Pierce, Williams share expertise in AAMC Lightning Talk series
Posted on July 14, 2026 by Marketing and Communications
Dr. Melisa Pierce and Dr. David Williams
Two leaders from the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine recently shared their expertise in accreditation, curriculum evaluation, and continuous quality improvement during a national professional development series hosted by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Melisa Pierce, Ed.D., MPA, executive director of accreditation and continuous quality improvement, and David S. Williams, Ph.D., MPA, assistant dean for institutional and academic success, were invited by the AAMC Southern Group on Educational Affairs and the Accreditation Preparation & Quality Improvement Special Interest Group to present Lightning Talks highlighting innovative work underway at the Whiddon College of Medicine.
Rather than being selected through a traditional conference submission process, Pierce and Williams were invited by the organizations to share their work with colleagues across the country.
Pierce presented “Leading Beyond the Checklist: Using Action Research to Demonstrate Real Impact in Accreditation Work.” Her presentation focused on using Action Research as a framework for continuous quality improvement and demonstrated how institutions can move beyond documenting compliance activities to showing meaningful, data-informed improvements that strengthen both accreditation outcomes and the educational experience of medical students.
Williams presented “Building a Shared Mental Model for Program Review,” which explored how collaborative curriculum mapping can help faculty develop a common understanding of educational program objectives and curriculum progression. The approach supports curriculum evaluation and continuous quality improvement while helping medical schools meet Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) expectations related to curriculum phase evaluation and educational program objectives.
Timothy Gilbert, Ed.D., associate dean for accreditation and planning, said opportunities to share the college's work on regional and national stages help advance key strategic priorities while elevating the institution's reputation among peer medical schools.
“Presentations like these reflect the caliber of expertise within the Whiddon College of Medicine and support our strategic goal of increasing our visibility and influence in medical education,” Gilbert said. “By sharing innovative approaches to accreditation, curriculum evaluation, and continuous quality improvement, our faculty and staff are contributing to national conversations while demonstrating the leadership and excellence that define our institution.”