Rob Minkes, MD, PhD, MS-LOD, and Robert Eisinger, PhD, both coaching faculty members at the Healthcare Experience Foundation (HXF), join us on our weekly Healthcare Experience Matters Podcast to address some of the lingering questions surrounding medical professionalism.

Vagueness of Medical “Professionalism”

Last month, the New York Times published an article that caught our attention here at HXF entitled, The Unbearable Vagueness of Medical “Professionalism.”

The article explores the evolving concept of professionalism in medical education and clinical practice, and the challenge of dealing with vague standards of professionalism, often resulting in disciplinary actions that disproportionately affect students of color.

These standards extend beyond traditional behavior to include appearance and social media activity. The response led to a viral movement (#MedBikini), prompting a retraction of a newspaper criticizing unprofessional social media content.

The history of professionalism in medicine reflects efforts to uphold ethical values amid changing healthcare landscapes.

However, concerns persist regarding the subjective nature of professionalism assessments and their impact on diversity within the medical field. With ongoing debates about dress codes and social media conduct, this article underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of professionalism that reflects the diverse identities and experiences of healthcare professionals and patients alike.

The full Times article can be found here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/19/health/medical-students-professionalism.html

The HXF Response

Dr. Minkes and Robert responded to the article, and ongoing debate regarding a lack of clarity on medical professionalism, as such:

Doctors and nurses have answered a calling to care — specifically, in healing the sick. They don’t think about whether their off-duty attire meets traditional definitions of appropriateness, even though some people think that is what defines or constitutes “professionalism.”

But larger questions remain. How do we train medical professionals to be leaders in their field — to commence difficult conversations about death, to manage C-suite demands and requests, to work as a team with others, or to assuage patients’ concerns in a way that fosters compassion and trust?

Hospital executives and medical staff leaders who invest in professionalism training will be rewarded with happier, healthier patients, and doctors and nurses who bring joy and love to their work.

The letter to the editor from the HXF Team can be found here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/27/opinion/medical-professionalism-doctors-nurses.html?unlocked_article_code=1.f00.b0T_.gkexPpDIGhF5&ugrp=u 

About Today’s Speakers

Dr. Minkes currently serves as Physician Coach with HXF. He is a board-certified general and pediatric surgeon who previously practiced as a pediatric surgeon for over twenty years in academic and private practice settings. He is also a professor and Chair of Specialty Medicine with Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM).

Robert Eisinger is Chief Academic and Administrative Officer with HXF.

A political scientist by training (B.A. Haverford College, M.A., Ph.D. University of Chicago), Robert began his leadership journey teaching and writing about public opinion, and the intersection of political institutions and behavior. He brings more than two decades of higher education and private sector experience to the HXF team.

For a related conversion, make sure to listen to What Cultural Humility Means in Practice for Healthcare Leaders with Tiffany C. Chaney, FACHE: https://healthcareexperience.org/cultural-humility/

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