ABIM Foundation Announces Top Articles in Medical Professionalism

PHILADELPHIA, PA— The ABIM Foundation today recognized three seminal articles in medical professionalism with the Professionalism Article Prize. A selection committee of physicians, a medical student and other leaders in health care reviewed more than 100 peer reviewed articles published in 2012 and announced awards in three areas – Commentary/Perspective, Medical Education and Training, and Professionalism in Practice.

The winners for 2012 are:

• Commentary/Perspective: “Perspective: The Negativity Bias, Medical Education, and the Culture of Academic Medicine: Why Culture Change is Hard,” by Julie Haizlip, MD, Natalie May, PhD, John Schorling, MD, Anne Williams, MA, and Margaret Plews-Ogan, MD, MS, published inAcademic Medicine.
• Medical Education and Training: “A Multi-institutional Study Exploring the Impact of Positive Mental Health on Medical Students’ Professionalism in an Era of High Burnout,” by Liselotte N. Dyrbye, MD, William Harper, MD, Christine Moutier, MD, Steven J. Durning, MD, David V. Power, MD, F. Stanford Massie, MD, Anne Eacker, MD, Matthew R. Thomas, MD, Daniel Satele, Jeff A. Sloan, PhD, and Tait D. Shanafelt, MD, published in Academic Medicine.
• Professionalism in Practice: “Overuse of Health Care Services in the United States,” by Deborah Korenstein, MD, Ralphael Falk, MD, MPH, Elizabeth A. Howell, MD, MPP, Tara Bishop, MD, MPH, and Salomeh Keyhani, MD, published in Archives of Internal Medicine.

In 2010 the ABIM Foundation created the Professionalism Article Prize in recognition of the growing body of literature focused on the contemporary definition of medical professionalism gleaned from the Medical Professionalism in the New Millennium: A Physician Charter. The Charter elucidates the fundamental principles of medical professionalism including the primacy of patient welfare, patient autonomy and social justice. The Charter was drafted in 2002 in partnership with the ABIM Foundation, the American College of Physicians Foundation and the European Federation of Internal Medicine, and has been endorsed by more than 130 organizations and cited in nearly 1,500 articles and books.

“Medical professionalism is an often overlooked concept in the medical literature, and we are pleased to see some of the nation’s leading researchers and ethicists exploring the topic,” said Daniel B. Wolfson, EVP and COO of the ABIM Foundation. “The winning articles directly address some of the most important challenges currently facing our health care system and demonstrate that the concept of medical professionalism is a vital ingredient to any efforts to improve health care.”

To be considered, the articles needed to be published in English-language, peer-reviewed journals between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2012. The selection committee reviewed the articles and judged them based on clarity of writing, thoroughness, methodology and contributions to the field and society.

Members of the selection committee included:

• Louise Arnold, PhD, Professor Emerita, Office of Medical Education, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
• Rosemary Gibson, author, Medicare Meltdown
• Hayley Goldbach, medical student, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
• Fred Hafferty, PhD, Professor of Medical Education, Program in Professionalism & Ethics, Mayo Clinic
• Lorna Lynn, MD, Director, Practice Assessment, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Walter McDonald, MD, FACP, Emeritus Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine
• David Stern, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine, Chairman’s Office, NYU School of Medicine
• Daniel Wolfson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, ABIM Foundation

“The winning articles exemplify the professional principles and commitments articulated in thePhysician Charter,” said Dr. McDonald, one of the co-authors of the Charter. “The issues they highlight—gaining a better understanding of overused health care services in the United States; the need to address cultural issues in medical education and training; and understanding how the mental health of medical students directly impacts their performance—will help current and future physicians improve the quality of care they deliver to patients.”

The Professionalism Article Prize continues the Foundation’s long history in advancing professionalism. Since the Charter’s publication in 2002, the number of journal articles published per year focused on medical professionalism has increased nearly threefold. The Charter’s commitment to a just distribution of finite resources serves as a guiding principle for the Foundation’s Choosing Wisely^® campaign, comprised of more than 40 medical specialty societies that are working to encourage physicians, patients and other health care stakeholders think and talk about overuse of health care resources in the United States.

Commentary about the Professionalism Article Prize, including discussion of the winning articles, will be featured in posts on The Medical Professionalism Blog. Read more on the winners.

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