By the time you've made it to medical school, there's a lot on the line. You've worked extremely hard to get through your undergraduate education. You spent dozens, maybe even hundreds of hours studying for the GMAT. You filled out applications and convinced referees to write letters on your behalf. You endured stressful application interviews. All of which is to say that if you should wind up dismissed from your program at this point, all of that hard work and energy will have been for nothing.
How do you safeguard your education and your future?
You start by knowing everything there is to know about the University of Missouri School of Medicine system. Just what is it that can get you into trouble, and how do you avoid making mistakes? You also want to find out all you can about the judicial rules and procedures. If trouble should come looking for you, how are you supposed to defend yourself?
The most important thing you need to know, though, is how to get help when you need it. It's no easy task taking on a medical school and fighting dismissal proceedings. You don't want to try to do it alone.
The attorneys at the Lento Law Firm are on your side when you need them. They're familiar with how the School of Medicine operates, and they have helped hundreds of students to protect their rights and get fair treatment from their schools. No matter what problem you may be facing as a medical student, the attorneys at the Lento Law Firm can help you map out an action plan and work with you to salvage your future.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
If someone at the University of Missouri School of Medicine has mentioned the possibility of dismissal to you, it's likely for one of two reasons: either you're struggling to keep up academically, or you've committed some type of misconduct.
- Academic Deficiencies: Physician is a serious profession. Doctors literally hold their patients' lives in their hands. In keeping with that responsibility, the educational standards for medical professionals can be extraordinarily high. As the School of Medicine's Student Handbook notes, students must “successfully” complete all coursework, pass a comprehensive exam (the USMLE Step 1 can satisfy this requirement), and “successfully” complete all clerkships. Any Unsatisfactory grade means you'll need to undertake a remediation program. Two Unsatisfactory grades means you're placed on Academic Probation. Any Unsatisfactory grades while on Probation, and you're subject to total Dismissal from the program.
- Misconduct: Ordinarily, if you fall behind academically, you have several opportunities to catch up. A serious instance of misconduct, though, can result in immediate dismissal from the School of Medicine program. Like any other University of Missouri, student, you're expected to abide by the university's general Student Standard of Conduct. In addition, though, the School of Medicine holds you accountable for instances of academic dishonesty and sexual harassment as well as all forms of ethical and professional misconduct.
It can sometimes be difficult to differentiate academic and conduct issues in medical school. How you treat patients, for instance, is a matter of professionalism, but as a part of your clerkship duties, it can also lead to low academic evaluations.
Ultimately, all promotion decisions are in the hands of the Committee on Student Promotions (CSP), and, as the Handbook notes,
“Decisions regarding promotion and graduation take into account not only whether students have adequately met traditional classroom requirements, but also whether they have demonstrated the likelihood that they will be able to achieve and maintain the academic
competencies and personal qualities required of the physician.”
However, matters of a strictly disciplinary nature are typically handled by the school's Honor Council, a group made up primarily of other medical students. Both of these bodies have the authority to impose sanctions ranging from reprimand to outright dismissal.
Fighting Dismissal
Your medical school cannot dismiss you without good cause, and dismissals only happen after you've been given a chance to defend yourself as part of a clear administrative process. Of course, that process varies depending on the exact nature of your dismissal.
- Academic Dismissals: Often, the easiest way to deal with the threat of academic dismissal is by appealing specific grades through the School of Medicine's Grade Appeal process as outlined in the Handbook. Otherwise, dismissal decisions regarding academic deficiencies are made exclusively by the CSP. There is no formal hearing process. However, you are entitled to advanced notification if the CSP is considering disciplinary action against you. You're also allowed to attend the hearing and to bring up to two advisors of your choice with you. These advisors can be attorneys, meaning someone from the Lento Law Firm can accompany you and offer advice throughout the proceedings. You should also know that there is no formal appeals process when it comes to CSP decisions. However, dismissal requires a two-thirds majority vote of the committee. In addition, the final decision rests with the Dean of Education, and it is possible to appeal to this official directly before a dismissal decision takes effect.
- Misconduct Dismissals: Most allegations of misconduct are open to challenge. Misunderstandings happen; mistakes happen; people sometimes make false accusations. As a result, the Honor Council never enacts a sanction, including dismissal, without first holding a hearing into the matter. This hearing gives you the opportunity to offer evidence, call witnesses, and cross-examine any witnesses against you. In addition, you have the right to an advisor, and this advisor may be an attorney.
A Lento Law Firm attorney cannot represent you during an administrative meeting or a hearing. That is, they cannot speak on your behalf. They can be on hand, however, to offer you valuable advice. In addition, before a meeting or hearing, they can play a crucial role in helping you build your case. A Lento Law Firm attorney can work with you to collect evidence and draft documents, help you prepare questions for witnesses, even give you practice in making your actual presentation. The bottom line is, having a Lento Law Firm attorney on your side gives you the best chance of getting the justice you deserve.
Fighting for Your Future
There's simply too much on the line to go into a dismissal defense alone. It's no exaggeration to say that your entire future is on the line. Administrative rules and procedures can be complex and difficult to navigate. You need someone who understands those procedures and has experience defending student clients. You also need someone who has your best interests at heart and who is willing to fight for those interests. You want an attorney from the Lento Law Firm.
The Lento Law Firm was built to help students. The firm's Student Defense Team knows the law as it applies to education. They also know how campus judicial systems work. They're highly experienced with all aspects of investigation, adjudication, and appeals processes and have helped hundreds of students just like you get the justice they deserve.
If you're facing disciplinary action, don't wait to see what might happen. Find out exactly what the Lento Law Firm can do for you. Contact the Lento Law Firm today, at 888-535-3686, or use our automated online form.
