They were serious, weren't they, all those people who told you how hard medical school would be? Classes are tough, for sure, and instructors are demanding. Who knew, though, that it would be so difficult to live up to the personal expectations? The thing is, Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine wants you to understand the kinds of demands society places on doctors. It's not just about what you know. It's about who you are.
The rewards are worth it, without question, but you have to make it through to reap those rewards. How do you do that? The simple answer is that you study. You study like there's no tomorrow. You sacrifice; you give up sleep and any sense of normalcy. You toe the line when it comes to your behavior. You bite your tongue when a patient is rude to you, or a supervisor treats you unfairly.
You also need to know, though, that you're not alone. If you're up til all hours studying and working as hard as you possibly can, and you still find yourself struggling, the Lento Law Firm has your back. Medical school is hell—there's no doubt about that—but it should be fair. If at any point you feel like you're being singled out for mistreatment or that the system is trying to grind you down, we can help. Call 888-535-3686, or use our automated online form to find out how.
Common Reasons for Dismissal
Medical school is about making an impression in two areas. First, you have to master the academic side of things. And if that were enough, more people would have medical degrees. But you also have to demonstrate the very highest standards of ethics and professionalism, and that isn't always as easy as it sounds.
- Academic Deficiencies: Vanderbilt School of Medicine isn't like your undergraduate institution. There are no throw-away classes. Every subject matters and that means you have to find a way to excel in all of them. The good news is that your school wants you to succeed. It invested a lot of time and money in recruiting you, and it doesn't want that to go to waste. So you don't necessarily have to worry about dismissal just because you can't quite master a subject on the first go. Instead, you can expect remediation, a targeted plan of work to help you get caught up or to make up for your deficiencies. Don't be fooled, though. If you fail to pass remediation or struggle too much in too many classes, dismissal can become an option.
Your academic work—both classwork and clinic work—is constantly monitored by an academic progress committee. This committee has the authority to assign remediation and to issue sanctions, including probation, suspension, and dismissal.
- Professional Misconduct: Vanderbilt School of Medicine wants you to succeed, but it has no qualms about dismissing you if you should question a supervisor's decision or mistreat a patient. You're subject to a number of codes of conduct. Like any Vanderbilt student, you have to abide by the Student Behavior policy. You are also subject to federal Title IX guidelines regarding sexual harassment. As a medical school student, though, you are responsible for following the school's particular Honor Code. That not only prohibits all forms of academic misconduct but also governs how you act in classroom and clinical settings, how you deal with patients, and even how you conduct yourself in private. A criminal conviction, for instance, is grounds for dismissal, even if it is minor and has nothing whatsoever to do with your work.
Most misconduct accusations are handled by the School of Medicine's Honor Council. Unlike the academic progress committee, the Honor Council is made up of students. However, they take their responsibilities seriously. If you are found guilty of an egregious infraction, you can be punished with dismissal.
Keep in mind that professional conduct is part of the curriculum. As a result, should you be charged with misconduct, you could also find yourself before the academic progress committee.
Fighting Dismissal
Just because someone has mentioned dismissal to you doesn't necessarily mean you'll ultimately wind up dismissed. You must take the situation seriously, but there are ways to fight dismissal.
- Academic Dismissals: Under normal circumstances, the academic progress committee makes its decisions behind closed doors, without input from students. However, if the committee is considering dismissal, you are invited to submit a written response or to attend the committee's meeting in person and make a statement. Should the committee decide to dismiss you, you can also appeal that decision to a review panel. Again, you may offer a written or in-person statement in your defense.
- Professional Misconduct: Misconduct charges are based on allegations, and these are always subject to review and interpretation. As a result, the Honor Council holds hearings any time a student is charged. At this hearing, you have the right to offer evidence, and to question all witnesses.
The Vanderbilt School of Medicine restricts legal advisors from attending both academic progress committee and Honor Council proceedings, though you are entitled to consult with an attorney during any recesses.
It's important you remember, though, that a Lento Law Firm attorney can do far more than simply represent you. In fact, virtually no medical schools allow an attorney to represent you directly. When attorneys are allowed to participate, it is always in a strictly advisory capacity. Your Lento Law Firm attorney's more important role is to build your defense. They'll work with you to develop arguments, help you find and organize evidence, write documents on your behalf, and suggest questions for witnesses. By far, their most important job, though, is to protect your rights. They monitor your case from beginning to end. They know the law, and they know the Vanderbilt School of Medicine system. They'll ensure you're treated fairly and that you get every possible chance to complete your degree.
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 Vanderbilt University School 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.
