Facing Disappointment, Maintaining Determination
On September 5th, 2024, I received the University of Central Lancashire's final decision on my internal appeal - a decision that upholds my expulsion from the dental program. While deeply disappointing, this moment is not the end of my journey, but another challenge to navigate with resilience and hope.
The university's appeal panel, comprised of four members, carefully reviewed my appeal grounds. They acknowledged my rehabilitation efforts but ultimately maintained that the GMC's five-year erasure and my failure to disclose previous legal proceedings were insurmountable barriers to continuing my studies.
Key points from their decision include:
- Emphasising the GMC's five-year erasure period
- Concerns about patient safety
- Criticisms of my delayed disclosure
- Rejection of my proposed alternative solutions
Despite this setback, I remain committed to:
- Continuing my professional development
- Pursuing further academic and medical research
- Maintaining transparency about my journey
- Exploring potential paths forward
My next step is to prepare an application to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA). I have until September 4th, 2025, to submit my complaint, which provides time to carefully compile a comprehensive and thoughtful submission. To my fellow professionals facing challenges, I want to emphasise: setbacks are not the end of your story. They are opportunities for growth, reflection, and ultimately, transformation. My life coach and mentor continue to provide invaluable support, helping me process this disappointment and maintain focus on my long-term goals of professional rehabilitation and meaningful contribution to healthcare.
With continued determination, Mohammad