The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) has fully accredited the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine for the next eight years, indicating strong confidence in the quality of the state's only medical degree program.
The LCME is the accrediting body for medical education programs in the United States and its territories, leading to a Doctor of Medicine degree, and is jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.
The LCME made the determination based on an intensive on-site survey team review of JABSOM in January 2025.
"Accreditation is crucial for any medical school, and receiving the maximum accreditation period of eight years is a significant achievement for JABSOM," Sam Shomaker, Dean of the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine, said. "The deeply rooted culture of Hawaiʻi is woven into everything we teach, and this resounding recognition is just another confirmation that our unique approach to care works and cannot be replicated."
LCME accreditation examines every aspect of a medical school and requires evidence of continuous quality improvement. All schools spend several years of preparation with multiple stakeholders for a full survey review. The LCME evaluates medical schools based on a set of 12 standards and 93 elements that encompass curriculum quality, faculty qualifications, student support services, institutional infrastructure, partnerships with clinical affiliate training sites, and more. Achieving full accreditation guarantees that students receive a high-quality education, effectively preparing them for successful residency placements and careers in medicine.
In preparation for the accreditation review, more than 125 faculty, staff, and community partners, led by Lee Buenconsejo-Lum, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer, conducted a rigorous self-study spanning 3 years. This process included data collection and analysis, and submission of a school report with more than 1000 pages of information and data to the LCME in advance of the survey team’s visit. Additionally, all medical students enrolled in November 2023 completed a separate lengthy, student-driven anonymous survey, and completed an Independent Student Analysis, which also informed the LCME review.
"The LCME survey team commented on our 'strong partnerships with major health systems in Hawaiʻi, effective continuous monitoring that lead to timely modifications and improvements in the school, sound financials, and no gaps in curriculum content.' They were impressed by how much our medical students felt supported in all mission areas, and left with a sense that we are an ‘ohana”, said Dr. Buenconsejo-Lum. "Reflecting our mission, the LCME survey team also noted that all students agreed that they have acquired the skills to address the social determinants that differentially influence the health status of patients."
The next accreditation review will occur in the academic year 2032-33. Our teams continue the work to improve JABSOM’s curriculum to meet the current and future needs of Hawaiʻi.
