Connecticut is home to three prestigious medical schools: Yale School of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and Frank H. Netter M.D. School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University. With big names like these, it's no wonder they believe their students can exceed any challenge thrown their way. But sometimes, students find it difficult to persevere and crumble under the pressure. These students might find themselves standing in front of disciplinary, remediation, or dismissal committees soon after. If you have found yourself in a similar situation, working with an attorney advisor is your best bet to unwarranted sanctions and untimely dismissals.
Academic and Professionalism Policies for Connecticut Medical Students
At the start of every school year, medical students are issued student handbooks. Within these handbooks list specific codes of conduct the medical school expects the students to follow. Most of the time, these rules cover academic conduct and professional responsibility, whether on- or off-campus. If your school is like the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, the code of conduct with ask students to:
- Avoid no cheating, plagiarizing, or coercing another student to help you cheat or plagiarize
- Helping someone else cheat or plagiarize
- Maintaining satisfactory grades
- Remediate courses, exams, and clinicals when given the chance
- Provide their patients with a good bedside manner
When students are unable to follow these rules, the school will determine if they should be punished, placed into a remediation program, or put before a dismissal committee. Sanctions may range from a written notice or probation to suspension or expulsion and dismissal. If you aren't sure what your medical school expects from you, reviewing the student handbook and code of conduct are great places to start.
Remediation at Connecticut Medical Schools
The main focus of all medical schools is to train students to become exceptional doctors. They want to have confidence in their students entering the profession. No one wants to be known as the school that trained a doctor undergoing significant malpractice suits. To ensure they create such physicians, they tend to test them regularly on their medical knowledge, but their professional capabilities as well, and medical school is tough. It's not just hard; it's competitive. So, to help struggling students as much as they can, medical schools will allow them to retake certain courses, rotations, and exams.
For instance, at Yale University School of Medicine, struggling students are identified by the faculty, and then the associate dean for student affairs will create a remediation plan for them. The student then must complete the plan within the expected timeframe. If they don't, or if they fail, they may be brought before the dismissal committee.
There are some schools that offer remediation plans but don't offer them to every student. Whether this is some strange form of preferential treatment or clear oversight, if you're school offers the program, you should be given the opportunity to take advantage of it. If you feel like your university is overlooking your challenges, an attorney advisor can reach out to them on your behalf and foster the conversation.
Dismissal From a Connecticut Medical Program
At the end of every year, student files are evaluated by the faculty to determine who should advance to the next year and who remain behind or be dismissed from the program altogether. For example, at Quinnipiac University's school of medicine, students who have consistently struggled with their grades or acted inappropriately during their clinical clerkships will be recommended for dismissal.
When you stand before the dismissal committee, it's really important to have a strong defense to back you up. Some students don't take proper advantage of their opportunity to defend themselves and end up being dismissed. These students will find themselves not only dismissed from medical school but will be suffering from long-lasting consequences such as:
- Having to attend a lesser reputable medical school if they can find one to admit them. Medical schools are incredibly competitive with each other. You will more than likely have to disclose the reason you are leaving your medical school to attend another one. Once they hear about your dismissal, it may provoke them to close their doors to you too.
- Paying back student loans without the financial support of a physician's salary
- If you are able to move to another medical school, you may find your credits are nontransferable, forcing you to start from square one
- Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and declining mental and physical health
A strong defense and the advice of an attorney-advisor are the best way to defend your dream of becoming a physician. You don't have to weather this storm alone.
Appeals
There are certain due process rights every medical student should be able to count on. They are non-negotiable and usually include:
- The right to face your accuser
- The right to defend yourself and be heard
- The right to an attorney advisor to help advocate for you
- Asking for grade changes or remediation programs
- Appealing decisions of the hearing committees
After your hearing, the committee will notify you of their decision and include directions for how to appeal. These directions will consist of the submission deadline, who to send the appeal to, and what grounds it can be made on. If you are facing a dismissal, an appeal is your last chance to defend yourself at a Connecticut medical school. If the idea of filing the appeal scares you, an attorney advisor will be able to help.
There are times where your appeal may be unsuccessful. If this happens to you, an attorney advisor can reach out to the Office of General Counsel at your medical school and negotiate an alternative resolution on your behalf. Generally, these negotiations tend to have a better end result than a traditional lawsuit would agains the school.
Connecticut Medical Student Defense Advisor
Undergoing a disciplinary, remediation, or dismissal proceeding can be overwhelming and scary for students with big dreams of becoming a doctor. You may not know who you can trust, where you can turn, or what to do next. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his team know the best defense is not only a quick defense but a passionate one. They've dedicated years of their lives to helping students in similar situations. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your case or schedule a time online.
