The development of medical professionalism in undergraduate medical education is intended to ensure future doctors maintain high professional standards in all aspects of patient care. At Imperial College School of Medicine, the Professional Value Behaviours Domain compasses three key areas - Medical Ethics and Law, Professional Identity and Behaviour, and Quality Healthcare. These subdomains aim to equip students with the understanding of the qualities, (virtues) , skills and knowledge needed to be a good doctor.
This is to prepare students for a lifetime of practice within medicine and links closely to the GMCs guidance for medical students (Achieving Good Medicine Practice, GMC). Students develop awareness of their professional and moral identity, they have opportunities to practice their reflection skills and discuss complex scenarios which challenge their understanding of what to do in uncertain scenarios – the art and science of medicine.
The course is integrated within multiple forms of assessments, giving students ample opportunity to engage with the topics and demonstrate their learning. This includes written exams, teamwork assignments and Professionalism-focused practical stations in both the OSCEs and PACES exams.
Teaching methods
Students will acquire and develop this understanding across a range of learning and teaching modalities including small group work, self-directed online activities, and lectures through all six years of the Curriculum.
The School of Public Health currently hosts the Professional Identity and Behaviour and Quality Healthcare educational teams.
Professional identity and behaviour
This domain delves into students’ own values, beliefs, and behaviours. Exploring how these impact on the healthcare you deliver, and strategies to shape you into a person-centric and self-caring doctor. Students are encouraged to discuss and reflect on their own cultural identity and consider how this might impact the future healthcare they provide.
Challenging themes such as moral distress, burnout, and dealing with difficult situations such as harassment or racism allow students the opportunities to explore these topics. In psychologically safe small groups with tutors who help them to develop skills to manage complexity and uncertainty.
Quality Healthcare
This domain integrates with the other PVB domains to explore quality improvement, patient safety and the effects of various factors and environments on health behaviours and outcomes.
Teaching sessions cover such topics as the importance of teamworking in healthcare, putting quality improvement into practice, professional honesty and how evidence informs practice.
Medical Ethics and Law is led by Dr Wing May Kong who is part of the Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction.