Social Accountability in Canadian medical schools
The increased emphasis on social accountability in Canada’s medical schools is reflected in our accreditation standards. The Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) ensures social accountability is embedded in the principles of education research and service activities within the MD Program.
The overarching goal is to ensure the educational programs produce competent healthcare professionals who are able to serve their population.
According to CACMS, a medical school’s social accountability should be:
- articulated in its mission statement;
- fulfilled in its educational program through admissions, curricular content, and types and locations of educational experiences;
- evidenced by specific outcome measures.
The accreditation and metrics will ensure that we, as a leading Faculty of Medicine, remain contemporary in our commitment to social accountability.
Social Accountability partnership pentagram
Social accountability is about addressing society’s most pressing concerns in alignment with the values of equity, relevance, effectiveness, and quality. Boelen and Heck’s partnership pentagram highlights the role of medical schools in achieving social accountability by engaging and collaborating with:
- Policy makers
- Health administrators
- Communities
- Health professionals
- Academic institutions
