Professionalism and its role in the formation of medical professional identity

Background: The honorable medical profession is on the verge of being reduced to a business. Evidence suggests that professionalism is fading and today's doctors are faced with value-threatening problems and gradually begin to forget their main commitment as medical professionals. Many of the problems faced by doctors are rooted in non-professionalism. Mere education in the science and practice of medicine produces an inefficient medical workforce and leads to the formation of a distorted professional identity. In the past decade, educational innovations targeting the formation of desirable professional identities have been presented and are considered a vital part of medical education for the development of professionalism. The present study was conducted to examine the relationship between the formation of professional identity and professionalism. Professionalism education is essential in the formation of a desirable professional identity. Methods: This review article was done in 2015 through searching databases, such as PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, Ovid, SID, and IranMedex, using keywords of professionalism and professional identity, and medical education. Among the 55 found articles, 30 were assessed and selected for review. Results: The formation of professional identity is a process with the following domains: professionalism, and development of a personal (psychosocial) and a cultural identity, which is derived from the unification of professional, personal, and ethical development. The main components required for the formation of a desirable identity are, therefore, rooted in the dimensions of professionalism and professional development. The need for teaching professionalism has a reciprocal relationship with the formation of professional identity. Conclusion: There is a reciprocal relationship between formation of a desirable professional identity and development and strengthening of professionalism. Modern medical education should be designed to develop professional identity, and professionalism acts as an essential part of its curricula throughout the entire course of a doctor's education, with the aim of acquiring a desirable professional identity.