College of Medicine Receives Excellent Outcome from Medical Education Review

The recent review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) resulted in an excellent outcome for UT Health Science Center's College of Medicine.

The LCME is the national body that accredits all MD-granting medical schools in the United States and Canada. The organization sets rigorous standards for medical education, including curriculum, student outcomes, clinical training, faculty qualifications, and institutional support. A strong LCME review is the highest recognition that a medical school is providing high-quality, contemporary education.

"This review confirms the quality of training our medical students receive across all campuses: Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, and underscores the value of a multicampus College of Medicine for the people of Tennessee," said Michael Hocker, MD, executive dean of the college. "It also highlights how well our students and learners represent the college through their professionalism, dedication, and achievements. Their engagement and excellence reflect the very best of UT Health Sciences."

Executive Dean Hocker said this achievement is the result of extraordinary work by faculty and staff, giving a special nod to the team that prepared for the review. Gathering data, reviewing programs, and ensuring readiness for the review took months of hard work.

"We are also grateful to our alumni, whose encouragement and support strengthen our mission to train tomorrow's physicians for Tennessee," he said.

Executive Dean Hocker also thanked the Tennessee Legislature and state leaders for their support of the college. "Investments like the Center for Health Care Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS) building, which expands opportunities for interprofessional education, and the new Anatomy Lab, which brings modern training practices to the foundation of medical education, are already making a tangible difference for our students."

"We also deeply appreciate our hospital and clinical partners," he said. Their collaboration and commitment to providing high-quality clinical experiences are essential to achieving milestones like this and ensuring our students are well-prepared to excel as physicians."

Additionally, he said there is tremendous opportunity ahead for the college, including expanding class sizes, training more physicians for Tennessee, growing our research programs, strengthening clinical partnerships, and advancing care across the state. "This LCME outcome is not the finish line, it is a clear signal that we are moving in the right direction, together."