An Omaha businessman and education advocate has been appointed to a national committee that has the accrediting authority for medical education programs.
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Dick Davis, Ed.D. |
Dick C.E. Davis, Ed.D., chief executive officer of the Davis Companies, will fill the position of one of two “public members” of the 17-member Liaison Committee of Medical Education. Sponsored jointly by the Association of American Colleges (AAMC) and the Council of Medical Education of the American Medical Association, the LCME is the sole determiner of the accreditation status of U.S. programs leading to the M.D. There are 126 such programs, including the College of Medicine at UNMC.
Dr. Davis said he was careful not to accept the appointment until he knew that he wouldn’t “be there in name only.” The LCME interview process for new appointments, he said, alleviated his concerns.
“I wanted to know that I could make a difference, and it would appear that I may,” Dr. Davis said. “I need to be open in terms of process, and how they do things and the impact of what they do, but I’m anxious to see if my experiences can be helpful to the committee, to make it the best it can be.”
UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., said that Dr. Davis’ background makes him the ideal LCME member representing the public.
“Dick is an extraordinary human being who has vested his time and resources so that students could earn a higher level of education,” said
Dr. Maurer, who nominated Dr. Davis for the position. “His ability to advocate for providing opportunities – and then investing his own resources to make those opportunities a reality – is matched by very few individuals.
“In addition, he brings to the table a good sense of public awareness and needs. We’re very proud that he was selected to this very prestigious committee.”
Rubens Pamies, M.D., recently hired as the vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNMC, said that Dr. Davis’ work in the community and his advocacy for education makes him a valuable member of the LCME. Dr.
Pamies has been associated with the LCME for several years and has conducted several accreditation site visits. He noted that the LCME is not a static organization but rather adapts its standards as the health-care needs of the nation changes.
“He is an outstanding choice to be a member of the LCME because he brings a broad perspective, exceptional leadership abilities, a commitment to academic excellence and a good understanding of the communities’ needs,” Dr. Pamies said. “He is well aware that the decisions made by the LCME will affect the health care of all our communities.”
Accreditation is a process of quality assurance in postsecondary education that determines whether an institution or program meets established standards for function, structure and performance. The strongest medical programs receive the maximum accreditation of seven years, while others may go through the process more often.
Accreditation by the LCME confers eligibility for participation in federal student loan programs. Most state boards of licensure require that U.S. medical schools be accredited by the LCME, as a condition for licensure of their graduates. The LCME also has a role in accrediting Canadian medical education programs. In Canada, the LCME collaborates with the Committee on Accreditation of Canadian Medical Schools (CACMS) during the accrediting process.
An Omaha native, Dr. Davis was the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year in 2000, and the Davis Companies were recognized as the 10th fastest growing company in Omaha for 2002.
Davis graduated from Omaha North High School as an All-American football player and was inducted into the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame in 1999. He graduated from the University of Nebraska. His undergraduate and doctoral degrees are from Lincoln and his master’s degree is from Omaha. He was an Academic All-Big 8 and All Conference Big 8 fullback at Nebraska. After graduating, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns and played professional football for two years. Davis was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 1995.
Dr. Davis was employed by Omaha Public Schools as a school administrator, beginning in 1970. At the culmination of his educational career, he received a national Human and Civil Rights award from the National Education Association in 1980 for his outstanding leadership as a secondary principal. In 1980, Dr. Davis became the director of administration, including the area of risk management, for Northern Plains Natural Gas Company Inc., and in 1984, was named vice president and general manager of AmNorth Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Northern Plains.
In 1989, Dr. Davis began to establish the multi-million-dollar endowment, Davis and Davis-Chambers Scholarship Programs, which have grown to over $3 million to date. The scholarship fund has provided opportunities for more than 100 minority “best and brightest” students in Nebraska.
Dr. Davis is in the midst of his second term on the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Post-Secondary Education, which coordinates the various post-secondary education sectors in Nebraska, including the state university system, the state colleges and community colleges.
Dr. Davis said that as he grew up, he saw many talented African-American youths who weren’t given the opportunities to have a post-secondary education. Today, even more gifted youngsters, from several ethic backgrounds, are in need of that access to higher education.
“Each day, I become more convinced that education and the ability to access that education is my passion, my advocacy,” Dr. Davis said. “There’s many more talented young people of color now than when I was young.
“We should make as big of a difference as we can. This committee is part of the process of opening doors of opportunity for young people.”