The Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine at Belmont University has earned “Candidate Status” from its accrediting body, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). This is the next step in the College’s accreditation process and comes with a site visit from the LCME, to be scheduled soon.
A team appointed by the LCME will visit Belmont’s campus to tour the College’s facilities, review submitted materials, receive updates on the progress of the new building and meet with various participants regarding planning, the curriculum, and the readiness of the admissions process and all student support services.
“This announcement represents another significant milestone in the history of Belmont’s new College of Medicine,” said Dr. Bill Bates, founding dean. “I am so proud of our momentum and look forward to continuing in the process of working toward welcoming our inaugural class.”
LCME is co-sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA), and is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the accrediting body for allopathic medical schools in the United States.
Accreditation through LCME is necessary for medical schools to participate in federal programs and grants, and is required for graduates to receive licensure from most state medical licensing boards. Residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Education only give residency slots to physicians who graduate from LCME-accredited schools.
“Establishing the Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine is another tangible way for Belmont to embrace and serve our neighbors throughout Middle Tennessee and beyond,” said Belmont University President Dr. Greg Jones. “Our curriculum will lead the way for a more integrative and holistic approach to delivering healthcare, and will infuse health equity, advocacy and whole-person care as we strive to achieve better health and well-being for all.”
The LCME accreditation process is divided into six parts. With the upcoming site visit, Belmont’s Frist College of Medicine is at step three of the process.
