There's no getting around it: med school is tough. It's not just that you have to meet the very highest standards of academic excellence, though that's certainly true. Your professional and personal conduct must also be above reproach. Of course, your med school wants you to succeed. You underwent a rigorous screening process before you were admitted, and the faculty and administration don't like to dismiss anyone they've hand-selected to participate in the program. That said, med students do get dismissed every year and for dozens of different reasons.
What can you do to ensure you're not one of them? You start by knowing exactly what's expected of you. This will help you avoid problems in the first place. Sometimes, though, problems come looking for you despite your best efforts. So, you also need to know how the judicial process works at the School of Medicine, and you need to know how to get help defending yourself.
Battling your medical school is never an easy proposition. It's a situation you hope you never have to face, but if you do, you want the best help you can find. You want the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team on your side. To find out more about what we can do for you, call 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Let's start by looking at med school requirements. Just what is it that can get you dismissed from the Boonshoft School of Medicine?
- Academic Deficiencies: First, of course, you have to perform to academic standards. No one wants to worry about whether their doctor knows what they're doing. The Boonshoft standing requirements note that Good Standing requires you to receive a passing grade in all modules, clerkships, and electives, that you pass the Steps of the USMLE, and that you maintain “acceptable” professional behavior and ethical standards. Any time you fail to meet one of these requirements, you're placed on academic probation and may additionally be subject to a remediation plan or to repeat part of or all of an academic year. Continue to struggle while on probation, though, and you could face more serious consequences. All decisions regarding academics, professionalism, and ethics are in the hands of the school's Student Promotions Committee, a governing body made up of nine faculty members. This committee has the power to assign sanctions up to and including dismissal from the program.
- Misconduct: Academic dismissals don't happen overnight. Before you're dismissed, you typically have several opportunities to improve. That's not always the case when it comes to issues of misconduct. As a med student at BoonShoft, you're held to a strict Honor Code. That Code talks about “honesty and integrity,” the “highest standards of professional conduct academically, clinically, and socially,” about “responsibility,” and respect for “human rights.” A single instance of academic dishonesty or sexual discrimination and harassment can be enough to trigger dismissal. Misconduct is reported to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, but most decisions wind up in the hands of the Medical School Honor Council. That Council contains four student members in addition to three faculty members and the Associate Dean. And, like the Student Promotions Committee, it has the power to issue sanctions, including dismissal.
Fighting Dismissal
Generally speaking, judicial proceedings at the Boonshoft School of Medicine tend to be informal affairs. In all cases, though, you have the right to defend yourself and your record, especially if dismissal is a possibility.
- Student Promotion Hearings: If the Student Promotions Committee is considering dismissal, you'll be notified at least seven days in advance of the hearing. You're allowed to attend and to be accompanied by a faculty or administrative advisor. In addition, you may submit documents as evidence, including up to three letters of support.
- Honor Council Hearings: These hearings work much like Student Promotion Hearings, except you are additionally allowed to call witnesses to testify and to raise questions for any witnesses against you.
- Appeals: Finally, you may appeal a dismissal decision by either of these bodies to the Vice Dean for Education Affairs or, in the case of Honor Council decisions, the Student Appeals Committee. However, grounds for appeal are limited to procedural error, the discovery of new evidence, or an allegation of bias.
The medical school's policy is clear in stating that hearings are not “legal proceedings” and, therefore, attorneys are prohibited from attendance. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't consult with someone from the Lento Law Firm as you're preparing your case. A Lento Law Firm attorney can play a crucial role in helping you develop your defense and fine-tune your arguments. They can work with you to organize evidence. They can even critique your final presentation before you deliver it. It is always in your best interest to retain legal representation, especially when a school tries to limit your access to such legal representation. You need someone in your corner monitoring what happens and ensuring you're treated fairly.
Fighting for Your Future
Make no mistake: if you're facing dismissal, everything is on the line. You've worked for many years to get to this point. You earned an undergraduate degree; you spent dozens, maybe hundreds of hours studying for the MCAT; you filled out applications, convinced referees to write on your behalf, and sat through demanding interviews. The threat of dismissal puts all of that in jeopardy. It means having to look for a new career. It means having to pay back thousands of dollars in student loans without a medical degree to help you do it.
There's simply too much on the line to go into this situation alone. Judicial rules and procedures can be complex, and your school is not on your side in this instance. You need someone who is, 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 attorneys know 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.
