Principles of Medical Professionalism

The Geneva Declaration, a modern successor to the Hippocratic Oath, was recently revised to include the clause "I will attend to my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard." As the practice of medicine enters the modern era, a combination of disruptive factors, including the increased use of electronic health records and changes to the US healthcare system, have left physicians struggling to find happiness in their careers. Principles of Medical Professionalism emphasizes an often-neglected aspect of medical professionalism: how and why physicians ought to focus on their self-care, happiness, and well-being as they advance through the process of socialization into the medical community of practice. This book will help students manage their expectations about the profession while becoming more resilient to the disruptions in the field and equip health professionals of all levels with the practical knowledge and tools to integrate the values of medical professionalism into their professional identity. Ultimately, this book aims to empower physicians to transform their patient care in a way that incorporates an attention to healing, caring, and compassion while upholding a duty to serve the patient and society.