Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine (RUSOM) is dedicated to improving access, affordability, and quality healthcare education to its community, hoping to train students who are committed to improving healthcare. With such high expectations for its students, it's no wonder some students find the pressure to be too much. When this happens, they could be offered a remediation plan or brought before a disciplinary or dismissal board. Whatever the case may be, an attorney-advisor can provide unparalleled support and guidance during this difficult time. Call the Lento Law Firm today for help.
Academic and Professional Conduct for Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
RUSOM seeks to develop clinically skillful and compassionate physicians with diverse backgrounds who understand the benefits of treating the whole patient. To do so, they hand out a student handbook at the beginning of each new year which explains the exact specifications each student is meant to meet and uphold, both academically and professionally. These expectations include:
- Maintaining patient confidentiality
- Providing candid accounts of the patient's condition to the patient or their guardian
- Have mutual trust and cooperation with the patient
- Never abandon a patient
- Never commit sexual misconduct with a patient
- Maintaining the required minimum satisfactory grades
If a RUSOM student disobeys these expectations, or fails to meet them in some other way, they will be referred to the Student Academic Progress Committee (SAPC).
Remediation at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
At RUSOM, the SAPC reviews student records at the end of each year to determine if they are following the Academic Rules and Regulations (ARR) of the School of Osteopathic Medicine exactly. The ARR defines the academic and professional performance standards students need to fulfill to graduate. If they discover a student is struggling to meet these performance standards, they may refer the student for a remediation program. Remediation allows a student to retake an exam, clerkship, or assignment. If a student fails a clinical evaluation, though, they will have to repeat the entire clerkship.
Once the student successfully remediates, they will be able to re-enter the program where they left off. But if a student fails their remediation plan, the SAPC might recommend that the student either repeat the course the following year or be dismissed from the program completely. If you are having a hard time passing your remediation plan, an attorney-advisor can advocate on your behalf.
Dismissal Procedures for Medical Students at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Typically, students are dismissed from RUSOM as a consequence of either:
- Failing a COMAT in a clerkship more than once
- Not providing the university with their immunization and health records
- Violating the ARR standards
- Failing three single block/intersession/courses in an academic year
- Failing a remediation exam
- Failing a course twice
- Failing more than one elective rotation
- Failing to meet the requirements of their academic probation
- Failing to complete all required coursework
If the SAPC refers a student for dismissal, a hearing will be set up so that the student can present evidence and witness testimony to defend themselves. Once the SAPC has heard all of the evidence, they will determine whether or not the student should be dismissed from the program or some other appropriate action should take place.
Appeal a Decision at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
The SAPC will notify the student of their determination from the dismissal hearing in writing. The student then has ten business days from the day of the hearing to appeal the decision in writing to the Dean of the School within five business days. Generally, appeals can only be made on one of the following grounds:
- SAPC has a bias or conflict of interest toward the student
- New evidence is available now that was not available at the time of the hearing that will affect the outcome
- There was a procedural error that affected the outcome of the case
The SAPC decision letter will give specific instructions for when an appeal is appropriate. Once the appeal has been reviewed by the Dean, the Dean will determine if the SAPC's decision should be amended, upheld, or thrown out. Whatever they decide, it is final and cannot be appealed further. This is why it is so important to ensure your appeal is written succinctly and includes all of the supporting evidence you can find to help boost your defense.
If the idea of filing an appeal is overwhelming, but you don't want to be dismissed prematurely from medical school, an attorney advisor can help.
Why Work With an Attorney-Advisor
Attorney-advisors have a unique outlook on osteopathic medical school student issues. They understand the nuances of the disciplinary, remediation, or dismissal proceedings and have years of experience with the law. As such, a skilled attorney-advisor is your best bet for defending yourself from unnecessary consequences.
Many students do not think past the immediate moment and can't believe the types of consequences that could follow them after being punished by, or dismissed from, their medical school. For instance, if you are suspended or dismissed, the punishment will be noted on your transcripts. So, when you apply to another program to finish your education, or to a fellowship after graduation, you will have to explain what happened on the application and to the admissions board. Additionally, many students face mental health struggles after being sanctioned by the school in some way. They have come face to face with failure and now have to deal with the ramifications of their actions, which can be extremely overwhelming.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm will work tirelessly to gather evidence and witnesses to testify on your behalf. They have years of experience helping students navigate these proceedings, offering them strong defenses in the process. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
