A Historic Milestone - Achieving Full LCME Accreditation

It is with great pride, profound gratitude, and a sense of historic accomplishment that I share this momentous news: our College of Medicine has received full accreditation from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

This recognition represents the highest standard of quality in medical education and affirms that our institution has met, and in many areas exceeded, the rigorous national expectations required of all MD-granting medical schools in the United States and Canada. It is a moment that marks not just a culmination, but a beginning; the start of a new chapter in our legacy of educating the next generation of physicians.

Founded in 1942, the LCME is the accrediting authority sponsored by both the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA). For over 80 years, the LCME has played a vital role in ensuring that medical schools uphold the integrity, quality, and accountability necessary to prepare competent, compassionate, and ethical physicians. Its roots trace back to the Flexner Report of 1910, which called for sweeping reforms in American medical education and laid the foundation for the modern accreditation system we have today.

Achieving full LCME accreditation is a significant accomplishment, resulting from years of preparation, reflection, growth, and steadfast dedication. The LCME standards are extensive, encompassing 12 major areas and 93 elements that address every aspect of medical education. These include the design and delivery of our curriculum, the scope of our clinical training, student support services, diversity and inclusion initiatives, faculty development, governance, and sustained financial viability.

This achievement belongs to each and every member of our community:

• To our faculty – your excellence, passion, and dedication to teaching, mentoring, and healing form the intellectual heart of this institution.
• To our staff – your tireless work behind the scenes has ensured that every piece of this complex ecosystem functions with precision and care.
• To our students – your courage, curiosity, and commitment to service embody the very ideals of medicine. You chose this school in its formative years and helped shape it into what it has become. Your legacy is foundational.
• And, of course, to the parents – who not only supported their children but also entrusted and supported our College of Medicine.

As we celebrate this extraordinary achievement, let us also look forward to a future filled with possibility, to the next generation of discoveries and leaders, and to our enduring responsibility to heal, teach, and serve.

With pride and gratitude,

Richard S. Isaacs, MD, FACS
Dean California Northstate University College of Medicine
Senior Vice-President of Medical Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery