Wisconsin is home to three medical schools: the Medical College of Wisconsin, the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Wisconsin Lutheran College Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine out of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. No matter which school you attend, they are all focused on training skilled, conscientious, and empathetic physicians. As such, their standards are high. Some students may find meeting these standards difficult and fall victim to the stresses of it all. If you find that you are in such a situation, an attorney advisor will be able to support you.
Academic and Professionalism Policies for Wisconsin Medical Students
It's difficult to get into medical school. You must have done well in your undergraduate courses, taking specific prerequisites, and done well on your MCAT entrance exam. All of these trials create incredible competition amongst students when they finally start medical school. This competitiveness spurs medical schools into creating codes of conduct they ask their students to abide by. If your school is like the Medical College of Wisconsin, you'll find that they have asked you to refrain from cheating or collaborating with other students without permission and to uphold their definition of “professionalism.” They ask their students to be respectful, avoid bullying, and take responsibility for both their good decisions and bad mistakes.
In some instances, a faculty member or clinical staff might determine you have violated these rules. If this happens, you will be brought before your school's committee, which will determine if you should be punished for the act and whether that punishment will include remediation, suspension, or dismissal. The name of this committee will change depending on the nature of the accusation, which is why getting familiar with your school's particular code of conduct is so important.
Committee hearings like these can feel overwhelming. Your future is on the line. But an attorney advisor will be able to advise you on not just the next steps to take but how to gather evidence and witnesses to advocate on your behalf.
Remediation at Wisconsin Medical Schools
In medical school, you will consistently be tested on both your medical understanding and your professional abilities. And in some cases, students may fare better in one area than another. To move forward from year to year, the faculty will review each student's progress. If they find the student struggling to pass their courses, rotations, or USMLE steps, they will intervene.
At the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, these interventions allow the student to remediate the work they are having difficulty with. Essentially, they are allowed to retake their courses, rotations, or USMLE steps and move forward when they pass. Now, most schools only allow you to remediate once, and you can only remediate during pre-determined times, meaning there's a chance your graduation date may be pushed further away.
Unfortunately, some schools do not enforce their remediation policies and will just dismiss the student with no further course of action. If you think your school is unwilling to form a remediation plan for you, an attorney-advisor will be able to work with them on your behalf to ensure you are provided one.
Dismissal From a Wisconsin Medical Program
Potentially being dismissed from medical school can feel like a nightmare. You've worked so hard to get here, and it might feel like your dream of being a doctor is just slipping away. It's important to remember that there are several ways you might find yourself before a dismissal committee that do not involve cheating or plagiarizing. For instance, at the Wisconsin Lutheran College program, the students can be dismissed for disciplinary issues and failing to obtain satisfactory academic progress. If a student falls behind or is found to have violated academic integrity at WLC, they will be referred to the Student Promotion and Graduation Committee for a dismissal hearing.
During these dismissal committee hearings, you will be given an opportunity to defend yourself. Working with an attorney from the moment you learn of these proceedings will guarantee you the best possible outcome. Sadly, we've seen many students go into these proceedings without proper defense and then suffer personal hardships and financial hardships - like having to restart your medical career at a lesser-reputable medical school or facing the repayment of considerable loans without a physician's salary to help.
Appeals
Every student, every person really, is owed due process rights from the institution they attend. When you make a commitment to go to a particular medical school, they make a commitment not to dismiss you without grounds, to afford you the opportunity to face your accuser, to allow you to defend yourself in person, to request remediation plans, and to appeal any punishment they place on you.
If the committee determines that dismissal is appropriate, you have one chance to appeal the decision. In the notification of their decision, the committee will outline the appeals process – the grounds it can be made on, who to submit it to, and most importantly, when to submit it.
If you find this process intimidating, or you never received the option to appeal, an attorney advisor will be able to help you apply for one, putting the university on notice that this fundamental due process right is owed. Additionally, if your appeal is denied, they will reach out to the Office of General Counsel at your medical school and attempt to negotiate on your behalf. Typically, these negotiations have better outcomes than a traditional lawsuit might.
Wisconsin Medical Student Defense Advisor
Going to medical school has been your dream for as long as you can remember, but academic challenges and dismissal proceedings can make for an early exit from the career. If you believe your medical school isn't doing enough to help you or is falsely accusing you of something, reach out to an attorney advisor. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has dedicated his career to helping students in similar situations. He and his team have years of experience protecting their clients from unfair remediation practices and unwarranted dismissals. Call the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 to discuss your case or schedule a time online.
