You've prepared for this moment. You've put in the hours—the blood, sweat, and tears—and you've finally arrived. Medical school. You're not a doctor yet, though, and medical school can be a severe trial. Every class, every test, every clinic hour matters. You'll find there's very little give in the South Alabama College of Medicine absence policy. And your professional and even your personal behavior is subject to review. Even small mistakes can cost you. You can find yourself on probation, suspended, and, in the most serious instances, expelled.
What do you do if it happens to you? How do you protect yourself and your future?
You contact the Lento Law Firm. The Lento Law Firm was founded to help students succeed. We are committed to the proposition that a mistake—or two or three—shouldn't stand in the way of your chance to earn your degree. Yes, medical school is tough. Yes, you must work hard and stay out of trouble. You deserve fair treatment, though. Let the Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team help you get it. To find out more, call 888-535-3686 or use our automated online form.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
If you're facing dismissal from the USA COM, it's almost certainly for one of two reasons: either you're struggling to pass the coursework, or you've been accused of some form of misconduct. Both issues are detailed in the Student Handbook.
- Academic Deficiencies: There are no unimportant classes at medical school. You have to know absolutely everything about how the human body works and what to do when it breaks down. You also have to know everything there is to know about how to apply your coursework in the practical setting of clinic. The good news is that the faculty at the College of Medicine will do everything it can to help you learn this material. If you fall behind, for example, the college will put together a remediation plan to get you back on track. The school's patience is not infinite, though. Should you fail to complete a remediation program, consistently struggle to pass your courses, or find yourself unable to perform to clinic supervisors' expectations, you can be dismissed.
- Misconduct: The USA College of Medicine wants you to succeed. It invested a lot of time and energy in deciding you were the right fit for the program. However, the College has little tolerance for misconduct. The school takes it for granted that you'll abide by the University of South Alabama's Code of Conduct, including all rules about academic integrity and federal Title IX requirements regarding sexual harassment. In addition, though, the COM holds you to its own standards of professionalism. How you treat patients and how you communicate with other students and other members of your healthcare team are under constant scrutiny. You can also find yourself in trouble for actions that have nothing to do with your medical training. A criminal conviction, for instance, even for something minor like a DUI, can be grounds for dismissal.
Both your academic progress and your professional conduct are regularly reviewed by the Student Promotion and Evaluation Committee (SPEC). This committee meets twice each academic year and additionally, as needed, to handle allegations of misconduct. It has the power to assign remediation and to issue punishments, including probation, suspension, and dismissal.
Fighting Dismissal
You can always challenge a dismissal decision. Because the SPEC handles both academic and misconduct dismissals, the process is the same in either case.
- If the SPEC plans to take up an issue related to your progress at the COM, you are notified and invited to attend.
- Prior to meeting with SPEC, you meet with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs, the Associate Dean of Medical Education, or the Chair of the SPEC to discuss the matter under consideration and what kinds of questions you may be asked.
- You may bring a prepared statement with you, and you may present statements from others at the SPEC meeting.
- You may also bring an advocate with you, and this advocate may be an attorney. A Lento Law Firm attorney cannot testify on your behalf, but they can answer questions from the committee for you and offer advice throughout the proceedings.
- You're then excused from the meeting while the SPEC deliberates as to the appropriate course of action.
Your Lento Law Firm attorney can be a valuable resource during the SPEC meeting, but keep in mind that they can do far more for you than simply accompany you to a meeting. They have the background and experience to help you come up with a full defense strategy. They can work with you to gather evidence and develop answers to SPEC questions. They can draft your personal statement for you and give you practice in presenting your case. Most important of all, though, your Lento Law Firm attorney will monitor every step of your case to ensure you're treated fairly and that you get the justice you deserve.
Fighting for Your Future
You probably already realize this, but it bears emphasis: in a medical school dismissal case, 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. If the South Alabama College of Medicine decides to dismiss you, all of that will have been for nothing.
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 need an attorney from the Lento Law Firm. Our Student Defense Team is highly experienced with all aspects of investigation, adjudication, and appeals processes and has 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.
