The challenge of teaching professionalism.

The medical profession has been conscious of all the changes happening in society in the last quarter of the 20th century and has tried to cope with it. Numerous criticisms about the profession and its professionals have stimulated a revision of the professional’s behaviour and professionalism. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has launched its own proposal under the name of CanMEDS 2000. Among the revised roles and competences one find professionalism. This theme is at the heart of our profession since the early days of the 20th century when medicine became a modern profession. Responsibility for the patient remains fundamental for any doctor but, today, society expects more accountability from the medical profession. We have the obligation to educate our residents not only for healing and caring of patients but also for active participation in managing the healthcare system. In this paper, we examine this renewed post-modern professionalism. My intention is to propose a visual approach for the teaching of professionalism. Ann Acad Med Singapore 2004;33:697-705