U of S medical school no longer on probation

The University of Saskatchewan says its College ofMedicine is no longer under probation for some weak and deficient
standards.

"This is fabulous news," Dr. Preston Smith, dean of the Collegeof Medicine, said Friday. "We are very, verypleased."

The Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools placedthe college's undergraduate medical education program on probationin October 2013. The college was not keeping up with its peers on 13of 132 standards.

At the time, student performance in national exams was at thebottom of all Canadian medical schools.

The college, Saskatchewan's only medical school, remained fullyaccredited as it worked to deal with problems that includedleadership, governance and funding shortcomings.

Smith was appointed as dean of the college in December 2013.

A vice-dean of education, Dr. KentStobart,has been hired since then. He said he is enthusiastic about the college.

"When I came and interviewed,I could see the energy," Stobart said Friday. "I could see the passion of the people, the commitment and engagement of the studentsand I could see this is a place that I want to be a part of."

Smith added thata vice-dean of research is expected to be on the job in a fewmonths.

Smith notedthe Saskatchewan governmentincreasedfundingto help bolster the undergraduate program, including hiringmore physicians to teach courses.

The changes have yielded positive results, he said.

"In the last year our test scores have actually gone up," he said.

The probation order affected the college's reputation, asituation that could make students less competitive for residency
programs, but that is no longer the case, Smith said.

"I think the school's reputation is only going to continue toimprove," he said."We are moving from achieving accreditation to our next goal,which is excellence in medical education, more research and, mostimportantly, the kind of research that actually improves patientcare here in Saskatchewan."

Along with the probation rescindment, the program's accreditationstatus has been extended until March 2018.

Smith said there is still more work to do. The college is alreadypreparing for the next full accreditation visit, which is to takeplace in the fall of 2017.

"We won't be caught flat-footed when accreditation comes downagain."

Jeffrey Poon, a second-yearmedical college studentwho also serves as a vice-president for the Student Medical Society of Saskatchewan, was also pleased with the latest development.

"The whole process the two-year process between the admin. and the student body there's a lot of feedback, a lot of discussion going on, so we're very glad," he said. "Today was great news."