The University of Arizona now has two separately accredited medical schools. <\/p>\n
UA officials announced Wednesday that the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix, which was originally a branch of the UAs Tucson medical school, was granted full accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). <\/p>\n
The LCME is the national accrediting authority for medical-education programs leading to M.D. degrees in the United States and Canada. <\/p>\n
The accrediting authority completed its latest site visit earlier this spring. The LCME is expected to provide a comprehensive report within the next month detailing the site visit and the factors for granting full accreditation. <\/p>\n
The full accreditation came earlier than expected. UA officials originally projected they would gain full accreditation in 2018. <\/p>\n
The UA College of Medicine-Phoenix was created 10 years ago as a branch campus of the UA College of Medicine-Tucson, which opened in 1967. <\/p>\n
In 2012, the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix received preliminary accreditation with the LCME. That marked the point when students first were accepted as part of the separate accreditation, and also the beginning of a five-year process to full accreditation. <\/p>\n
The next step of provisional accreditation was granted in 2015. Full accreditation was the final step. <\/p>\n
To date, the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix has graduated 354 physicians, with classes of about 80 students per year. <\/p>\n
During the accreditation process, more than 100 performance elements are evaluated to establish whether a medical school is in good standing. <\/p>\n
From my standpoint, its a wonderful signal that things are going well at the College of Medicine in Phoenix, said Chic Older, executive vice president of the Arizona Medical Association, a statewide group made up of doctors, residents and medical students. <\/p>\n
Theyve got a terrific medical school and theyve certainly become more stabilized. ... Its a medical school students can be proud of graduating from. <\/p>\n
One year ago this month, the Arizona Medical Association asked for an investigation after a half-dozen of the Phoenix medical schools top leaders left for positions out of state. Among those departures was the schools dean, Dr. Stuart D. Flynn. <\/p>\n
The UA recently hired a new dean to lead the school, Tennessee cardiologist Dr. Guy Reed. The UA also has a new interim senior vice president of health sciences, Dr. Leigh Neumayer, who oversees both medical schools. Neumayer replaced Dr. Joe G. N. Skip Garcia, who stepped down in December. <\/p>\n
Older said interim dean Dr. Kenneth Ramos did an excellent job after Flynns departure and helped lead the Phoenix medical school through the accreditation. <\/p>\n
Dr. Leigh Neumayer is clearly stabilizing things as well, Older said. This is not some kind of miracle. This is a lot of hard work by a lot of people and is what we wanted, and it will only help the state. <\/p>\n
Having another fully accredited medical school is a key part of ensuring quality health care in Arizona in the future and also in addressing a doctor shortage. However, Older said another key is having enough residency spots and that the current level in Arizona is not enough. <\/p>\n
There are now five medical schools in Arizona the two UA medical schools; the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine, which is opening its Arizona campus in Scottsdale this summer; and Midwestern University and A.T. Still University, which both operate osteopathic medical schools in the Phoenix area. <\/p>\n
A sixth medical school Nebraska-based Creighton University School of Medicine has medical students doing third- and fourth-year rotations in Arizona. <\/p>\n
Earning full accreditation is an important milestone, UA President Dr. Robert C. Robbins said in a prepared statement. <\/p>\n
Full accreditation assures students that they are getting an outstanding education and it demonstrates to Arizona residents that the University of Arizona is graduating exceptional physicians, said Robbins, who is a cardiac surgeon. <\/p>\n
Ramos, interim dean of the UA College of MedicinePhoenix, received a call Friday from the LCME, notifying him that the college would move from provisional accreditation status to full accreditation, UA officials said Wednesday. <\/p>\n
This announcement acknowledges the strength and excellence of this college and our ability to transform todays students into tomorrows health-care leaders, said Neumayer. <\/p>\n
Contact health reporter Stephanie Innes at 573-4134 or email sinnes@tucson.com<\/a>. On Twitter: @stephanieinnes <\/p>\n <\/p>\n See the article here: <\/p>\n University of Arizona's Phoenix medical school receives full accreditation - Arizona Daily Star<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The University of Arizona now has two separately accredited medical schools. UA officials announced Wednesday that the UA College of Medicine-Phoenix, which was originally a branch of the UAs Tucson medical school, was granted full accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). The LCME is the national accrediting authority for medical-education programs leading to M.D. Continue reading