Profesisonalism

Approved at the CCC-3 Meeting on 6/15/12

Student enrollment in the College of Medicine demands a level of personal honor and integrity that ensures the provision of quality health care.

Professionalism is a cornerstone of the profession and physicians are held to a high standard of performance. The professionalism policy provides a mechanism for faculty members and students to submit reports about either unprofessional or exemplary professional student behavior to the Associate Dean for Curriculum. The curriculum dean compiles and evaluates ``incident reports'' brought to his/her attention and then recommends intervention or disciplinary action as appropriate. Such action may range from restrictions or counseling to suspension or dismissal, depending on the severity of the infraction. In some cases, graduation honors may be withheld. In the cases of positive reports of professionalism, advisory deans and/or the appropriate curriculum deans will be informed so that students may receive recognition for their commitment.

The process of becoming a physician is long, arduous, and challenging. At times, some students may be tempted to compromise their integrity as students and as developing professionals. This behavior must not be accepted as it may adversely impact education, research, and patient care. The same personal integrity that requires honesty requires reporting of any infraction of the Professional Policy or Code of Student Conduct. Hence students have an obligation to report conditions or situations that may lead to violations of either doctrine. Students must be committed to ensure high ethical standards of behavior, including but not limited to: patient confidentiality; academic integrity; personal behaviors and habits that do not negatively influence the ability to meet professional obligations as a medical student; and adherence to guidelines regarding relationship boundaries.

In all cases of academic misconduct and unprofessional behavior, the faculty member or student alleging charges refers the case to the Associate Dean for Curriculum who then determines whether the case will be handled "internally" through the professionalism pathway or via the University Judicial Process.

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