The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) declared on Feb. 14 that the University of Georgia School of Medicine has achieved candidate status for accreditation. Attaining candidate status represents a pivotal advancement in the accreditation journey, signifying that the medical education program at the School of Medicine has accomplished considerable progress toward fulfilling the accreditation criteria established by the LCME.

“I take pride in the remarkable progress we have achieved toward the enrollment of the first cohort of students in the UGA School of Medicine,” stated President Jere W. Morehead. “I extend my appreciation to Dean Shelley Nuss and all those who have diligently worked over the past year to bring us here. I am confident they will persist in guiding the School of Medicine carefully through this process as we embark on a new chapter of even greater influence for the University of Georgia.”

The LCME, a body responsible for accrediting medical education programs that lead to a Doctor of Medicine degree, is jointly endorsed by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.

The UGA School of Medicine is set to conduct a site visit this summer to assess adherence to LCME accreditation standards. A team designated by the LCME will visit the University of Georgia and the School of Medicine to examine the facilities, analyze submitted documents, receive updates on the progress of the new building, and engage with various stakeholders concerning planning, curriculum, and the preparedness of the admissions process alongside proposed student support services.

“Achieving candidate status with the LCME marks another historic achievement for the School of Medicine,” said Founding Dean Shelley Nuss. “Our faculty and staff are putting in relentless effort to get ready for the upcoming site visit as we strive to secure preliminary accreditation. Once the medical education program attains preliminary accreditation, the School of Medicine will be able to start recruiting the first class of UGA medical students.”

According to an analysis by the renowned consulting firm Tripp Umbach, the UGA School of Medicine is projected to generate between $1.8 billion and $2.3 billion in total economic impact for the state of Georgia by 2040.

The next significant milestone for the School of Medicine is slated for May when work on the Medical Education and Research Building will commence. This new structure will span approximately 93,600 square feet and will feature research laboratories, a simulation and clinical skills center, an anatomy lab, active-learning classrooms, student support areas, and a medical library. The completion of the Medical Education and Research Building is anticipated by December 2026.

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