Office of Accreditation and CQI
As part of our commitment to excellence, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine undergoes the reaccreditation process with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) every eight years. This process ensures that our MD program continues to meet the high standards set by LCME and the high standards we (Pitt School of Medicine!) set for our school.
What is LCME? LCME is a group of people who constitute an accrediting body for medical education programs leading to the MD. LCME is jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA). The group is composed of secretariat staff who maintain offices in Washington, D.C. and Chicago, Ill. and 21 voting members: 17 professional members who are medical educators and or practicing physicians and are knowledgeable about U.S. medical education programs, two public members and two medical students.
Why LCME Reaccreditation Matters to Pitt School of Medicine
For Pitt School of Medicine, LCME reaccreditation is about more than just “compliance.” It’s our way of showing students, graduates and our Pittsburgh community that our program delivers a quality education and operates with integrity. The process gives us a chance to “look in the mirror” and honestly evaluate what we’re doing well and where we can improve. At Pitt School of Medicine, our goal is to get better every day.
What the Reaccreditation Process Involves
Every eight years, we take a deep dive into every aspect of our MD program. This process includes gathering detailed data, conducting a thorough self-study with input from faculty, staff and students and organizing an independent student analysis (ISA). We send a lot of written information to LCME so that a survey team, and ultimately LCME itself, can learn about and evaluate our school. An LCME survey team is a group appointed by LCME to conduct an on-site evaluation of a medical school as part of the accreditation or reaccreditation process. The survey team is typically composed of experienced medical school administrators, faculty and members of the medical practice community, such as associate deans, leaders in curriculum and student affairs and, sometimes, a student member of LCME. Most teams have around six members, including a chair and a secretary, and are often led by a medical school dean or LCME member. The survey team assigned to review Pitt School of Medicine will be on site to see our school in action and talk with people across our community March 1-3, 2027.
After the survey team visit, LCME reviews all the information and decides on our accreditation status. If they find anything that needs attention, we work with them to address it and make sure we’re always meeting—or exceeding—their standards.
Pitt School of Medicine’s Commitment to Getting Better All the Time
LCME reaccreditation is an important part of how we maintain and improve the quality of our medical education. It helps us ensure that our graduates are well-prepared for their future careers and that we’re accountable to the people and communities we serve. Pitt School of Medicine is proud to participate in this important reflection and growth process.
For more information, go to www.lcme.org.