Dear Larner Community,
In October of 2021, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) awarded the UVM Larner College of Medicine full accreditation through 2029.
The accreditation process involves 18 months of self-study followed by a site visit. Our work in this process was complicated by the unique circumstances and limitations presented by the pandemic and the additional challenge of a cyberattack on the UVM Medical Center. Despite those challenges, and thanks to the amazing ingenuity, resilience, and energy of the more than 300 people from across our community – faculty, staff and students both in Vermont and Connecticut – our self-study was completed in full and on tine.
Our subsequent virtual site visit by the LCME in April 2021provided additional information necessary for determination of accreditation. The LCME Steering Committee and Subcommittee, the independent Student Analysis Task Force, and the COMTS and Medical Communications staff worked diligently throughout the process.
The accreditation process is designed to identify areas for improvement and thereby enhance the quality of medical education. Of the 93 elements examined originally by the LCME, 84 were found to be fully satisfactory. Following our accreditation results, LCOM continues to address areas needing additional attention and provided the LCME interim reports in December 2022 and April 2024. Our next status report is due December 2025 to address four remaining elements. To that end, our Continuous Quality Improvement Committee continues to systematically address all standards and elements in an ongoing fashion in preparation for our LCME reaccreditation in 2029.
Accreditation is ultimately focused on our students and optimizing their education experience. Our medical students continue to be full participants in the accreditation effort, as demonstrated by their exceptional high participation in the Graduation Questionnaire and internal Larner Student Analysis surveys. Their engagement, and that of our entire community, continues to play an important part maintaining our full accreditation.
Sincerely,
Richard L. Page, M.D.
Dean
Satisfactory with monitoring
3.2 Community of Scholar/Research Opportunities
The degree of dissatisfaction in gaining access to research opportunities from students in the Independent Student Assessment (ISA) led to it being listed by the students as an area needing improvement. The school has made efforts to address this concern, and the ISA data suggest improved satisfaction with each successive class year. Whether this improvement is sustainable remains to be demonstrated.
8.8 Monitoring Student Time
While students are positive about the new curriculum that includes more self-directed learning opportunities, the ISA reveals that 34% of M1 and 28% of M2 respondents are dissatisfied with the amount of time available to prepare for these activities.
11.2 Career Advising
ISA data shows that 23-27% of M2, M3, and M4 respondents were dissatisfied with the adequacy of career counseling offered. Adequacy of counseling about elective choices was rated by respondents as an area in need of improvement; 33% of M3 and 35% of M4 respondents reported they were dissatisfied. While the school has made several changes in the career advising system in response to low satisfaction levels reported in the ISA, insufficient evidence was available at the time of the visit to determine if these changes were sufficient.
Unsatisfactory
5.11 Study/lounge/storage space/call rooms)
Based on ISA data, the adequacy of study and relaxation space, particularly within clinical sites, was an area noted for improvement by respondents. Specifically, 45% (M3) and 37% (M4) of respondents were dissatisfied with study space at hospitals/clinical sites, and 47% (M3) and 50% (M4) of respondents were satisfied with relaxation space at hospitals/clinical sites.