Our Guiding Principles

The Professionalism Resource Service (PRS) is guided by three interlinked principles: medical professionalism, medical ethics, and physician well-being. Medical literature extensively documents that lapses in one area can have profound implications for the other areas. The importance of each is also supported anecdotally by more than 70 years of combined PRS staff experience.

Definitions

Medical Professionalism

A belief system in which group members (“professionals”) declare (“profess”) to each other and the public the shared competency standards and ethical values they promise to uphold in their work, as well as what the public and individual patients can and should expect from medical professionals (See guidelines at the American Board of Medical Specialties).

Medical Ethics

A system of moral principles that apply values to the practice of clinical medicine and scientific research. Medical ethics are based on values that professionals can refer to in the case of confusion or conflict. These values include respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice. 

Physician Well-being

A state where physicians feel professionally fulfilled, experiencing happiness or meaningfulness, self-worth, self-efficacy, and satisfaction at work.

Professionalism in Context

Boston Medical Center (BMC)

“Exceptional care, without exception.” Professionalism at BMC is framed by the organization’s mission, vision, and core values.

BU Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Professionalism is an important aspect of the physician-patient relationship required by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). BUSM takes pride in promoting and demonstrating professionalism in our medical school curriculum.