The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) recently earned continued accreditation for all of the school’s residency programs (four) and fellowship programs (seven) by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The institution itself was also awarded continued accreditation following its comprehensive ten-year site visit.  

“Our ten-year institutional accreditation from the ACGME signifies the most comprehensive and rigorous review of our GME programs,” said David Carlson, M.D., M.Div., associate dean of Graduate Medical Education. “This accreditation confirms that the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine upholds the highest standards in training physicians, ensuring they are fully prepared for independent practice in their chosen specialties.” 

ACGME accreditation is essential to ensuring high-quality training for residents and fellows. At the program level, each residency and fellowship undergo an annual review process through data monitoring, including milestones and surveys, to maintain compliance with rigorous national standards. At the institutional level, a more in-depth evaluation occurs every ten years, assessing how well the sponsoring institution supports its GME programs through governance, faculty development, and the overall learning environment. 

“Preparing our graduates for their future medical practice is more than just learning facts and figures,” Amy McGaha, M.D., MPH, FAAFP, chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, said. “The ACGME has defined core competencies essential for future practice, including skills in communication, patient care, professionalism and practice-based learning and improvement. To achieve ACGME accreditation, the institution and the programs must demonstrate a commitment to these core competencies and to providing an excellent training environment for our learners.” 

This dual achievement reflects the strength of UNR Med’s GME community — program directors, coordinators, institutional leadership and affiliated partners — working together to build and sustain a supportive, high-quality training environment for future physicians across Nevada. 

“This accreditation serves as a public assurance that our residency graduates are thoroughly equipped to deliver the exceptional medical care that Nevada residents deserve and expect,” said Dr. Carlson. 

The commitment to excellence is evident in the achievements of UNR Med’s residency and fellowship programs. Over the past year, residents and fellows presented their research at prestigious national conferences, including the American Thoracic Society, the American Geriatrics Society, and the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, to name a few.  

“We are very proud of our residents, fellows, and graduates,” Dr. McGaha said. “Participation with the ACGME accreditation process helps ensure that we remain up to date with the recommendations and evidence-based practices of medical education.” 

This year also marked major milestones for several programs. The Pediatrics Residency program graduated its first resident, Gianni Perano, M.D., filled its class in the main match for the first time, and reached a full complement of 12 residents. The Sports Medicine Fellowship celebrated its tenth year under the leadership of Arthur Islas, M.D., MPH, and Mark Stovak, M.D., continuing its tradition of providing medical coverage at community events such as the Reno Rodeo. 

Faculty were recognized nationally for their leadership and scholarship. Family Medicine faculty were published in “American Family Physician,” and Wilderness Medicine faculty published updated clinical practice guidelines and other research in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine. Faculty and residents in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences published six peer reviewed articles and 22 book chapters, and Department Chair Takesha Cooper, M.D., M.S., serves on the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.  Additionally, Leslie Greenberg, M.D., completed the Emerging Leaders Fellowship, and Dr. Islas was named a Master Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine. 

 UNR Med’s ACGME-accredited residency and fellowship programs are: 

• Family Medicine Residency 
• Internal Medicine Residency 
• Pediatrics Residency 
• Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Residency 
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship 
• Geriatric Medicine Fellowship 
• Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship 
• Sports Medicine Fellowship 
• Wilderness Medicine Fellowship 

Collectively, these accomplishments highlight the strength and impact of UNR Med’s GME programs on patients and communities across Nevada.