1. Education
Icahn school of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), an institutional accreditor recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. MSCHE provides accreditation for all degree-granting educational programs offered by Icahn Mount Sinai. To maintain accreditation, institutions must meet the MSCHE Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation.

The MSCHE standards advance the impact of accreditation and promote excellence and innovation in higher education.  Institutional accreditation is also a requirement to participate in the Department of Education’s Title IV federal financial aid program.

The accreditation process requires institutions to conduct a Self-Study to evaluate their compliance with the Middle States standards and requirements, and prepare a report that provides evidence of that compliance.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai advances science, medicine, and health care delivery for the benefit of humanity through a culture of excellence, innovation, collaboration, and inclusive diversity. We conduct groundbreaking research; educate and nurture the next generation of exceptional clinicians, researchers, teachers, and leaders; and deliver the most advanced compassionate care with an unwavering commitment to health equity.

  • Demonstrate how the institution currently meets the Commission’s Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation
  • Focus on continuous improvement in the attainment of the institution’s mission and its institutional priorities
  • Engage the institutional community in an inclusive and transparent self-appraisal process that actively and deliberately seeks to involve members from all areas of the institutional community
  • Identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement

Icahn Mount Sinai has selected the following Institutional Priorities for its Self-Study:

  • Cultivate academic excellence
  • Promote student success
  • Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion

Icahn Mount Sinai Self-Study Timeline

When Activity
Oct - Dec 2022
  • Attend Self-Study Institute (SSI) and complete SSI activities
  • Schedule remote meeting with MSCHE Liaison for Jan/Feb 2023
  • Meet with Planning Group to discuss Self-Study Design (SSD)
Jan - Mar 2023
  • Conduct remote meeting with MSCHE Liaison on February 2, 2023
  • Develop SSD outline
Apr - Jun 2023
  • Draft SSD and share with key internal constituent groups (e.g., Leadership, Education Faculty and Staff)
Jul - Dec 2023
  • Submit draft SSD by July 1, 2023 (two weeks prior to MSCHE Liaison visit)
  • Host visit with MSCHE Liaison on July 13, 2023
  • Revise SSD as needed
  • Add documents for Working Groups consideration to Documents Clearinghouse
Jan - Aug 2024
  • Appoint Steering Committee and Working Groups
  • Commence Working Group activities
  • Select Self-Study Evaluation Team Chair and visit dates
  • Send SSD to Team Chair (done by MSCHE Liaison)
  • Submit preliminary reports from Working Groups to Steering Committee
  • Submit final reports from Working Groups to Steering Committee
Sep - Dec 2024
  • Share draft Self-Study Report with trustees
  • Send draft Self-Study Report to Team Chair two weeks prior to Preliminary Visit
  • Plan Team Chair Preliminary Visit
  • Host Team Chair Preliminary Visit
Jan - Apr 2025
  • Finalize draft Self-Study Report based on Team Chair feedback
  • Share final Self-Study Report with key constituent groups and community
  • Plan Evaluation Team Visit
  • Upload final Self-Study Report / Verification of Compliance / Evidence Inventory to MSCHE portal (six weeks prior to Team Visit)
  • Host Evaluation Team Visit (prior to April 15)

A Steering Committee has been established to oversee the Self-Study process.  The Steering Committee will guide the Self-Study process by:

  • Approving the Institutional Priorities and Intended Outcomes for the Self-Study;
  • Charging and overseeing Working Groups that will evaluate our compliance with the Middle States standards and prepare the draft Self-Study Report;
  • Confirming the Self-Study timeline is implemented as planned;
  • Ensuring timely communication about the Self-Study within the institution; and
  • Overseeing the completion of the final Self-Study Report and preparation for the Middle States Evaluation Team Visit.

The Steering Committee members are as follows:

  • Marta Filizola, PhD (Co-Chair)
    Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
    Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health

  • David C. Thomas, MD (Co-Chair)
    Dean and System Chair of Medical Education
    Professor of Medicine and Medical Education

  • Eric Nestler, MD, PhD
    Dean for Academic Affairs and Chief Scientific Officer
    Professor of Neuroscience, Pharmacological Sciences, and Psychiatry

  • Stephanie Autenrieth, MEd
    Senior Associate Dean of Enrollment Services

  • Gary Butts, MD
    Dean of Diversity Programs, Policy, and Community Affairs
    Professor of Medical Education, Pediatrics, and Environmental Medicine and Public Health

  • Matthew Caballero, MBA
    Senior Associate Dean of Graduate School Administration

  • Donald Gogel, JD, M.Phil
    Senior Vice Chairman, Boards of Trustees
    Co-Chair of the Education Committee of the Board

  • Basil Hanss, PhD
    Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Career Development
    Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Education, and Pharmacological Sciences

  • Paul Lawrence, MFA
    Dean of Scholarly and Research Technologies
    Deputy Chief Information Officer

  • Jakleen Lee, MS
    MD/PhD Student

  • Marina Lowy, JD
    Senior Vice President and Senior Associate General Counsel

  • Brian Nickerson, JD, PhD, MPA
    Senior Associate Dean of Master’s Programs
    Professor of Population Health Science and Policy

  • Shema Patel
    Dean of Faculty Affairs and Administration

  • Matthew Rosamond, MBA
    Chief Financial Officer

  • Rainier Soriano, MD
    Senior Associate Dean of Curricular Affairs
    Professor of Medical Education and Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine

  • Michelle Sainté Willis
    Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education Administration

  • Phyllis Schnepf, MS
    Dean of Education and Research Administration

  • Talia Swartz, MD, PhD
    Senior Associate Dean of MD/PhD Education
    Associate Professor of Medicine, Medical Education, and AI and Human Health

  • Rosalind Wright, MD
    Dean of Translational Biomedical Research
    Professor of Pediatrics, Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Medicine, and AI and Human Health

Five Working Groups have been organized around the MSCHE standards.

Working Group A

Standards
Mission and Goals (Standard I) / Ethics and Integrity (Standard II) / Governance, Leadership and Administration (Standard VII)

Working Group Co-Chairs
Lisa Satlin, MD
Phyllis Schnepf

Working Group Administrators
Kevin Kelly
Trudy Li

Working Group Members
Christopher Considine
Daniel Katz, MD
George Huntley, PhD
Ann-Gel Palermo
Lauren Peccoralo, MD
Jeffrey Silberstein
Rhoda Sperling, MD
Bobby Friedman (Trustee)
Rosalind Wright, MD

Working Group B

Standard
Design and Delivery of the Student Learning Experience (Standard III)

Working Group Co-Chairs
Teddy Holzer, MD
Matthew O'Connell, PhD

Working Group Administrators
Peter Zweig

Working Group Members
Shashi Anand
Uraina Clark, PhD
Andrea Constancio
Elizabeth Cropper, PhD
Carrie Ernst, MD
Usha Govindarajulu, PhD
Matthew Hernandez, MD, PhD
Thunder (Sheng) Lei (Student)
Maisy Meyer (Student)
Jasmine Modasi (Student)
Brian Nickerson, PhD, JD
Tracey Okine (Student)

Working Group C

Standard
Support of the Student Experience (Standard IV)

Working Group Co-Chairs
Stephanie Autenrieth
Michelle Sainté Willis

Working Group Administrators
Peradeba Raventhirarajah

Working Group Members
Ava Adler (Student)
Hamza Ahmed (Student)
Matt Cipriano
Ashley Michelle Fowler
Herb Lopez
Christine Low
Dennis Murphy
Jillian Palmer
Daniel Rivera (Student)
Kerissa Roberts
Rachel Solomon
Carlos Tapia
Bianca Taylor
Bryan Tricoche (Student)
Kelly Zerella
Bill Wright (Trustee)

Working Group D

Standard
Educational Effectiveness Assessment (Standard V)

Working Group Co-Chairs
Matthew Caballero
Robert Fallar
Brian Nickerson, PhD, JD

Working Group Administrators
Sophie Miller

Working Group Members
Mariana Bernstein
Jaime Chu
Michelle Francis, MD
Sophia Gamboa (Student)
Daniel Ilyayev
Barbara Masi, PhD
Michelle Mendiolaza (Student)
Gvantsa Pantsulaia (Student)
Nesteen Param (Student)
Jose Silva, PhD
Jamilia Sly, PhD
Gloria Willson
Alex Zhou (Student)

Working Group E

Standard
Planning, Resources, and Institutional Improvement (Standard VI)

Working Group Co-Chairs
Eric Nestler, MD, PhD
Shema Patel

Working Group Administrators
Cecilia Egan

Working Group Members
Kelly Cassano, DO
Pete Gliatto, MD
Paul Lawrence
Reginald Miller, DVM
Charles Sanky, MD
Jane Shmunko
Jack Suben
Caryn Tiger
Dagnia Zeidlickis