Wyoming is one of the largest and most scenic states in the country. Despite its size, it is also one of the least populated in the U.S. Medical students have limited options for choosing a program in Wyoming. Due to Wyoming's low population, only one medical program exists called the WWAMI Medical Education Program. It is an affiliate program offered by the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, Washington. The acronym stands for the five states participating in the program, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho.
After completing the four-year program that spans multiple sites throughout Wyoming and the WWAMI region, students receive their Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Washington. However, just like any other medical school, students must demonstrate a mastery of their course material and maintain conduct standards befitting their future profession. A lapse in judgment may delay or prevent a student from graduating due to penalties ranging from remediation to dismissal.
Academic and Professional Standards for Wyoming Medical Students
Medical students enrolled with WWAMI must follow the University of Washington School of Medicine's MD program policies, found in the student handbook. The handbook provides an overview of the program's curriculum requirements and policies, in addition to the expected standards of performance and student progress. The handbook also includes guidelines for managing alleged violations.
The handbook mentions that graduates must "achieve a level of competence in the prescribed curriculum and to demonstrate appropriate professional behavior in all interactions with faculty, staff, student peers, patients and administrators".
Medical students must maintain professional behavior throughout their training and within their community. They will move about throughout the WWAMI region and work with multiple medical professionals, other doctors, and patients. During this time, an accusation of unprofessional behavior may cause a student to face issues continuing the program or finding work after graduation.
Remediation
Even if medical students demonstrate good conduct and professionalism, there are limits to their education if they cannot maintain high grades. Since doctors care for patients and perform surgical procedures that can significantly impact their health, society holds them to a much higher standard.
Suppose a medical student is not performing well in Wyoming. In that case, it is essential to speak to an advisor and review their medical program's policy to determine the next steps. Every school is different when it comes to its educational requirements. Medical students in Wyoming participating in the WWAMI program also must familiarize themselves with the University of Washington's remediation policies after leaving the Wyoming campus.
In some cases, remediation is necessary, especially if the student requires more time to master the information. However, in other cases, the request for remediation is not substantial. The student ends up wasting time and delaying graduation for a rectifiable issue.
In most cases, medical students know when to improve their performance to move on to the next training phase. If they can complete an exam or coursework before taking on remediation, it is better than the inconvenience of delays and the potential negative impact remediation can have on future residency and professional opportunities.
Consequences of Dismissal from a Wyoming Medical Program
Dismissal from a medical program has catastrophic consequences on a student's prospects as a doctor regardless of the state. Discharge can happen when a student commits an egregious behavioral or professional violation, or even arguably benign repeated violations. In other cases, it is due to chronic academic underperformance with no signs of improvement despite remediation.
Some of the issues that Wyoming medical students may face after dismissal include:
- Loss of Morale: Medical school is hard work, and it takes a tough student to pass and continue with their residencies. Unfortunately, due to the effort, stress, and heavy expectations to succeed, students put their all in the first attempt. If they receive a dismissal, they may not have the desire or will to resume medical school altogether and go with a different field of study.
- Reputation Damage: Students cannot simply ignore a dismissal on their transcript – and their future employers will not either. If a student has an alarming history and reputation, recruiters and hiring managers may refuse employment.
- Difficulty Enrolling in Another Medical School: Wyoming medical students need to travel out of state if they receive a dismissal. However, they may not receive acceptance from another medical school at all. Since these programs are highly-competitive, only the best applicants receive placement, including those with stellar grades and backgrounds.
- Loss of Time and Money: Medical students spend time and money on their degrees in the hope of becoming high earners in the future. Unfortunately, their efforts go to waste due to a suspension or expulsion.
With so much at stake, students must take all precautions necessary to avoid dismissal, especially with multiple violations.
Appeals
All medical students in Wyoming have a right to appeal a decision that adversely impacts their future. Although every institution is different, some due process procedures are universal, such as:
- The right to know what the accusation is against the student
- Defending themselves against allegations
- The right to a fair hearing by an impartial party
- Appealing a sanctions decision that adversely impacts the student's future
Medical students in Wyoming should not underestimate the importance of appeals, especially if they face expulsion or suspension. During these incidents, the expertise of an attorney-advisor can make a difference. Filing a request alone may not yield positive results if the student does not have a solid defense strategy.
Is There Anything That Can Be Done After an Appeal?
Regardless of the issue or concern that a medical student faces, the early the medical student has professional help in the form of an experienced attorney-advisor, the better. That being said, even if you do not recognize this reality sooner rather than later, it may not be too late to achieve a favorable outcome.
With each passing step in a medical school's administrative and adjudicative process, the door potentially closes to achieve a good result. A medical student should not approach an investigation with the mindset that they can win the case at a hearing, just as a medical student should not approach a hearing with the mindset that they can win the case on appeal.
If, however, you have reached the stage of an appeal and your case was not resolved as hoped, the two general options for further recourse are having your attorney-advisor try to achieve a better outcome through negotiations with the medical school's Office of General Counsel (the school's attorney) and/or file a lawsuit.
Filing a lawsuit against your school can be a drastic step, but in some instances it will of course be necessary. You want to be a doctor, however, not a litigant in court. For this reason and others, almost universally, the best step to seek recourse is when your attorney asks your medical school's attorney to reconsider the matter.
A school's attorney looks at a medical student's case through a different lens than a professor, administrator, or dean, for example, and because of this, taking this step will often result in an outcome that can allow a medical student to continue on their journey to becoming a doctor without the obstacles that may have been imposed at earlier stages of the process.
Hiring An Attorney
Attending medical school is one of the most exhilarating – yet most challenging – aspects of the journey to becoming a doctor. You should be proud of your accomplishments and the effort you placed to get there. However, professionalism or academic problems can threaten your future and lead to dismissal and other adverse consequences. Don't wait until it's too late to take action – you need the help of a professional who works with medical students nationwide, like Attorney-Advisor Lento.
Attorney-Advisor Joseph D. Lento specializes in student defense and helps you face an investigation, progress committee, or hearing panel with confidence. With years of experience negotiating fair outcomes for medical students accused of professionalism issues or facing academic challenges, you can rest easy knowing that a professional is handling the case.
Don't let your time, effort, and nights of study go to waste. Call the Lento Law Firm today for a thorough consultation at 888-535-3686.
