OTTAWA — Canadian medical associations are celebrating the first school year under a new accreditation system for medical schools that is entirely independent from the United States. As of July, medical schools in Canada are no longer jointly accredited by Canadian and American organizations, according to a news release from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

Leaders from the CMA and the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) expressed relief over this change, stating that medical schools will now be evaluated solely based on Canadian standards. This shift was initiated prior to recent political changes in the U.S. However, the U.S. government's decision to prohibit the inclusion of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) requirements in the accreditation process for American medical schools has heightened the responsibility of the AFMC and CMA to uphold EDI principles.

Dr. Constance LeBlanc, president and CEO of the AFMC, noted that while collaboration with U.S. standards has been beneficial in the past, it is now appropriate for Canada to establish its own direction. "Canadian medical schools play an essential role in ensuring that the highly valued Canadian health care system continues to provide accessible, quality care that meets the evolving needs of Canada’s diverse populations," LeBlanc stated. She emphasized that strong accreditation standards must align with Canadian values and realities.

The move to separate Canadian medical school accreditation from U.S. standards has been developing over several years. The decision for a complete decoupling was made in 2021. In 2013, the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools introduced a new standard called "social accountability," which set Canada’s accreditation standards apart from those in the U.S. The CMA defines social accountability as a commitment by doctors to address the priority health concerns of their communities.

Previously, the standards established by the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools and the U.S. Liaison Committee on Medical Education were identical. CMA president Dr. Margot Burnell described the separation as a significant advancement for both students and schools. "It’s been in the works for a little bit but with the changes in administration in the U.S., where schools were banned from talking about DEI, this is critically important," Burnell said.

She added that this change allows diverse ethnic groups to apply to medical school and ensures that future physicians can serve the communities in which they will practice. "That can be the social determinants of health, it can be ethnicity, it can be rural, urban populations, but it basically means that we can train for our Canadian needs," Burnell explained.

This new accreditation system aims to enhance opportunities for underserved areas and students, allowing them to participate in medical education and serve their communities effectively.