Dear Members of the HMS Quad Community:

As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence in medical education, we are preparing for our upcoming accreditation review by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), with an official site visit scheduled for April 5-7, 2027.

This comprehensive review is conducted every eight years and is essential to maintaining our accreditation. Importantly, this review is also a mechanism by which to ensure the continued strength and distinction of our MD program, evaluate our past progress, and identify ongoing priorities and new opportunities.

To prepare, we have launched the Institutional Self-Study (ISS) process, which will extend through the end of 2026. This comprehensive effort will be led by an oversight task force of faculty, staff, and students, co-chaired by Dean for Medical Education Bernard Chang and me, with the invaluable support of Director of Accreditation and Quality Improvement Cidhinnia M. Torres Campos.

As part of this process, some Quad faculty will be closely involved, serving on the ISS Oversight Task Force and key subcommittees. Their participation is essential and will require significant time investment. I want to thank the colleagues listed below in advance for their dedication, and I appreciate the understanding and support of our community as these faculty members balance self-study responsibilities with their ongoing roles.

If you have questions about the process or wish to share your thoughts, please feel free to reach out directly to Cidhinnia via our LCME email at hms_lcme@hms.harvard.edu.

This effort coincides with our continuing work on HMS’ 2025 strategic plan, our “BEACON” for the future of science and medicine. The insights we gather during the self-study will directly inform the institutional initiatives we set, our strategies for meeting them, and the outcomes we anticipate. Your perspectives and ideas are welcome and valued. You may share your feedback on the strategic plan by completing the survey at the bottom of the webpage.

Thank you for your continued collaboration and commitment to Harvard Medical School as we seek to rededicate ourselves to our mission, work, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

With gratitude,

George Q. Daley
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University

ISS Participating Quad Faculty:

  • *Stephen C. Blacklow, MD, PhD - Gustavus Adolphus Pfeiffer Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology
  • Lucas Farnung, PhD - Assistant Professor of Cell Biology
  • Lisa V. Goodrich, PhD - Professor of Neurobiology
  • *Randall King, MD, PhD - Harry C. McKenzie Professor of Cell Biology
  • Nicole Maestas, PhD - John D. MacArthur Professor of Health Care Policy in the Field of Economics and Chair of the Department of Health Care Policy
  • Charles J. Weitz, MD, PhD - Robert Henry Pfeiffer Professor of Neurobiology

*Denotes committee chair