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The dynamics of professional commitment: immigrant physicians from the former Soviet Union in Israel
1Programme in the Sociology of Health, Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|April 1, 1996
Summary
Immigrant physicians from the former Soviet Union in Israel view medicine as a livelihood, not a calling, due to occupational constraints. Many pursue licensing despite limited opportunities, hoping for scarce medical positions.
Area of Science:
- Sociology of Professions
- Medical Sociology
- Immigration Studies
Background:
- Immigration of physicians from the former Soviet Union to Israel in the early 1990s.
- Challenges of occupational continuity in a saturated Israeli medical market.
- Impact of post-modern societal shifts on professional commitment and work meaning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine professional commitment among immigrant physicians.
- To analyze the influence of socio-economic constraints on occupational continuity.
- To explore the multifaceted nature of professional commitment in a new socio-professional context.
Main Methods:
- Empirical examination of several dimensions of professional commitment.
- Analysis informed by literature on changing professional roles and post-modern work.
- Contextualization within Soviet medical deprofessionalization and Israeli societal constraints.
Main Results:
- Immigrant physicians largely perceive medicine as a means of livelihood rather than a calling.
- A short-range time perspective characterizes physicians post-arrival, impacting their market adaptability.
- Intense efforts to obtain medical licenses persist despite a low probability of regular employment.
Conclusions:
- Professional commitment is shaped by economic necessity and perceived occupational limitations.
- The pursuit of medical practice reflects a blend of professional identity and pragmatic adaptation.
- Hope for scarce positions persists among immigrant physicians, highlighting resilience amidst adversity.