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Professionalism

Professionalism is a core competency of the ACGME. Further, professionalism is requisite to develop effective therapeutic relationships with patients, respectful collaboration with colleagues, appropriate interface with administrative staff, and effective coordination with non-physician healthcare professionals.

As such, we emphasize the importance of professionalism in our grading. Students who perform well on attending evaluations and the shelf exam, but fail to meet basic standards of professionalism will find their academic success potentially limited.

We encourage all students, residents, faculty, other healthcare professionals, and administrative and support staff to report any issues of professionalism to any of the clerkship directors or staff. [Link]

If a major issue is discovered, the clerkship director reserves the right to investigate more thoroughly and determine what actions needs be taken. Further, the clerkship director, assistant clerkship director, and clerkship coordinator will review all students who meet the criteria for Honors in Internal Medicine (see Grading). If the discussion reveals a potential Honors student to have demonstrated unprofessional behaviors during the clerkship (including but not limited to the examples below), an Honors grade would be determined to be inappropriate.

  • Proper communication of absences/days off to the student programs coordinator and team.
  • Reports of harassment of other students, faculty or staff
  • Being on time for Clerkship school, EKG lectures, etc.
  • Having completing a portion of your Case Logs prior to the Mid-Clerkship Review (you may lose points if a portion of the procedures and diagnoses are not logged by this meeting)
  • In the Clinic: To receive credit for clinic attendance, students are required to obtain a signature from the clinic faculty or preceptor with whom they are working. A signature must be obtained for each clinic session using the Download IM Activity Log book. Incomplete signature forms will result in deduction in Professionalism points (1 point for each missing signature); and not passing the Clinic portion of the clerkship. If a clinic session overlaps with a didactics session in the Clerkship, you should attend the didactics session and will not be held responsible for the clinic signature for that afternoon.
  • Treating peers and colleagues with respect and dignity.
  • Taking personal responsibility for your education and its results.

Food & Bags

  1. Other than the Chairman’s Lunch, food is not provided.
  2. Do not leave valuable items in a bag lying anywhere in the hospital.
  3. Do not carry bags in and out of patient rooms (this is a Joint Commission violation). All bags/items non-essential to patient care should be left in lockers or left in a car/secure area. If you are having any trouble finding lockers, please let us know and we will get it taken care of. Carry what you need in your pockets.

Dress Code/Appearance

  1. Men and women are expected to dress professionally and wear closed-toed shoes (an OSHA regulation).
  2. Scrubs are not permitted.
  3. All students are expected to wear their white coat and ID.