before they can take the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam or residency programs approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

“Institutional accreditation assures that medical education takes place in a sufficiently rich environment to foster broad academic purposes.” – Dr. Alma Littles senior associate dean

In its letter of accreditation, the LCME cited several areas of strength within the program at Florida State:

· “The College of Medicine is a student-centered, educationally focused organization in which decision making and priority setting are guided by its primary mission to develop exemplary, patient-oriented physicians.”
· “The College of Medicine has a long-standing, well-organized and successful program for pipeline development and recruitment of students of diverse backgrounds.”
· “The community faculty apprenticeship model of clinical education provides students with the opportunity to see large numbers of patients, to be involved in all aspects of their care, and to be closely observed for development of competence in their roles as physicians.”
· “The College of Medicine should be commended for an impressive faculty development program, particularly for the diverse nature of the offerings and the sheer volume of effort expended to support the development of faculty on an ongoing basis.”
· “The retention rate for community faculty is high, creating a stable educational platform for the clinical program.”

Since first gaining full accreditation status in 2005, the College of Medicine has opened new regional campuses in Sarasota, Fort Pierce and Daytona Beach and rural clinical training sites in Marianna and Immokalee; graduated seven classes; and grown from around 170 medical students to a full enrollment of 480. The new regional campuses are in addition to previously opened campuses in Orlando, Pensacola and Tallahassee.