Temple University's Lewis Katz School of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has a more than 120 year history of training humanistic clinicians and biomedical scientists in medical practices. Temple University Hospital is the Katz School of Medicine's primary training site, serving the largest underprivileged patient population of any Pennsylvania hospital. Lewis Katz School of Medicine thus offers both a rigorous medical education program and vital training in practical service. Katz School of Medicine students enjoy an eleven-story medical education and research facility until they are ready for graduation and residency placement.
You've found a great home for medical education at Lewis Katz School of Medicine. But you must still meet LKSM's rigorous academic and professional requirements. If you face the prospect of the Katz School of Medicine dismissal, then you've already recognized how academic progression and professionalism issues can derail a medical education. You may be perfectly well prepared to tackle that education, but just had an illness, injury, or other life circumstances complicate your medical student issues. No matter your circumstances, the LLF Law Firm's premier Education Law Team, and national student defense attorneys offer you the skills and experience you need for the Katz School of Medicine dismissal defense.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine Common Dismissal Grounds
LKSM Academic Progression Issues
Lewis Katz School of Medicine's policy on the Standing of Students requires that all students maintain progress toward completing the four-year M.D. degree within no more than six years. Students must also complete and pass every course in the M.D. curriculum and pass all required U.S. Medical Licensing Exams. The School of Medicine's Grading and Promotional Policies further provide that students must complete the academic program in its prescribed order and that no student may repeat a course more than once or take more than three academic years to fulfill phase requirements. Medical school plainly has rigorous academic requirements that students must meet or face dismissal.
LKSM Professionalism Issues
Lewis Katz School of Medicine's policy on the Standing of Students not only requires academic progress but also that students meet all professional behavioral expectations. The School of Medicine's Grading and Promotional Policies likewise warn course instructors “to include narrative comments about students' professional behavior in formative and summative evaluations. Failure to meet the expected standards may result in the submission of a Professional Behavior Concern and a failing grade in a course.” Common professionalism issues include patient disrespect, supervisor insubordination, incompetent patient care, and falsifying clinical hours. Medical students can even face professionalism charges over intoxication, inappropriate dress, unkempt demeanor, and social media disclosures. Professionalism charges can be subjective, confusing, and disturbing, risking dismissal.
LKSM Honor Code Issues
Lewis Katz School of Medicine also maintains an Honor Code requiring that students maintain academic honesty and integrity. Honor Code violations include such things as unauthorized exam or assignment assistance, other forms of academic cheating, research fraud, and falsifying clinical hours. The length and detail of the Honor Code suggest that Lewis Katz School of Medicine officials take it very seriously.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine Adjudication Process
The Katz School of Medicine's Grading and Promotional Policies provide first for informal resolution of policy violations. Anyone may submit a Professional Behavior Concern, forcing the accused student to meet with the Associate Dean for Student Support. Allegations of egregious behavioral violations require referral to an Academic Standards and Promotions Committee.
LKSM Formal Hearings
The School of Medicine's Honor Code contains much more detailed procedures. Those procedures include formal hearings for contested cases that do not resolve through informal conferences. Formal hearings take place before the School of Medicine's Hearing Board, following a trial-like order with party opening statements, presentation and cross-examination of witnesses, and submission of other evidence. The accused student may retain an attorney to attend the hearing to assist the student. The Hearing Board recommends findings and sanctions to the School of Medicine's Senior Associate Dean for Education.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine Appeal Process
The Katz School of Medicine's Honor Code provides for a detailed appeals process. An appeal ensures an independent review of an adverse decision for dismissal or other serious sanction. The student suffering dismissal or other sanction must appeal within two weeks of that decision. A Student Learning Environment and Appeals Committee decides the appeal based on the student's written submission. The grounds for reversing or modifying a decision must be either new evidence not previously available, procedural errors, or a failure in the evidence to support the findings. The Appeals Committee recommends a decision to the School of Medicine dean, who enters the final decision and any sanction.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine Sanctions
The Katz School of Medicine's Honor Code also lists available disciplinary sanctions. Those sanctions include “written reprimand, failure of course or rotation, non-academic probation, failure of year, reference to the offenses in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation, suspension, or expulsion.” The school may impose other sanctions but must choose a sanction “appropriate to the seriousness of the offense.” Remedial sanctions like extra training or coursework may help a student avoid dismissal while also keeping the student's record clear of discipline.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine Student Defense
Medical school appeals, formal hearings, and other disciplinary procedures are not for the faint of heart. Indeed, accused medical students typically lack the advocacy skills and experience for effective academic administrative defense. They also generally lack the independence and objectivity to strategically manage their own disciplinary cases. Retain skilled and experienced academic administrative defense attorney services for your best possible outcome to Lewis Katz School of Medicine disciplinary charges.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine Special Relief
National student defense attorneys at LLF Law Firm have a strong reputation and relationship with many college and university general counsels and outside retained counsel. The LLF Law Firm Education Law Team may be able to draw on those professional resources to negotiate your reinstatement to Lewis Katz School of Medicine, even if you have exhausted all other avenues.
Defense Attorney Services for Lewis Katz School of Medicine
The LLF Law Firm's Education Law Team and national student defense attorneys are available at Lewis Katz School of Medicine for your dismissal defense. Call 888.535.3686 or go online now for premier Philadelphia, Pennsylvania student defense services.
