Howard Mufuka (DO ’21) and Jeffrey Kilheffer (DO '22) are pictured in PCOM Georgia’s Simulation Center.

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) was recently granted a full, 10- year continuing accreditation by its accrediting institution for its osteopathic medical programs at all campuses and locations.

At its April meeting, the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) voted to grant PCOM the status of Accreditation with Exceptional Outcome, the highest level of accreditation granted by COCA for the maximum length possible.

In a letter from the AOA, Joshua L. Prober, the interim secretary of COCA and the general counsel for the AOA, congratulated PCOM on achieving this “impressive accreditation status.”

This designation comes after a comprehensive self-study report and visits by a COCA accreditation team to all three campuses in Philadelphia, and in Suwanee and Moultrie, Georgia.

As a newly established location, PCOM South Georgia was reviewed in separate action by the COCA which determined that all standards of accreditation were met.

Robert Cuzzolino, EdD, the recently retired vice president for graduate programs and planning who led the accreditation endeavor, noted that the process was “a complex and exhaustive effort that could only have been the success it was thanks to the contributions of a large number of PCOM people - including faculty, staff, students, trustees and clinical partners.”

To achieve accreditation, Dr. Cuzzolino explained that PCOM documented full compliance with eleven different standards of accreditation including mission, leadership, finance, facilities, curriculum, faculty, research, learning environment, student services, GME and learning assessment. 

“It was a true team effort that yielded this very positive result," he said.

PCOM President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein, DO ’81, said, “We are extremely honored to receive the exceptional outcome designation. This speaks volumes about our institution and the high-quality of education we provide to our students.”

“We thank the numerous members of the College community who contributed to this tremendous effort,” said Provost Kenneth Veit, DO ’76, MBA, FACOFP.

Joseph Kaczmarczyk, DO, interim dean of PCOM Georgia, said, “I wish to express my profound and enduring gratitude to Dr. Robert Cuzzolino for his incomparable leadership during this accreditation process and extend the same gratitude to his team of faculty and staff for making this tremendous achievement possible.” 

The COCA will not conduct another site visit at PCOM until the spring of 2029. However, monitoring of PCOM’s accreditation status will occur regularly.