Morehouse School of Medicine
Background: Professionalism is a concept for which a concrete and inclusive definition has not been achieved. When it comes to teaching and evaluating medical students and residents regarding professionalism, this lack of definition can be a major roadblock. Today’s medical learners are digital natives – they are comfortable and familiar with the use of technology in the form of social media. As today’s learners develop their professional identities and make the transition to professional physicians, their social media behavior continues to be critical to their personal online identities. It is not fully known about the total impact social media has on professional identity formation and professionalism.
Methods: This pilot qualitative study was conducted at Morehouse School of Medicine and was best suited using the grounded theory approach. A convenience sample of students was selected to conduct a focus group about their concepts of professionalism and how social media has affected it.
Results: Six themes emerged from this pilot study and include: personal character and patient relationships, communication, trust, peer relationships, and student-teacher relationships.
Discussion: The art and practice of medicine will undoubtedly look and feel differently in the future. Social media platforms are here to stay and more are in development each day. Medical educators must shift and adapt their views regarding social media, medicine, and e-professionalism. New perspectives are needed, and in turn these new perspectives must be taught as the landscape changes in order to guide our learners successfully into the future.
