Lessons in leadership: Developing a longitudinal evidence-based teaching curriculum on professionalism in healthcare

Given the responsibility of healthcare organizations to promote positive workplace cultures, the development of appropriate teaching material focused on professionalism is of relevance. A longitudinal evidence-based educational curriculum was thus constructed to equip participants with tools to enhance team-based care and to create an inclusive, respectful environment. Core themes on which to center the curriculum were identified based on the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. A MEDLINE search was undertaken to identify original peer-reviewed works using terms associated with professionalism in healthcare with the goal of building a foundational basis. Articles published from January 2014 to January 2024 and restricted to the English language were included. Based on the search results, a 12-month curriculum designed to promote workforce engagement and discussion was established. The 537 peer-reviewed publications selected to develop this thematic framework were broadly categorized as follows: ethics/accountability (N = 131); conflict resolution (N = 120); collaboration (N = 107); interpersonal communication (N = 70); empathy (N = 57); and wellness (N = 52). Between November 2023 and November 2024, a total of 12 sessions were scheduled. The feasibility of developing a standardized, evidence-based curriculum on workplace professionalism was demonstrated. The practical implications are discussed.