Professionalism and Ethics in the Professions: Learning Together to Move Forward

Session Type: Invited Speaker Session

Abstract

Historically, a central defining feature of professional work has been its service orientation and commitment to public good. For example, physicians have had a responsibility to serve the interests of their patients as well as society more broadly, and lawyers have been charged with attending to the interests of their clients as well as to the needs of their communities. While specialized knowledge and technical abilities are necessary for ensuring that these types of goals are achieved, they are not sufficient. Drawing from the fields of medicine, nursing, law, and engineering, this session explores issues of professionalism and ethics across the professions. Panelists will speak to what these constructs mean and how they are constituted in their particular field, why they matter for practice, how and when they are taught, and how and when they are assessed. Major commonalities and points of departure among the four professions will be synthesized, with implications for informing best practices capable of enabling professional and ethical conduct across the continuum of education and practice.

Sub Unit

• Division I - Education in the Professions

Chair

• Monica M. Cuddy, National Board of Medical Examiners

Discussant

• Frederic W Hafferty, Mayo Clinic

Panelists

• Maxine Papadakis, University of California - San Francisco

• Ming-Jung Ho, Georgetown University

• Justin L Hess, Purdue University