When you think of Oklahoma, you think of cornbread, buffalo, and medical schools like Oklahoma University College of Medicine and Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. The main goal of either medical school is to create an academic environment free of discrimination that fosters the ability to treat medicine, engage with patients, and work as a team. With such high expectations, it's no wonder many medical students find it hard to keep up. And in some cases, this fear of being able to keep up forces students to meet before the disciplinary, remediation, or dismissal committees. If you have found yourself in a similar situation, an attorney advisor will be able to help you defend yourself and preserve your medical school dreams.
Academic and Professionalism Policies for Oklahoma Medical Students
All medical schools provide their students with student handbooks that outline a clear code of conduct they want their students to follow. Most of the time, this code of conduct outlines how the student should behave, both academically and professionally, though the details will vary from school to school.
At OU Medical School, they expect their students to:
- Avoid academic misconduct – i.e., no cheating, plagiarizing, or intimidating another student to help you cheat or plagiarize
- Keep up their grades on their exams, courses, and clinical clerkships
- Remediate courses, exams, and clinicals when given the chance, and pass
- Refrain from bullying or harassment whether on campus, in the clinical setting, or in their everyday life
- Treat patients with the degree of training they have acquired
- Provide their patients with a comforting and knowledgeable bedside manner
If a student is unable to abide by these rules, the school may decide to dismiss them from the program. Being dismissed from your medical school can cause a devastating chain reaction for the rest of your life. Working with an attorney is the best way to avoid these potential hardships.
Remediation at Oklahoma Medical Schools
At OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, they want to train physicians they can confidently release into communities. They want to know that their physicians have been trained both medically and professionally. This is why medical schools test their students so much – they need to ensure the safety of future patients. But sometimes, students struggle with these rigorous exams. Maybe you aren't a good test taker, but you are fantastic with hands-on work, or vice versa. Maybe you can memorize the information but relaying it to patients or attending physicians is difficult.
Whatever the case may be, OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, like many other medical schools, has a policy to allow students to retake classes, exams, or clinicals to ensure they understand the material well. Sometimes though, students fall through the cracks and aren't offered the ability to remediate before being brought before a dismissal committee. If you know your medical school has a remediation program, and it hasn't been offered in its entirety to you, an attorney-advisor can help you request it.
Dismissal From an Oklahoma Medical Program
As we explained above, medical students are constantly being evaluated. At the end of every evaluation, faculty members can refer struggling students to the remediation program. But if a student continues to fail, doesn't take part in the program, or has continuous behavioral issues, they will be referred to the dismissal committee. For instance, at OU Medical School, students who have received three or more failing grades in a single academic year are recommended for dismissal. Additionally, students who fail to meet ethical and professional behavioral standards risk being dismissed from the program. And at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine, student are recommended for dismissal if they simply fail their Random Drug Screenings or violate academic integrity.
If you have been brought before the dismissal committee, it's essential you have a strong defense in place. You want to advocate for yourself as best as you can. Sadly, some students do not show up prepared and think they can talk their way out of the potential dismissal. These students will find themselves not only dismissed from the program but suffering long-lasting consequences like:
- Attending a lesser reputable medical school if they can find one to admit them
- Paying back student loans without the financial support of a physician's salary
- Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, and declining mental and physical health
The idea of leaving medical school without your degree can be terrifying, but with a strong defense and the advice of an attorney advisor, you can protect it.
Appeals
All students are afforded due process rights during disciplinary, remediation, and dismissal proceedings. 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
When your medical school notifies you of their decision, they will include directions for how to appeal. The directions should include the submission deadline, who to send it to, and what to include. For students facing dismissal, an appeal is your last chance to protect your dreams of becoming a doctor in Oklahoma.
If you feel exhausted by the prospect of filing an appeal, an attorney advisor can walk you through it. Moreover, if your appeal is unsuccessful, or you feel your medical school is being unreasonable, an attorney advisor will be able to contact the Office of General Counsel on campus and attempt to negotiate on your behalf. These negotiations tend to work better than filing a lawsuit against the medical school.
Oklahoma Medical Student Defense Advisor
When you undergo a disciplinary, remediation, or dismissal proceeding, you want to be prepared. But sometimes, students are so overwhelmed they don't know where to start. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and his team know the best defense is not only a quick defense but a passionate one. Protect your dream of becoming a physician at an Oklahoma medical school. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your case or schedule a time online.
