Third-Year Medical Student Appointed by AMA Board to National Accrediting Organization

By Erin Lucero
Office of Development, School of Medicine

A Virginia Commonwealth University student is one of only two students named to this year’s Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the national accrediting organization for U.S. and Canadian medical education programs.

Third-year medical student MaryEllen Cleary is the first VCU student ever to hold the position, which she received through an appointment by the American Medical Association’s Board of Trustees. A second student is named each year by the Association of American Medical Colleges.

“This is a phenomenal honor,” said Isaac K. Wood, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education and student affairs. “Each year, every U.S. and Canadian medical school may nominate two individuals to be student members. Out of all of these medical schools, only two are selected.”

The enormity of this honor isn’t lost on Cleary, who faced some obstacles when she first set her sights on a medical degree.

“Three attempts, three years and more than $3,000 is what it took until I was accepted into medical school,” said Cleary, who still lacked confidence even after achieving her goal. “I felt that I had to prove to my classmates, my school and myself that I deserved to be here, and that is exactly what I did. With a little help.”

Three years later, she’s gained the confidence to serve in this national role with the LCME, an organization whose seal of approval is required by most state licensing boards.

As a student representative to the LCME, Cleary will review schools’ accreditation surveys and progress reports as well as have a say on national accreditation standards and policies. She will participate in an accreditation site visit to another medical school and pay particular attention to how medical schools bridge learning in the basic and clinical sciences.

“Although in most schools, there is a distinct basic science curriculum and clinical curriculum, how can one be separate from the other?” she asked. “During a recent case in the OR, a surgeon explained to me the purpose of reducing an inguinal hernia and detailed the structure and function of nearby anatomy. This is just one example that reinforces to me the need to challenge the current structure of many curriculums and national standards.”

Two other priorities for her one-year tenure on the committee will be addressing student mistreatment and training students to be life-long learners.

Her stint on the committee will well serve Cleary, who hopes to pursue a career in academic medicine.

“I love the energy that surrounds the faculty and students involved in medical education. I’m hoping this experience will continue to foster my interest.”

A native of Ledyard, Conn., Cleary graduated magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. Cleary is a commissioned second lieutenant in the Air Force and participates in the Health Professions Scholarship Program that covers her medical school tuition and fees. After graduating, she will serve one year of active duty for each year of scholarship support that she received.