Professionalism Education

Professionals engaged in work whose content and quality are not easily understood by laypeople are granted special status and exclusivity through certain qualifications and licenses; therefore, the establishment and respect of professional ethics are required. Physicians are precisely such professionals (professions) from whom public interest, morality, and expertise are strongly demanded. While there are various definitions of medical professionalism, Arnold and Stern define it as being supported by four pillars—excellence, humanism, accountability, and altruism—standing on a foundation of clinical competence, communication skills, and ethical and legal understanding.

In the present day, where medical technology and medical knowledge are increasing at an accelerating pace, "professionalism education" is being emphasized in medical sciences education.

Considering the importance of professionalism education in current medical sciences education, the Keio University School of Medicine launched a new curriculum in 2014 to provide consistent professionalism education throughout the six years from the first to the sixth grade.

Considering the importance of professionalism education in current medical sciences education, the Keio University School of Medicine launched a new curriculum in 2014 to provide consistent professionalism education throughout the six years from the first to the sixth grade.

Students will understand the foundations of healthcare systems and medical policy, as well as the basics of business administration and economics necessary to understand them.

Students will acquire the ethical foundations of research.

Students will learn about ethics in clinical research, medical communication, and the ideal role of a physician.

Through group work, students will learn about themes such as the background of medical accidents becoming social issues, the mindset of a physician, the social role of a physician, the public health mind required of physicians, legal issues in end-of-life care, and the actions physicians should take.

Through group work, students will learn about the application of bioethics in medical settings, including end-of-life care, brain death determination and organ transplantation, options for assisted reproductive technology, the reality of medical accidents, patient trouble, and medical litigation, as well as genetic diseases and preimplantation diagnosis.

In addition to the subject of Medical Professionalism, professionalism education is naturally conducted continuously and repeatedly across many other subjects. For example, in anatomy lab sessions, students not only learn medical sciences but also many things about becoming medical researchers and physicians through the practice. The Inter-Professional Education Program teaches collaboration with other professions and teamwork. Furthermore, clinical clerkships conducted while actually interacting with patients serve as an important opportunity to learn professionalism as a physician.