Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) Accreditation

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) stands as the nation’s only federal health sciences university. Chartered by an act of Congress on September 21, 1972, USUHS is committed to a comprehensive, forward-thinking curriculum that melds basic science, innovative research, leadership training, and clinical practice. This approach ensures that its students are well-prepared to tackle the toughest medical and public health challenges, both domestically and abroad.

Historical Context and Establishment

The need for a federally run medical school was recognized as World War II concluded. With the discharge of over ten million service members, including physicians, the Military Health System faced significant challenges. Policy leaders in Congress and the Defense Department debated the merits of educating soldiers and sailors in medicine, but the long lead time and considerable cost were significant obstacles.

It wasn't until President Nixon called for an end to the draft in 1970 that serious action was taken. The military could no longer depend on conscripts to provide medical care. Congressman F. Edward Hébert of Louisiana championed a "West Point for doctors," advocating tirelessly for a military medical school. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird supported this initiative, seeing it as a powerful adjunct to military scholarship programs. Legislation to create USU was passed by Congress, and President Nixon signed the university into law.

Early Years and Development

The founding members of USU faced the daunting task of actualizing the university. Their first priority was to establish USU as a center of academic and scientific excellence. Student and faculty selection would be highly competitive, with only the most qualified applicants considered. The curriculum would be grounded in educational and scientific rigor, and the learning environment would harness collegiality and peer review. Above all else, there would be a commitment to high standards of medical professionalism.

The university's Board of Regents, consisting of 15 members appointed by the President of the United States, served as an advisory committee. They selected Dr. Anthony Curreri as the first president of the university in January. In the initial years, USU operated from humble surroundings on the third floor of an office building in downtown Bethesda, Maryland.

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In 1973, the Board of Regents appointed a site selection committee to find a permanent home for USU. Ultimately, USU's campus was established on 100 acres of wooded land on the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda. This location placed USU in close proximity to the National Institutes of Health and a bustling science community.

Academic Programs and Colleges

USU has expanded its scope and mission over the years. In 1993, Congress established the Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing. In 2010, the Postgraduate Dental College was established, offering a Master of Science in Oral Biology degree. Congress granted approval in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act for USU to award undergraduate degrees, leading to the creation of the University’s College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS).

The university comprises several schools and colleges:

F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine: The medical school, including a full health sciences graduate education program.
Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing: Offers advanced practice degrees and a Ph.D.
Postgraduate Dental College: Grants a Master of Science in Oral Biology degree.
College of Allied Health Sciences: Established in 2017, offering undergraduate degrees and other medical education and training programs.

F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine

The F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine, named after Louisiana Congressman F. Edward Hébert, is located in Bethesda, Maryland, on the Naval Support Activity Bethesda (NSAB). The first-year class typically consists of Army, Air Force, Navy, and Public Health Service students.

Students attending this institution receive free tuition, reimbursement for all fees, and salaries and benefits as junior officers. USU School of Medicine students are active-duty uniformed officers during their schooling and receive pay and benefits at the grade of O-1. Upon graduation, medical students are promoted to the grade of O-3 and are expected to serve at least seven years after residency on active duty and six years in the inactive ready reserve.

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The curriculum begins with 1.5 years of basic sciences organized into organ-system based modules called "Molecules to Military Medicine." Additional courses include Parasitology, Combat Medical Skills, Military Medical History, Officer Professional Development, Military Applied Physiology, and Epidemiology. The clerkship year begins in January of the second year, followed by the USMLE Step 1.

Approximately 80 percent of military physicians reaching 20 or more years of military service are graduates of USU. A majority of medical corps leadership positions are occupied by graduates of USU.

Graduate Programs in Biomedical Sciences and Public Health

The graduate programs in biomedical sciences and public health in the School of Medicine are open to civilian and military applicants. Civilian students may apply to most of these programs. The faculty is composed of a mix of military and civilian professors. There is no tuition, stipends are guaranteed for three years, and no military service is required after graduation for civilian students. USU currently offers the Ph.D. USU also offers the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH).

Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2)

The Enlisted to Medical Degree Preparatory Program (EMDP2) is a two-year, full-time education program for enlisted members of the military to prepare for medical school applications. It is intended for motivated service members who show academic promise and whose experiences and goals align with the mission of their military services and the F. EMDP2 includes premedical coursework, Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) preparation, clinical experience, mentoring, and pre-health career advising.

Daniel K. Inouye Graduate School of Nursing

The Graduate School of Nursing offers two Advanced Practice Degrees: a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree in five different APRN specialty options: Family Nurse Practitioner, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesia, Adult Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, as well as a Ph.D.

The Masters of Nursing Science and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees at USU are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and The Nurse Anesthesia Program is fully accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs (COA).

Post Graduate Dental College (PDC)

The Post Graduate Dental College (PDC) is a degree-granting institution for active-duty personnel enrolled in branch-specific dental programs.

College of Allied Health Sciences (CAHS)

The College of Allied Health Sciences was established in 2017, responding to the National Defense Authorization Act which modified USU's authorities to include undergraduate and other medical education and training programs. These programs ensure military medicine remains on the cutting edge of providing a “Ready Medical Force” to support the American Warfighter and the Department of Defense (DoD) community around the world.

Currently, the CAHS supports Army, Navy and Air Force Medical Enlisted Services across a wide range of education and training requirements. Current enrolment across the programs exceeds 7,000 students per year. Only students enrolled in specific Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) / Navy Enlisted Code (NEC) / Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) / Additional Skill Identifier (ASI) training programs of the Services are eligible for enrollment. Depending on specifics of the respective program, the Servicemember is enrolled into either an Associate of Science Health Science (ASHS) or Bachelor of Science Health Science (BSHS) program. The technical training received by the Servicemember constitutes the discipline with the majority of General Education required for the respective degree coming via transfer credit.

Accreditation

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Accreditation Actions

The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) has taken several actions regarding the accreditation of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. These actions include:

September 26, 2025: Staff acknowledged receipt of supplemental information providing key data indicators (enrollment FTE) from the 2024 Annual Institutional Update. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2030-2031.
January 16, 2025: Staff requested a supplemental information report due February 14, 2025, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment - FTE) from the 2024 Annual Institutional Update. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2030-2031.
June 27, 2024: Acknowledged receipt of the supplemental information report requested on June 22, 2023. The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2030-2031.
March 28, 2024: Staff acknowledged receipt of the supplemental information report requested on November 6, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment - FTE), as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update (AIU).
March 28, 2024: Staff acknowledged receipt of the supplemental information report requested on November 6, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment by educational program), as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update (AIU). The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2030-2031.
November 6, 2023: Staff requested a supplemental information report, due December 13, 2023, providing information on key data indicators (enrollment - FTE) as reported on the 2023 Annual Institutional Update. The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2030-2031.
November 6, 2023: Staff requested a supplemental information report due December 8, 2023, providing information on enrollment by educational program. The next evaluation date is scheduled for 2030-2031.
June 22, 2023: Acknowledged receipt of the self-study report. Noted the on-site evaluation visit by the Commission's representatives to the main campus at 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814 on March 26-29, 2023. Reaffirmed accreditation and requested a supplemental information report, due March 1, 2024, providing further evidence of adequate fiscal and human resources and comprehensive planning for facilities, infrastructure, and technology. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2030-2031.
March 9, 2023: Acknowledged receipt of the supplemental information report. The next evaluation visit is scheduled for 2022-2023.
December 2, 2022: Staff requested a supplemental information report due January 9, 2023, providing information on enrollment by educational program.

Branch Campuses and Additional Locations

USUHS has several branch campuses and additional locations:

Main Campus: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814-4799
Branch Campus: 59th Dental Training Squadron, 2450 Pepperrell Street Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX 78236 (Opened: 07/05/2010)
Branch Campus: Medical Education Training Campus, 3176 CPL Johnson Road, Bldg 1291, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234 (Opened: 04/24/2017)
Additional Location: Department of the Army, WAMC, MCDS, NA B DAV, 2817 Reilly Road, Stop BFt Liberty, NC 28310-7302 (Opened: 12/26/2011)
Additional Location: James A. Healy Veterans Hospital, Grand Oak Plaza (118M) 8900 Grand Oak Circle, Tampa, FL 33637 (Opened: 08/15/2011)
Additional Location: Joint Special Operations Medical Training Center, 3845 Combat Medic Road, Bldg. 5Ft.
Additional Location: Army Medical Center of Excellence (MEDCoE), 3630 Stanley Road, San Antonio, TX 78234 (Opened: 05/24/2021)
Additional Location: US Army Dental Activity Hawaii, 1 Jarrett White Road, Bldg 320Tripler AMC, HI 96859-5000 (Opened: 08/30/2011)
Additional Location: US Army Dental Activity, DENTAC, 3600 Darnell Loop BLDG 36014Fort Cavazos, TX 76544 (Opened: 12/26/2011)

Master of Health Administration and Policy (MHAP) Program

The Master of Health Administration and Policy (MHAP) program is a provider of health policy and administration education for the Military Health System, federal health policy partners, and Allied Host Nation personnel. The program offers access to top policy-making federal government agencies, think-tanks, universities, and speakers in the National Capital Area.

The first (didactic) year is composed of 5 academic terms, focusing on an in-depth study of health policy, applied science, and leadership. Preference for admission goes to medical, dental, nurse, applied science, medical service corps, and veterinary officers on active duty in the Uniformed Services. Applicants from federal agencies and specific Partner/Host Nations may also be considered.

Health Professions Education (HPE) Graduate Programs

The interdisciplinary Graduate Programs in HPE are a signature activity of the Center for Health Professions Education (CHPE). These programs are geared towards busy health professionals in the military health system, with most being offered online through a blended learning format.

The graduate programs in HPE at USUHS offer three programs:

Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE)
Master of Education in Health Professions Education (MEd-HPE)
Doctor of Philosophy in Health Professions Education (PhD in HPE)

The overarching goal of the Graduate Programs in HPE is to educate practitioners who will serve as academic leaders and will contribute to the continuous advancement of health professions education, leadership, and research. All graduate programs offered through the CHPE are typically completed on a part-time basis. To be eligible for admission into any of the CHPE graduate programs, an individual must be an employee of the federal government, either civilian or uniformed.

University Values

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences is guided by the following values:

Integrity: Fostering a culture of academic, physical, and moral integrity.
Innovation: Contributing to and creatively employing knowledge in areas crucial to health and national security.
Caring: Fostering an atmosphere of caring, mutual respect, and courtesy.
Communication: Interacting and sharing information in a timely manner with openness, candor, and sensitivity.
Excellence in Scholarship: Committing to rigorous standards of scholarship and academic freedom.
Selfless Service: Committing to serve those who defend the nation and all Americans at home and abroad.
Collaboration and Teamwork: Working together to achieve common goals.

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