University of Nevada School of Medicine - Departments and Programs

UNSOM Students: Career Development: Professionalism

MAINTAINING A RESPECTFUL INSTITUTION

Professionalism at UNSOM
Scientific knowledge alone is not sufficient to the practice of good physicianship; it also requires attributes that go beyond science itself and extend to humanism and compassion. The University of Nevada School of Medicine fosters the culture and environment in which professionalism can flourish. The modeling and expectation of professionalism has been integrated into every learning environment and can be found throughout the basic science and clinical years of medical training. The School of Medicine also encourages the development and internalization of professionalism through the role modeling of faculty, residents and preceptors.

Values
UNSOM promotes the following values to maintain our goal of Respect by:

Displaying personal integrity and professionalism
Practicing fairness and understanding
Exhibiting respect for individual rights and differences
Respecting diversity and differences
Demonstrating harmony in the working and educational environment
Being accountable for one's actions
developing and maintaining confidentiality and trust
Emphasizing communication and collaborative resolution of problems and conflicts

Committment to Maintaining a Respectful Environment

All individuals have important contributions to make toward the overall success of UNSOM's mission
An atmosphere where individuals at all levels value each other and treat each other with respect is a must to carry out the UNSOM mission
All participants in the School of Medicine's educational program assume responsibility for enriching and nuturing an environment consisting of mutual respect, caring and compassionate health care
All individuals are allowed to discuss issues of concern in an open and honest manner, without fear of reprucussion or retaliation from those above or below them in the university's heirarchy. However, this does not grant anybody the right to make untrue allegations, unduly inflammatory statements or personal attacks, or to harass, to violate confidentiality, or to engage in other conduct that violates the law or University policy
Harassment, bullying and any mistreatment is unacceptable at all levels

Code of Professional Conduct

The learning environment is designed to facilitate students acquisition of knowledge and professional attributes required for effective, caring and compassionate health care. These characteristics are best fostered in the prescence of mutual respect between teacher and learner. It is understood that the combination of intense situations, social and behavioral diversity of students, staff, faculty and residents will, at times, lead to alleged, perceived or real incidents of inappropriate behavior or mistreatment of individuals. This occurrence can disrupt the learning environment and the relationship between the teacher and the learner. The School of Medicine is committed to responding to these situations in a way to enhance future learning and correct behaviors which interfere with this environment. Code of Professional Conduct. Updated 2/22/12

Admissions
Even prior to admission to medical school, prospective students are expected to be committed to caring for and serving others. Community service is an essential component of the prerequisites required for admission to the School of Medicine. Members of the Admission Selection Committee value the attributes of professionalism, and help insure that Nevada's students possess these exemplary qualities.

Honor Pledge and Ceremonies

Honor Pledge
Students and faculty recite the School's Honor Pledge at many of the School of Medicine's ceremonies and events. First year students sign the Pledge during the White Coat Ceremony. The signed pledge is displayed outside the lecture halls as a reminder to students and faculty of the institutional commitment to professionalism, integrity, and humanism.

Honor Committee

The Student Honor Committee is charged with supporting students who have concerns about potential honor violations. The committee assists in evaluating honor violation concerns and bringing concerns forward to appropriate course coordinators, and/or the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, and/or the Student Development Committee.

The Committee may be approached individually or as a group, and its intended function is to support fellow classmates in coming forward to promote actions of the highest integrity and professionalism, and those that reflect honorably on students behaving in accordance with the School of Medicine’s Honor Pledge.

Additional information can be found in the Student Handbook.

Orientation - White Coat Ceremony
During the White Coat Ceremony, students are initiated into the profession even before immersing themselves in the basic sciences. The Ceremony welcomes entering students to Nevada's medical school and helps establish the professional and psychological contract for the practice of medicine. The event emphasizes the importance of compassionate care for the patient as well as scientific proficiency.

Clinician's Ceremony - Transition to the Clinical Years
The Clinician's Ceremony is a celebration to mark the beginning of the clinical years of medical school, and serves to reaffirm students' commitment to humanism in the profession.

Peer Recognition of Professionalism
Beginning in 2002, Nevada's medical students created the Professionalism Awards as a way to recognize the professional attributes of their colleagues. The Awards, presented at the Clinician's Ceremony, recognize outstanding students for their honesty and integrity, respect, altruism, duty, excellence, and humility.

Excellence and Humanism in Teaching Awards for Residents
Outstanding residents are also featured during the Annual Clinician's Ceremony. The Excellence and Humanism in Teaching Award, sponsored by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, are awarded to residents who exemplify the qualities of exceptional teachers and role models.

Faculty, Resident, and Preceptor Role Models
Every day, in classrooms, laboratories, offices, clinics, and hospitals students are observing interpersonal behavior and ethical choices. We strive to make everyone aware of the important role they play in the education of truly excellent physicians.

Recognition of faculty members for humanistic qualities demonstrates that achievement cannot be measured only by one's income, the number of grants one receives, or by the number of publications one produces. The faculty members who nominate their colleagues display their belief in humanistic principles.

Community Service
Community service allows physicians to practice all of the attributes of professionalism, especially altruism and duty. The UNSOM Student Outreach Clinic is an outstanding example of a community service of our students

Awards

Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS)
The University of Nevada School of Medicine is proud to be one of 45 medical schools selected to establish a Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS). The GHHS honors medical students, residents, role-model physician teachers and other exemplars recognized for excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion and dedication to service. Nevada's GHHS chapter promotes and nurtures the values of humanism and professionalism within the field of medicine. The School of Medicine inducted its inaugural members into the GHHS chapter during the April 2005 Clinician's Ceremony.

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards
The University of Nevada School of Medicine has recognized humanistic students and physicians each year since 1999. Each year graduating medical students nominate one colleague and one clinician to receive the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.