The Value Proposition for Residents Attending the University of Michigan Health System at Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan (UM) Health System at Ann Arbor offers 31 medical residency programs and 82 fellowships. Those seeking elite-level professional training can attend one of UM's many medical residency programs, which include anesthesiology, family medicine, internal medicine, radiation oncology, and many other specialties.
The University of Michigan has earned a reputation for offering a big-school experience, and big-school resources, at an academic level that nearly broaches the Ivy Leagues. UM's medical training programs, and its medical facilities, are highly ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Residents who emerge from the UM Health System at Ann Arbor start their medical careers on strong footing.
With this high-ranking status comes high expectations of residents. Any concerns about academic integrity, professionalism, or progression could compromise your status at a UM medical residency program. Before such issues compromise your graduation from residency, reach out to the Lento Law Firm for assistance.
Medical Resident Policies at the University of Michigan Health System
Those who attend the UM Health System for residency likely understand that they'll face rigorous academic and behavioral scrutiny. Nevertheless, each UM-affiliated residency program details specific guidelines, so residents know precisely what their program expects of them.
For example, University of Michigan's policies for those completing a Urology residency give insight into the standards that all residents must abide by. Resident policies include:
- A leave of absence policy: This policy details the responsibility that a resident has to request a leave of absence, work with a Program Director to coordinate the leave, and appeal the denial of a leave of absence.
- A resident promotion policy: This policy details how the Program Director has the final say over resident promotion.
- A resident dismissal and grievance policy: This policy documents your right to a disciplinary hearing. The policy also provides a detailed account of your rights if accused of misconduct, including the right to retain an attorney-advisor.
- A resident supervision policy: This policy explains that residents must request supervision for certain medical procedures and that the university has a duty to provide such supervision.
- Policies governing institutional requirements that residents must abide by: This includes a number of clinical training programs (called Mandatories) that residents must complete before being hired by UM Health System at Ann Arbor.
Your UM Health Systems program may also have policies explaining its response to alleged academic misconduct, professionalism concerns, and other hazards that you may face as a resident. While the promotion, dismissal, and grievance policies will be relevant to anyone who struggles academically or is accused of misconduct, it is important to understand your school's policies in great detail.
The Lento Law Firm Team will delve into your program's policies and identify every portion that pertains to your case.
What's at Risk for Residents Accused of Violating Residency Policies at UM Health System-Ann Arbor?
While residency programs generally want their trainees to graduate and may provide options like remediation and leaves of absence to aid the resident, you must always protect your own interests. An allegation of academic misconduct, unprofessionalism, or failure to progress academically could result in the following:
- A formal reprimand in your academic or behavioral file
- Failure of a clinical rotation or academic work
- Mandatory remediation of coursework or clinical rotations, which is not always a positive development for a resident
- A mandatory leave of absence from your residency program
- Suspension from the residency program
- Termination of your residency or nonrenewal of your contract
While some of these consequences are more serious than others, each can cause lasting damage. Depending on the nature of your residency issue, and the consequences that emerge from that issue, you may be facing the following:
- Loss of your residency position
- Loss of future employment opportunities
- Loss of future earnings
- Potential loss of your medical career, if sanctions prevent you from getting another residency position
If you are a resident at the University of Michigan Health System at Ann Arbor, you have high expectations. Because of your lofty goals, the adverse effect of sanctions, unwanted remediation, or other residency-related consequences could be particularly great.
Fortunately, you can take active measures to mitigate the risk of harm resulting from one or more residency issues.
How UM Health System Residents Can Protect Themselves from the Consequences of Resident Issues
The University of Michigan's medical residency and fellowship positions come with guaranteed rights. As policies from UM's Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Program make clear, filing a grievance is one of those rights.
You may also be able to resolve a resident issue by:
- Petitioning for a grade change
- Appealing a specific decision
- Completing a hearing related to the issue at hand
- Negotiating with the residency program's Office of General Counsel (OGC)
These are all potential resolutions that Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento can assist you with. Within each of these potential paths to a resolution, there lie hazards that our National Education Law Team will help you avoid. Such hazards include:
- The program's rejection of your appeal request or grievance without justification
- Failure to allow you the counsel of an attorney-advisor
- Failure to allow you to present evidence or testimony that supports your case
- Any other violation of your rights that deprives you of due process
Left to their own devices, residency programs do not always enforce policies in an honorable or by-the-book manner. Attorney-Advisor Joseph Lento will ensure that yours does.
Hire the Lento Law Firm to Resolve Your Resident Issue
Our firm will work to resolve your residency issue at UM Health System as amicably as possible. We can negotiate directly with your program's counsel, which may allow us to reach an efficient and acceptable resolution.
Our firm has extensive experience fighting for residents who face a wide range of pressures and sky-high expectations. You deserve reasonable leniency for any mistakes or misunderstandings that have occurred, and we'll work hard to secure a resolution that you will be satisfied with.
Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or contact us online.
