An Omaha businessman and education advocate has been appointed to a national
committee that has the accrediting authority for medical education programs.
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."
Dr. Davis was selected from 15 nominees. His three-year term of service began
July 1.
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."
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