UG School of Medicine regains accreditation

The School of Medicine at the University of Guyana (UG) regained its accreditation from the Caribbean Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) for four years, from 2017-2021.

The School of Medicine’s accreditation was revoked by CAAM-HP early in 2015 following failure to adhere to several recommendations. It was revealed that the recommendations to improve the institution were made in 2012 when the Kingston, Jamaica-based body visited Guyana. One of the deficiencies highlighted by CAAM-HP was the need for a curriculum review. The University also failed to submit required reports to CAAM-HP.

The decision to grant re-accreditation with a few conditions to the UG School of Medicine was made at the July 2017 meeting of CAAM-HP.

According to UG, the re-accreditation of the School, located in the Faculty of Health Sciences, Turkeyen campus, follows a site visit to UG in November of 2016 by a team of evaluators from CAAM-HP, to conduct a comprehensive re-evaluation of the teaching/learning facilities available at the School and meet with the various administrative sections of the University and medical students.

The team comprised Team Chair, Professor Christopher Stephens, Emeritus Professor of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK; Team Secretary, Professor Jonas Innies Addae, former Head of Preclinical Sciences Dept. and former Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago; and Professor Trevor McCartney, Professor of Surgery and Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies,  Mona Campus, Jamaica and former Medical Chief of Staff, University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica. The team was accompanied by Ms Lorna Parkins, Executive Director of CAAM-HP and Professor Emerita Marlene Hamilton, Chair of the CAAM-HP Council.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Lloyd Griffith stated that this investment of time and resources by the university in the re-accreditation of the School of Medicine strengthens the institution. However, he added that “substantial amounts of time and money will be required to complete the needed enhancements of one of our flagship programmes.”

Shafali Milton, President of the University of Guyana Medical Students’ Association, expressed pride that “the UGSM has regained its position as a prestigious institution in the Caribbean, one which the current students, as well as its alumni, can be proud to be associated with. We look forward to new endeavours as the journey continues”.

The School of Medicine was first accredited in 2008.