As a medical student enrolled at the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Lynchburg, Virginia, you are probably aware that the concept of professionalism is something that is important to your education. As with all medical schools, LUCOM makes it a point to weave professionalism throughout its curriculum and school policies. But as with many other schools, what exactly professionalism means is not always so clear.

Similarly, what constitutes unprofessional conduct is also not so clear. That is why if you have been accused of unprofessional conduct at LUCOM, you need to pay close attention to what the allegations are and take prompt and effective steps to defend yourself. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is here to help you with that. Call us at 888.535.3686 or submit our online contact form so we can schedule a confidential consultation to review your situation and let you know how we can help.

The Meaning of Professionalism at LUCOM

The LUCOM Catalog repeatedly refers to the concept of professionalism at the medical school. It does not, however, provide a specific definition of what professionalism means in terms of noting the types of conduct that are examples of professionalism, or types of misconduct that reflect unprofessional behavior.

As a result, it can be difficult to pin down exactly what the professionalism standards are for students at LUCOM. The Catalog notes that LUCOM is committed to providing students with faculty and staff who demonstrate professionalism. The LUCOM school value of “Respect” states that LUCOM “cultivates a community of respect characterized by integrity, professionalism, and trust.” The school notes that its curriculum adheres to the American Osteopathic Association’s “Core Competencies,” one of which is professionalism, which means “a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities in an ethical and sensitive manner.” Indeed, professionalism is one of the seven core competencies where students must show progress before they can be promoted from one class year to the next. In line with this, students are regularly evaluated for professionalism throughout their coursework and clinical rotations at LUCOM.

The Catalog does note under the heading “Unprofessional Behavior” that students can be dismissed from a clinical rotation for the following:

  • Violating the student code of conduct
  • Threatening public health or safety
  • Situations where dismissal is “deemed appropriate for the continued operation of the clinical site”

Given the broad references to professionalism in the LUCOM Catalog, it is safe to say that virtually any violation of any standards that students are expected to meet at LUCOM can be characterized as a professionalism violation.

In the end, if you are disciplined while enrolled at LUCOM, it makes little difference how the school labels your alleged misconduct. You need to defend yourself and to try to determine exactly what policy or requirement you are accused of having violated so that you can prepare your defense. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is ready to help you take the steps you need to protect your record, your enrollment, and your future.

Reporting Unprofessional Conduct at LUCOM

There are two possible ways that professionalism issues can be handled at LUCOM. Less-serious issues may be referred to the school’s Professional Advisory Group. The focus of the PAG is not on sanctioning students for misconduct, but on serving “as a mentoring body” to help students “with professionalism/conduct issues” with respect to “proper professional behavior.” The Catalog notes that the PAG primarily deals with first-time offenses.

More serious matters, including ones that the PAG believes are not progressing in a satisfactory way, are referred to LUCOM’s Student Progress Committee. The SPC is responsible for reviewing misconduct allegations and determining what sanctions, if any, to impose on the student.

The SPC has specific procedures in place for misconduct matters, including those involving professionalism concerns, that are before it. The first step is for the Chair of the SPC to conduct a preliminary investigation of the allegations made against the student. After that, the Chair will call a meeting of the SPC. The student will be notified in advance of this meeting, and may provide witnesses to testify on the student’s behalf at the hearing.

Notably, each witness will appear before the SPC alone, to give their statement to the committee and to answer questions from it. The accused student is not allowed to attend the hearing except when the student appears before the committee to provide their own testimony and to answer the committee’s questions.

After the close of the hearing, the SPC will make recommendations to the Dean as to the outcome of the disciplinary matter. These can include:

  • Reprimand – an oral or written notice of the student’s violation of the school policy. The reprimand may also warn the student that further violations will result in more severe discipline. 
  • Fine – a monetary amount that the student is required to pay to the school.
  • Probation – a period during which the student is monitored by the school and may need to meet certain requirements. The student will not be able to participate in LUCOM-sponsored student activities or hold office in any student organization while under probation.
  • Suspension – the student is not permitted to attend LUCOM for a period of time.
  • Dismissal – the student is removed from LUCOM permanently.

The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is ready to help you prepare for your SPC hearing. We can work with you to define what your defense or defenses will be to the professionalism concerns that have been raised against you. We can prepare you and your witnesses for your statements to the SPC and for questions that you can expect the committee members to ask.

LUCOM also has an informal appeals process that applies in disciplinary cases. These are considered appeals based on limited grounds, and any appeal must be submitted to the Dean within 72 hours of when the student receives the Dean’s decision. Because the written appeal is the only chance the student has to state their case, it is important that it be as complete as possible. 

The LLF National Law Firm Can Help Resolve Professionalism Issues

If you are facing allegations of unprofessional conduct at LUCOM, you need the help of an experienced attorney to prepare and submit your defense. The LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team is ready to work with you to do that. We regularly represent medical school students accused of unprofessional conduct as well as other types of misconduct at medical schools from coast to coast. Our experienced attorneys know the laws, regulations, rules, and procedures that apply in these types of cases. All of that knowledge and experience will be used to help you prepare to make your case to the SPC and to defend yourself against the allegations made against you.

As a medical student, you have a bright future. This is why it is so important to make sure that your career in medicine gets off to the right start. Let the LLF National Law Firm’s Student Defense Team help you protect your future. Call us at 888.535.3686, or submit our online contact form so we can schedule a confidential consultation to review your case and explain what we can do to help.    

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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