CMSRU receives provisional accreditation with full compliance form Liaison Committee for Medical Education
The Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) – the accrediting body for medical education programs leading to the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree in the United States and Canada – has granted Provisional Accreditation to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU) with full compliance in all areas. Provisional Accreditation is an intermediate step that puts the medical school one step closer on the path to Full Accreditation.
"Creating a brand new medical school is a challenging endeavor," said Paul Katz, MD, Dean of CMSRU. "Earning Provisional Accreditation is a testament to the outstanding leadership, faculty, students and staff who have helped bring this successful new medical school to life. The fact that our Provisional Accreditation is without citations – an unusual event for any medical school during this process – affirms that our school is headed in the right direction toward developing quality physicians of tomorrow. "
Provisional Accreditation is the fourth of five steps in the process leading to full accreditation by the LCME. It allows students to continue into their third and fourth years of medical training, and the continuation of enrollment of new students. The LCME team completed a comprehensive, multi-day survey visit at CMSRU in March 2014 where they evaluated all aspects of the school and its curriculum. CMSRU will be eligible for Full Accreditation in 2016, when it graduates the 50 students in its Charter Class.
"The LCME accreditation process is a wonderful chance for medical schools to step back from day-to-day activities and take a holistic look at their curriculum, structure, and resources," said Annette C. Reboli, MD, Vice Dean of CMSRU. "This is an excellent quality assurance exercise that will serve us well as we embark on the next phase of the school."
A partnership between Rowan University and The Cooper Health System, CMSRU opened in summer 2012 in Camden, N.J. It was the first new medical school in New Jersey in over 35 years and the only four-year MD-granting medical school in South Jersey. CMSRU is a proudly mission-driven school focused on developing highly skilled and socially conscious physician leaders who value a patient-centered, team approach to health care. Its innovative curriculum provides students with small-group, self directed learning and early and continuous patient care experiences, beginning the third week of medical school. CMSRU received Preliminary Accreditation from the LCME in June 2011.
This summer, CMSRU will welcome its third and largest class. Over 5000 applications were received and 72 students were accepted, bringing enrollment at the school up to 186. CMSRU will continue to gradually increase total enrollment to a maximum of approximately 400 students.