Reaffirming professionalism through the education community.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of the clinical training environment and a medical education community in reaffirming medical professionalism among physicians-in-training and faculty. DATA SOURCES: Published articles on undergraduate and graduate medical education and sociology works on professionalism were identified through research. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were selected that illustrated barriers to professionalism in medical education and patient care and the professional conduct of medical students, residents, and faculty. RESULTS: Factors that undermined the medical education community were the specialization of medicine, the faculty reward systems, and the service demands of residency because of the economics of health care. CONCLUSIONS: Establishment of a firm system with a core teaching faculty, creation of mentoring and role modeling programs, implementation of a longitudinal curriculum on medical professionalism, evaluation of physicians on professional conduct, and evaluation of the clinical training environment are suggested as strategies to re-establish an education community and reaffirm professionalism in medicine.