Panel discussion: The future of programmatic accreditation
Posted: February 22, 2019
The topic of the first panel discussion hosted by A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) Center for the Future of the Health Professions was “The Future of Programmatic Accreditation,” which took place on Sept. 11, 2018. This session was organized by Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA, and moderated by Norman Gevitz, PhD, senior vice president of academic affairs. The eight panelists included two deans and six faculty and/or department heads from ATSU:
- Lori Bordenave, PT, DPT, PhD, director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program
- Jyothi Guptha, PhD, FAOTA, chair of the Department of Occupational Therapy
- Jeffrey Morgan, DO, MA, ACOI, dean of ATSU’s School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Tabitha Parent-Buck, AuD, chair of the Department of Audiology
- Eric Sauers, PhD, ATC, FNATA, chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
- Albert Simon, DHSc, MEd, PA-C, chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies
- Mary-Katherine Smith, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, CPH, and COI, chair of the Department of the Master of Public Health program
- Robert Trombly, DDS, JD, dean of ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health
Dr. Gevitz opened the session noting the timeliness and importance of the topic. In July 2018, the Trump administration proposed a regulatory overhaul of accreditation by introducing a wide-ranging rule-making session. Diane Auer Jones, the principle deputy undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Education noted, “The administration’s goal is to reduce compliance requirements for accreditors, freeing them up to focus on education equality while more clearly defining the college oversight roles of these agencies, state governments, and federal regulators.”
The panelists addressed where programmatic accreditation in the health professions is now and what is likely to be the future. The panel discussion transcript can be read here.