Doctor of Medicine program at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine granted preliminary accreditation status
The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine announced today that the school's educational program leading to the doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree has received preliminary accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
Preliminary accreditation means the school meets nationally accepted standards of educational quality. It is the final step necessary for the school to recruit students and begin operation.
The school’s first class of 42 aspiring physicians will begin their studies in the fall of 2010 and graduate with a M.D. degree in the spring of 2014. Prospective students can apply through the online American Medical College Application Service.
Virginia Tech Carilion is a partnership between Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic, located on the Carilion Clinic Campus in Roanoke, Va. It will be housed in a new 150,000-square-foot education and research facility currently under construction.
“Preliminary accreditation for [Virginia Tech Carilion] is a direct result of the vision by leadership at Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic to capitalize on core strengths at each of these institutions,” states Cynda Johnson, founding dean and president, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. “This is also a testament to the incredible amount of determination, collaboration, and creativity of the [Virginia Tech Carilion] team. I am very proud of the team and thrilled to begin recruiting our first class.”
The partnership between Virginia Tech and Carilion Clinic allows the Virginia Tech Carilion to offer a strong foundation in the basic and clinical sciences. The unique curriculum interweaves research and inter-professional disciplines throughout the four-year educational experience.
“This partnership makes good sense on a multitude of levels,” said Charles W. Steger, president of Virginia Tech. “Virginia Tech’s leadership in higher education, specifically in the sciences and research, coupled with Carilion’s strength in medical education and patient-centered care, is a very powerful combination. The result will be high-quality education and a new, innovative model to develop the type of physician that we need at the bedside. I couldn’t be more proud of everyone involved.”
“Preliminary accreditation of the new medical school is another step forward for Carilion Clinic’s education and research mission. The value of the school’s association with an institution of Virginia Tech’s caliber cannot be overstated. I congratulate the team on the tremendous effort that they have put forth to make this a reality,” states Dr. Edward G. Murphy, Carilion Clinic president and chief executive officer.
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine's overarching goal is to educate clinicians who continuously incorporate knowledge gained from research and scientific inquiry into the everyday practice of medicine. According to Virginia Tech Carilion leadership, the Virginia Tech Carilion physician will be well prepared to enter any area of medicine and will possess the skills needed to become part of an interdisciplinary team. The school’s graduates will be thought leaders in their chosen field, whether it is community or academic medicine, research, health policy or health information technology.
Additional information, news and construction updates are available online.
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute is a public-private partnership that leverages Virginia Tech’s world-class strength in basic sciences, bioinformatics and engineering with Carilion Clinic’s highly experienced medical staff and rich history in medical education. Virginia Tech Carilion will improve human health and quality of life by providing leadership in medical education and biomedical and clinical research.
Eric Earnhart, director of media and community relations at Carilion Clinic, contributed to this story. He can be reached at (540) 224-4966 or eearnhart@carilion.com.
