(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — The American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) has become the first medical center in Lebanon the and fourth in the world to receive institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education – International (ACGME-I). The accreditation became effective Tuesday July 1st, 2014.
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International LLC (ACGME-I) is a non-governmental organization responsible for the accreditation of international graduate medical education (GME) programs such as internships, residencies and fellowships for physicians, in the US and the ACGME-I is the international arm of the ACGME.
“We are extremely proud of achieving this accreditation,” commented Dean Mohammed Sayegh, Vice President of Medical Affairs and Raja N. Khuri Dean of the Faculty of Medicine. “The achievement of this milestone would not have been possible without the tremendous effort and dedication displayed by our medical education team led by Dr. Kamal Badr, Associate Dean for Medical Education, Dr. Salah Zeineddine, Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education and the GME Committee.” added Dr. Sayegh.
Under the ACGME-I structure, doctors in training programs (residents) undergo structured specialist training supervised by dedicated senior clinicians after graduating from medical school.
Physicians who complete an ACGME-I accredited program have been educated in an educational setting where these standards have been met. Physicians are regularly assessed on their medical knowledge, clinical skills, professionalism, interpersonal and communication skills. This ensures the aspiring specialist doctors are well-trained and equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to provide excellent care by the time they finish their training which spans for four to six years.
“The ACGME-I institutional accreditation is effective for two years and is a milestone on the path to AUBMC’s next goal to secure accreditation for individual training programs.” said Dr. Kamal Badr. “This is a transformational achievement that solidifies the AUB Faculty of Medicine’s pioneering role in advancing medical education in the region and is the first accreditation of its kind in Lebanon.” added Dr. Badr.
ACGME-I recently accredited national programs in Abu-Dhabi, Qatar and Singapore. As of 2016, trainees who do not graduate from ACGME (I)-accredited institutions will no longer be able to continue to more advance training in US medical institutions. AUBMC’s ACGME-I accreditation will provide medical students in Lebanon and the region the opportunity to do so.
“Our unwavering commitment to our academic mission is a major pillar of the AUBMC 2020 Vision and this institutional accreditation from ACGME-I is a testament to the excellent standards of our graduate medical education programs.” added Dr. Sayegh.
AUBMC is the first medical institution in the Middle East to have earned the three international accreditations of JCI, Magnet and CAP, attesting to its superior standards in patient-centered care, nursing, and pathology/laboratory services.