Professionalism is a key component of dental practice. The ADA requires it as part of its code of ethics. Dentists occupy a unique and trusted position in society, and they’re expected to operate at a high ethical and professional level.

The problem is that professionalism doesn’t have a black-and-white definition. What’s professional to one person isn’t to another. WLHSDM students face annual evaluations about their professional conduct and behavior, and these reviews focus on context and circumstances rather than categorical or mathematical assessment.

Schools may discipline students inconsistently or use charges of unprofessionalism to punish a student. Students may face overly harsh disciplinary action.

Part of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, the Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine (WLHSDM) is one of the newest dental schools in the U.S. The school’s competencies include expecting professionalism from its students and that students follow both the school and university codes of conduct.

Allegations of unprofessionalism can derail your dental career before it even begins. If you’re a WLHSDM dental student facing allegations of unprofessionalism, contact the Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.

The Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine

One of the newest dental schools in the country, WLHSDM, opened in 2021. The school, located in El Paso, is the first dental school to open in Texas in half a century and has a focus on providing bilingual dental care to the region.

The school has initial accreditation from the Commission on Dental Accreditation.

The school doesn’t focus solely on grades for promotion. Students are expected to show not only academic competence but also to conduct themselves and behave in a professional manner. If a student’s conduct or behavior fails to meet the expectations of dental professionals, they may fail a course and not advance in their education.

WLHSDM Competencies

WLHSDM has seven competencies that dental students must meet. These include:

  • Biomedical knowledge
  • Patient care
  • Communication and interpersonal skills
  • Professionalism
  • Health promotion
  • Practice management and informatics

These competencies can overlap. For example, a student who fails to meet patient care standards may also be failing to meet professionalism standards.

Similarly, the ADA’s Code of Professionalism expects dentists to be truthful in their communication with patients. This includes not only one-on-one communication but also advertisements and any published communication, including articles and newsletters.

Professionalism Competency

WLHSDM has four professionalism standards that students need to meet. Failing to meet them may result in a student receiving an unsatisfactory professionalism evaluation, which could lead to dismissal from the program.

WLHSDM’s professionalism competencies are:

  • Dental students must apply recognized ethical and regulatory standards, as well as principles of risk management, in the clinical environment.
  • Students must demonstrate self-assessment skills, accountability, and the ability to receive and incorporate constructive feedback.
  • Students must show compassion, integrity, altruism, and respect for others, including individuals from diverse populations.
  • Students must identify the strengths and limitations of their knowledge, skills, and attitudes to promote continual personal and professional development.

The professionalism standards overlap with other competencies. For patient care, for example, students must also show that they can accurately evaluate the outcomes of clinical treatment.

Students are evaluated annually as to whether they’ve demonstrated satisfactory professional conduct.

WLHSDM Committee on Academic Performance and Standards

At WLHSDM, professionalism is a key part of promotion. Students who have been evaluated as failing to meet professionalism standards may not be able to advance in their education. The professionalism committee evaluates students annually.

The Committee on Academic Performance and Standards (CAPS) informs students annually and in writing of their satisfactory completion of each academic year. Students may be required to meet with CAPS when their academic progress is unsatisfactory or if they’ve had an unsatisfactory professionalism evaluation.

If a student has made unsatisfactory academic progress, CAPS may also review their other conduct, including any sanctions or unsatisfactory professionalism evaluations. CAPS has the authority to recommend that students be dismissed from the program.

Dismissals and Appeals at WLHSDM

CAPS can vote, by a simple majority, to suspend or dismiss a dental student. There are two primary reasons the committee may choose to dismiss a student:

  • Unsatisfactory academic performance (at least three course failures)
  • Unsatisfactory professionalism evaluation

Students have the right to appeal the committee’s decision. Within five business days of receiving notification of their dismissal, a student may file a written notice of appeal to the dean.

The dean can either decide on the appeal decision alone or appoint a committee to review CAPS’ decision. If the dean convenes an appeals committee, the student may submit a statement to the committee, call witnesses, and introduce new evidence.

The dean, and not the appeals committee, makes the final decision. Students cannot appeal the dean’s decision.

WLHSDM students who are facing disciplinary action need to be proactive in addressing the allegations and defending against them. The Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm advocates for our clients and helps them build strong cases to protect their education and their future.

Protect Your Future

An unsatisfactory professionalism evaluation or other accusations of unprofessional misconduct or behavior can derail a dental student’s career before it’s begun. Students may not only face dismissal from school, but their reputation and opportunities may be limited by allegations of unprofessional conduct.

At WLHSDM, professionalism is a central part of the school’s curriculum and expectations for students. This is in part because dentists hold a unique place of trust in society. Dentists as a whole benefit from expecting their peers to maintain a high level of ethical and professional conduct.

The problem with these expectations is that they can be vague. Dental students may be subjected to overly harsh disciplinary action. Students may write off allegations of unprofessionalism as no big deal, but the reality is that they may face dismissal and an end to their professional goals.

You’ve worked too hard to have your career end before it begins. If you’re a WLHSDM dental student facing accusations of unprofessional conduct, you need an advocate on your side. Contact the Education Law Team at the LLF National Law Firm. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out an online form.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso-Hunt School of Dentistry

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