Accreditation Status
The Thomas F. Frist College of Medicine at Belmont University has achieved preliminary accreditation, the initial level of accreditation granted to new medical schools in the United States by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)—the U.S. Department of Education-recognized accrediting body for allopathic medical education. The Frist College of Medicine is now officially listed in the LCME directory of accredited medical schools.
In October 2023, the LCME notified Belmont University and the Frist College of Medicine of the preliminary accreditation of its medical education program. This milestone reflects more than three years of dedicated planning and development to build a medical school infrastructure that meets LCME standards for programs leading to the M.D. degree. This achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of FCoM faculty and staff, colleagues from the Colleges of Nursing, Mathematics and Science, Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Belmont University leadership, clinical affiliate partners, and community members. We are deeply grateful to all who contributed to this success.
Looking ahead, the next major step in our accreditation journey is the LCME’s provisional accreditation site visit, scheduled for February 2026. This visit is a critical part of the process toward full accreditation and will assess our continued progress in delivering a high-quality medical education program.
For more information about the LCME accreditation process, click here.
With deep gratitude and continued hope, I reflect on the remarkable journey that brought us to Preliminary Accreditation—a milestone we reached through prayer, perseverance, and an extraordinary team effort. That announcement marked adefining moment in our young medical school’s history, one rooted in the promise of Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV): “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Since then, we have not paused. Building on that foundation, our community has embraced the next stage of growth with humility and purpose. I am especially grateful to our dedicated faculty, staff, and students—each of whom continues to shape a learning environment grounded in compassion, excellence, and whole-person care.
I want to thank the students who completed the Independent Student Analysis (ISA) with thoughtfulness and candor. Your voice matters deeply in this process, and your input will help guide our preparation as we set our sights on Provisional Accreditation in early 2026.
As Philippians 1:6 (AMP) reminds us, “He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it.” We walk forward in that assurance.
Thank you to every member of this incredible team, including the families who have supported us behind the scenes. Your steadfastness has made all the difference.
Let us move forward together with excellence, confidence, and faith. The journey continues—and we continue together.
With appreciation,
Anderson Spickard, III, MD, MS
Dean and Professor of Internal Medicine
Accreditation Staff
Ruth Stewart
Email: ruth.stewart@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 6609
Hope Terhaar
Email: hope.terhaar@belmont.edu
Office Location: FCOM 6611
Quick Accreditation Questions
The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is a nationally recognized accrediting authority for medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the U.S. and Canada. LCME accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed quality assurance process that determines whether a medical education program meets established standards outlined in the Functions and Structure of a Medical School.
LCME accreditation ensures that a medical school meets nationally recognized standards for medical education, supporting high-quality training and continuous improvement. It also allows graduates to be eligible for residency programs, licensure, and federal financial aid.
The Accreditation consists of four components:
- Data Collection Instrument (DCI)
- Faculty led Institutional Self Study
- Student led Independent Student Analysis (ISA)
- Site Visit by Faculty/Deans from other medical schools
Contact Us
Thomas F. Frist, Jr. College of Medicine
1900 Belmont Boulevard
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615.460.6191