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Medical Students Learn and Practice Professional Values

The Wayne State University School of Medicine is piloting a new curriculum to promote professional values and attributes in its student physicians.

As Dr. Larry Schwartz told the medical students in their physical diagnosis class, “You are now student doctors. The physician-patient relationship is the most intimate of relationships. Patients tell their doctors things they don’t tell their closest friend, spouse or relative. They expose their body with confidence and trust. You must respect this trust.”

The curriculum, which is currently being tested, will formally commend those who exhibit respectful and responsible attitudes and will implement policies to deal with undesirable behaviors. Each student will be required to keep a professional portfolio to document examples of positive behaviors. The portfolio could include faculty recommendations, patient testimonials, statements from health care staff members or peers, and required written self-reflection exercises. This portfolio could be used to compose letters of recommendation for residency application. Furthermore, WSU plans to lead a national effort to have this documentation become part of the Electronic Residency Application Service application.

In addition to the portfolio, students already take an oath of academic integrity at the beginning of medical school, complete a medical ethics course and practice professional behavior in the Introduction to the Patient course. A newly established Professional Behavior Deficiency Form will establish policies and procedures to formally track problems with unprofessional behavior and deal with students who egregiously fail to meet professional standards.

The five professional attributes that form the core of the professionalism curriculum are: professional responsibility, competence and self-improvement, respect for others and professional relationships, honesty and social responsibility.

Members of the Professionalism Task Force

Kenneth Ginsburg, MD, chair
Joel Appel, MD
Kate Connors, MSW
Jeff Decker, Class of 2004
Ken Kish, MSW
Anjanette Koritnik, Class of 2003
Todd Meyers, Class of 2001
Brian Petroelje, Class of 2002
James Rillema, PhD
Larry Schwartz, MD
Mark Speece, PhD
Mike Webber, PhD

“Knowledge and good grades are an important part of medical school, but this is too,” said Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, chair of the Professionalism Task Force. “Through this curriculum, the School of Medicine hopes to create an environment that fosters the professional development of its students while reacting to violations of desired professional growth.”

“We need to reinforce the ‘art’ of medicine as discussed by Hippocrates. Medical students in the 21^st century can learn from Hippocrates’ lecture to his students 2400 years ago, entreating them to be physicians ‘both in body and soul,’” Dr. Schwartz said.

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