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Home 9 2024 9 California University of Science and Medicine Successfully Progresses with Accreditation from LCME

California University of Science and Medicine
Successfully Progresses with Accreditation from LCME

  • Prime Healthcare Foundation founded the university with a mission to address physician shortage in medically underserved areas
  • Milestone reached as Provisional Accreditation awarded in path to Full Accreditation

(Ontario, Calif, – April 29, 2024) — California University of Science and Medicine (CUSM) School of Medicine recently announced that the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) awarded Provisional Accreditation to the university’s Doctor of Medicine program.

CUSM, a not-for-profit health sciences university, was founded in 2015 by Dr. Prem Reddy through an initial $60 million contribution from the Prime Healthcare Foundation and through a unique public-private partnership with the County of San Bernardino and Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, the University’s teaching hospital. To date, Prime Healthcare Foundation has contributed $80 million to further the mission of CUSM.

“This is a milestone achievement in the path to full accreditation and is the culmination of years of dedication and the success of talented students, staff, faculty, and leadership,” said Kavitha Bhatia, MD, President and Chair of Prime Healthcare Foundation and Vice Chair of the Board of CUSM.

LCME Accreditation is a multi-step process ensuring rigorous and complete review of medical schools in the United States. Provisional Accreditation is the last step before Full Accreditation status can be achieved. CUSM accepted its first students in 2018 and has graduated two MD classes to date, with the third class graduating this May.

“This is a recognition of the work of our entire community – students, faculty and administration – to establish a school of medicine that inspires, motivates, and empowers students to become excellent and caring physicians,” said Paul Lyons, MD, CUSM President and Dean. “Our mission is centered around our students and preparing them to serve patients with knowledge, compassion, and empathy.”

CUSM is in the heart of California’s Inland Empire situated approximately 50 miles east of Los Angeles. The mission of CUSM is to provide exceptional medical education and to address healthcare equity within local communities and underserved areas. Students are among the best and brightest in the nation and have a unique mission to service in underserved areas.  CUSM has a 100 percent residency match for both graduating classes, with nearly 70 percent of students earning residencies within the Inland Empire and California.

“CUSM addresses a community and national need to ensure equity in medical education and the availability of competent and compassionate doctors within our communities,” said Prem Reddy, MD, Chair of CUSM Board of Trustees and founder of Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation. “This milestone achievement is part of a dream come true. The commitment of all partners, the board, and the staff at CUSM has been unwavering and has resulted in this affirmation of our mission.”

CUSM accepts 130 new MD students each year. Additionally, a cohort of 60 students are selected each year for the 10-month Master of Biomedical Sciences degree.

For more information, visit www.cusm.edu.

About the Prime Healthcare Foundation: The Prime Healthcare Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that owns 14 not-for-profit community-based hospitals in six states. The mission of the Prime Healthcare Foundation is to provide quality, compassionate healthcare for all, and serve communities through charitable and educational initiatives. Annually, Prime Healthcare Foundation hospitals are recognized as clinically excellent, socially responsible healthcare providers. The Foundation owns these non-profit acute care hospitals and supports charitable causes to serve the needs of communities, providing millions of dollars annually in charity care and community benefit. For more information, visit www.primehealthcare.com.

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Media Contact:
Elizabeth Nikels
enikels@primehealthcare.com 
909-235-4305

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