Professionalism: My First Term In Medical School

Prior to starting medical school, I had only thought of being professional in vague terms: being courteous to others, setting a good example, etc. Now that I am approaching the completion of my first term in medical school, I can see that professionalism is much more than I had previously thought. Being a professional requires a continual hunger for knowledge, realizing one’s limits and weaknesses and working to improve them, accepting responsibility for one’s actions, working well with others as a leader and coworker, behaving ethically, respecting others, and having the ability to not only accept criticism, but also learn from it. As I am stepping into the role of a true professional, I feel that I am now able to identify and work on fine-tuning …show more content…
Even if I disagree with what someone is saying, I never belittle or disrespect that person. Through working previously working in the service industry, I realize that not everyone will be friendly towards me, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be friendly with them. Everyone has “off” days and I feel that it is always important to show compassion towards others whenever you can. This concept is especially important towards patient care. As a physician, I may be encountering a patient on the worst day of his life, and no matter how rude or angry he may be, it is important to demonstrate poise and a caring attitude towards each …show more content…
As a medical student, this concept is especially apparent. I know that if I have an exam coming up and need to study for it, then I may have to forgo or reschedule getting together with friends. While I make my mental and physical health a priority, I know that to succeed in school and later on in life, some personal sacrifices will have to be made. By acknowledging that, I am able to better balance school and outside activities, which I feel will help me succeed in the long run. As a professional, I realize that I must take responsibility for my own successes and failures. I know that working hard often leads to a success; however, complacency can lead to failure. If I had a task and did not complete it appropriately on time, no one is to blame but myself. I make a strong effort to succeed, but know that I will always accept responsibility for when I do not. In the event of a success or a failure, I make sure to analyze why that specific outcome