USC medical program loses national accreditation

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The University of Southern California is losing national accreditation for a medical training program dogged by allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Los Angeles Times says a national oversight panel has notified USC and Los Angeles County that their jointly run fellowship program I cardiovascular disease will lose its accreditation next year, effectively shutting it down.

No reason was publicly given.

But the paper says USC’s medical school dean announced the decision Thursday in a faculty memo saying it was based on concerns about “safety and wellness processes” for medical residents. The program has 15 slots.

A resident sued in 2017, alleging that a fellow in the program groped her and USC failed to properly investigate the incident. The suit is pending. Two other female colleagues have also made assault allegations.