West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is committed to educating a diverse cohort of students in osteopathic medicine and complementary health-related programs. They implore their students to advance scientific knowledge through their academic, clinical, and research endeavors while promoting patient-centered care and evidence-based medicine. With such high expectations for their students, it is no wonder some buckle under the pressure and behave in ways they normally would not. If you or someone you love has been notified of a disciplinary or dismissal committee hearing or are struggling with a remediation plan, an attorney-advisor can help. Call our offices today.
Academic and Professional Conduct for West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
At WVSOM, students are evaluated throughout their time in the program for their academic and professional skills, knowledge, and integrity. As such, students are expected to abide by certain standards, which can be found in the student handbook. These standards include the following:
- Must have a primary concern for patient welfare and respect for their rights
- Maintaining order and discipline on campus
- Abstaining from disorderly conduct, theft, and disruption of academic life on campus
- Behaving in a responsible, reliable, and dependable manner
- Managing their time well
- Following through with their commitments
- Not practicing medicine at WVSOM while under the influence of controlled substances, alcohol, or illegal drugs
- Having compassion and respect toward others
- Maintaining patient confidentiality
If a WVSOM student does not uphold these standards, they will be referred to the Student Promotions Committee (SPC) for review. The SPC may decide that the student should be referred to a dismissal or disciplinary committee or that a remediation plan is necessary. Whatever the case, an attorney-advisor can help you navigate these proceedings and create the best possible defense to protect you from unfair punishment.
Remediation at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
As we explained above, students at WVSOM are evaluated consistently. If the program discovers that a student is struggling to pass their courses or clinical rotations, they will be referred for a remediation plan. Remediation plans must be approved by the Curriculum Committee and the Associate Dean (which dean depends on which year the student is in).
For first- and second-year students who fail one course during one academic year, they will be allowed to remediate the course. If they are in Year 1, they must complete the remediation with at least a grade of 70% during the summer in order to be able to begin Year 2. The same is true for Year 2 students before they will be allowed to begin Year 3. If the student is unable to pass the remediation with the required score, their record will be sent to the SPC for review.
In Years 3 and 4, if a student fails a clinical course, they will be allowed to remediate it through a comparable clinical rotation. Again, students must receive at least a 70% in the remediation to be allowed to move on. If the student fails to complete the remediation for a clinical course, they will fail the course, and their records will be sent to the SPC for review.
And, if a student continues to fail their remediation, or fails more than one clerkship, they could be referred for dismissal.
It is important to remember that even the best medical school programs may forget to offer a student a remediation plan. If you find that you are having trouble passing your plan, or if you are unable to request a remediation plan, an attorney-advisor can help.
Dismissal Procedures for Medical Students at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Students at WVSOM are expected to show satisfactory academic and professional performance throughout their entire time in the program. Because of this, they can be dismissed from WVSOM for a few different reasons, including:
- Having a cumulative grade point average under 70% at the end of the academic year
- Failing one or more courses in a single year
- Failing a course that was repeated
- Failing a remediation program
- Failing to maintain appropriate conduct – including cheating, breaching confidentiality, being intoxicated in public, assaulting or threatening faculty, staff, or other students, discriminating, or having poor clinical judgment
If a student is referred for dismissal, they will be notified by the SPC of a meeting. During this meeting, the student will have the opportunity to present evidence and witness testimony to defend themselves against unwarranted punishments. Once the SPC has heard all the evidence, they will determine whether or not dismissal is appropriate.
Appeal a Decision at West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
The SPC will notify the student of their decision in writing. The student will then have an opportunity to appeal the decision. Generally, appeals must be made in writing to the appropriate decision maker. The specific instructions will be listed in the SPC's determination letter. At WVSOM, the appeals decision maker will review the appeal on the merits – meaning it will examine the previous deliberations to determine if an error was made or if the student's due process was violated. The appeal decision maker may also consider new information that was discovered after the original hearing before making their decision to uphold, reverse, or modify the SPC's determination.
Why Work With an Attorney-Advisor
Many students do not consider the consequences the outcome of these issues can have once they are resolved. For instance, if a student is suspended or expelled, the punishment will be noted on their final transcripts. If they try to apply for a post-graduate fellowship or attempt to continue their education at a new medical school, the admissions boards for those programs will inquire about the incident.
Students should understand that the consequences of these actions can potentially be life-long. The best way to ensure you do not face any unnecessary consequences is to work with an attorney-advisor. Attorney-advisors have a distinctive outlook on the issues that plague osteopathic medical school students. They have the unmatched experience of navigating the law and understand the nuances of disciplinary, remediation, or dismissal proceedings.
Attorney Joseph D. Lento and Lento Law Firm will work diligently to defend you, gathering evidence and witnesses to testify on your behalf. They have years of experience helping students across the country in similar situations. Call 888-535-3686 today or schedule a consultation online.
