Like other osteopathic medical school programs, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - Dublin Campus (OU-HCOM-Dublin) is committed to inclusion and diversity and fostering teamwork between its faculty, staff, and students so that they can train exceptional future primary care physicians and specialists with a focus on treating the whole patient. As such, OU-HCOM-Dublin holds its students to exceptionally high standards, and some students may find it hard to meet these expectations, causing them to behave in a way that is outside their normal.
If you or someone you love has found themselves accused of not meeting these standards, whether they failed a remediation plan, are being referred for dismissal, or are subject to some other disciplinary proceeding, an attorney-advisor can help. Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm have years of experience helping medical students navigate such issues, guaranteeing them the best possible outcome for their case. Call our offices today.
Academic and Professional Conduct for OU-HCOM-Dublin Students
Every institution has a specific set of rules and regulations that students are expected to uphold. At Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine – Dublin Campus, these standards are outlined in the school's student handbook and usually cover not just the medical student's academic conduct but their professional responsibilities as well. For instance, students are asked to maintain satisfactory grades, abstain from cheating and plagiarism, respect the rights, values, and perspectives of other students, faculty, and staff, and uphold patient confidentiality.
Students who violate these policies will be referred to the Committee on Student Progress (CSP) to determine if they should remediate a course or exam, should be punished in some way, or if they should be allowed to move forward in the program at all. Sanctions for disciplinary issues can range from a warning or academic probation to suspension or expulsion.
Remediation at OU-HCOM-Dublin
Like most graduate schools, osteopathic medical school is incredibly competitive, and many students may find the course load overwhelming. OU-HCOM-Dublin's primary goal is to maintain its own reputation and ensure the physicians they graduate into the workforce can adequately treat patients in a safe and effective manner. No one wants to be known as the school that produced a dangerous doctor. As such, OU-HCOM-Dublin tests their students on their academic knowledge as well as their professional competency. They understand that some students learn differently from the norm, and to ensure that students are given every opportunity to progress within the program, they may refer the student for a remediation plan. Their remediation plan allows struggling students to retake exams, courses, clinical rotations, and standardized tests like the COMPEX Level 1. The Committee on Student Progress will observe and assess the student's academic and professional progress. If they determine that a student would benefit from remediation, they will refer them to the Associate Dean of Admissions & Student Affairs so a remediation program can be created.
If a student is given the option to remediate, it must be completed by a certain date before the student can move forward.
Dismissal Procedures for Medical Students at OU-HCOM-Dublin
To continue to ensure that OU-HCOM-Dublin is graduating safe and knowledgeable physicians, CSP will review each student's progress at the end of each academic year. If they find a medical student is consistently being sanctioned for disciplinary actions, is unable to pass their courses or exams, or has been found responsible for academic or sexual misconduct accusations, they will refer them for dismissal.
Students will be given the opportunity to submit witnesses and evidence to defend themselves during the CSP hearing. CSP will then review this information and the university's reasoning behind their referral for dismissal and determine whether or not dismissal is appropriate. As stated above, many medical schools think about their reputation first and punish students unnecessarily – trying to get ahead of the bad press that might come from the proceedings. If you have been referred for dismissal, working with an attorney-advisor from the moment you are notified of the hearing is the best way to ensure your due process rights are upheld by CSP.
Appeal a Decision at OU-HCOM
After you are notified of CSP's dismissal or disciplinary decision, you will be offered an opportunity to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made within a short period of time – usually five to ten days after receiving the notice. The notice of their decision will describe how long you have to submit your appeal, what types of evidence can be included in it, and what grounds the appeal can be made on. Typically, the grounds for appeal include:
- There is new evidence available now that was not available before but will change the material outcome of the decision
- CSP has a conflict of interest or bias towards the student
- The sanctions are more severe than necessary and should be amended
Once the appeal is made, it will most likely be referred to an impartial committee that will review it and determine whether or not to modify CSP's decision, strike it down, or uphold it. No matter their decision, it will probably be final and cannot be appealed further. Reach out to your OU-HCOM's Associate Dean of Admissions & Student Affairs for exact instructions. Additionally, if the idea of filing an appeal sounds stressful, Attorney Lento can help. Appeals are just as important as your original defense because it is your last chance to prove your side of the story and maintain your place in the osteopathic medical program.
Hiring an Experienced Attorney-Advisor
What you do in your osteopathic medical school program is vital to your life and career as a physician. That being said, the workload and stress of medical school can be absolutely overwhelming, forcing you to behave in a way you may not normally just to keep up with your classmates. As such, you might find it hard to adequately represent yourself during any remediation, disciplinary, or dismissal proceedings you will have to undergo. Unfortunately, when medical students are unprepared for these types of hearings, they are sanctioned unnecessarily, which in turn can have long-lasting effects on their future career and prospects. For instance, if you are suspended or dismissed, those punishments will be memorialized on your final transcript. If you hope to apply to a fellowship or another osteopathic medical school program to continue your education, you will have to explain those punishments in every application and interview.
Attorney-advisor Lento and Lento Law Firm have the skills and experience to help medical students facing similar situations. They will work diligently to gather evidence and witnesses to create a strong defense on your behalf. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
