Professionalism encompasses those attributes and behaviors that serve to maintain patient interests above physician self-interest. Professionalism is a founding value of the Zucker School of Medicine and is embedded in all of our activities. Professionalism involves relationships and interactions between all those involved in medical education and the delivery of patient care, including physicians, students, administrators, and allied health professionals. It has implications for research activities and interactions with for-profit companies, not-for-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and other outside entities.
When members of our community vow to remain professional, they are committed to all dimensions of professionalism. Professional behavior is transferable to all aspects of an individual’s life, including behavior during curricular and extracurricular activities.
Professionalism at the Zucker School of Medicine is assessed using the following seven dimensions:
Accountability:
Accountability is accepting responsibility for individual and group performance. This acceptance includes accountability to patients, peers, society, and the healthcare profession. Accountability includes freely accepting a commitment to service, accepting consequences of one’s behavior, admitting mistakes, and learning from mistakes. Examples of this dimension include understanding personal responsibility and self-awareness.
Aspiring to Excellence:
Aspiring to Excellence is working hard to complete tasks by setting high standards, setting goals for personal improvement, and striving to continuously learn and share products of that learning with others. Examples of this dimension include work commitment and motivation to learn.
Conscientiousness:
Conscientiousness is demonstrating a high degree of reliability by following through on commitments, approaching work methodically, and completing tasks thoroughly and systematically. Examples of this dimension are dependability, strong organizational skills, and thoroughness.
Equanimity:
Equanimity is the ability to project calmness, composure and an even temper, particularly during challenging interactions and difficult situations. Examples of this dimension include situational awareness, interpersonal tolerance, and effective decision making.
Integrity:
Integrity is showing consistency among principles, values, and behaviors and includes choosing an ethical course of action in an attempt to do the right thing, being truthful and direct, maintaining confidentiality, remaining free from the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, and other controlled substances while at required educational or clinical activities, avoiding conflicts of interest, upholding professional standards of appearance, and obeying school, university, and health system policies. Examples of this dimension include trustworthiness, academic honesty, discretion, personal conduct, appropriate dress, and organizational citizenship.
Patient-Centeredness:
Patient-Centeredness is the focused effort of discovering, respecting, and meeting patient needs, handling challenging situations effectively, and promoting and striving to create an environment that represents and values diversity of people and ideas. Examples of this dimension include compassion, patient-advocacy, and respect for diversity.
Teamwork:
Teamwork is collaborating and coordinating with others to achieve a common goal, showing concern for and providing assistance and support to others, interacting respectfully, and creating a desire for team accomplishment. Examples of this dimension include cooperation, respectful interaction and etiquette in all forms of communication, and team building.
If you wish to report a professionalism concern, please use this form to do so.
Last Updated: December 2019