A commitment to [equitable healthcare] entails the promotion of public health and preventive medicine, as well as public advocacy on the part of each physician, without concern for the self-interest of the physician or the profession.
Hi everyone,
Our medical voice is a precious tool. In a cynical age, we remain a trusted profession. Our opinions bear the imprimatur of expertise and credibility.
We build expertise through years of study and practice. We prove our worth by accrediting our training programs, pursuing licensure and board certification, and maintaining knowledge throughout our professional careers. We nurture credibility by upholding the ancient edict to place patients’ needs above our own.
Advocating for health is one of our bedrock professional obligations. In the years ahead, we will be called to address infectious disease threats, research funding, access to healthcare, climate change, patient safety, and the well-being of vulnerable people. To build and preserve trust, we must use our voices responsibly, clearly, honestly, and courageously, adhering to facts, and guided by ethical principles, for the good of our patients and the populations we serve.
Enjoy your Sunday, everyone. I’m heading out to East Rock for a brisk winter hike.
Mark
P.S. Last week I had the privilege of giving a talk on professionalism at the Yale Center for Medical Education. Here are selected readings related to the talk that I found especially helpful (and a special thank you to Dr. Janet Hafler for the invitation):
- Rethinking Professionalism Assessments in Medical Education
- Oaths, Conscience, Contracts, and Laws-The Gathering Storm Confronting Medical Professionalism
- Burnout, Professionalism, and the Quality of US Health Care
- Twelve tips for addressing medical student and resident physician lapses in professionalism
- Being Well while Doing Well — Distinguishing Necessary from Unnecessary Discomfort in Training
- Professionalism in Medicine: Definitions and Considerations for Teaching