Medical Professionalism

Trust is the bedrock of health care—shaping relationships with patients, colleagues, and communities. Trust is also the aspiration of medical professionalism, which reflects the commitment to serve people and society through quality care. It bridges the purpose of medicine with the public’s expectations, embodying values like accountability, ethical behavior, and teamwork. 

Today, the concept of medical professionalism is evolving to meet new challenges. Medicine is shifting: 

• From autonomy to shared accountability 

• From expert opinion to evidence-based practice 

• From solo practice to team-based care 

For many, medical professionalism remains the “heart and soul of medicine,” but barriers often stand in the way—ranging from systemic pressures to personal challenges. Internal critiques include concerns about medical professionalism being used to enforce inequitable burdens, while external challenges, such as eroding trust in medical expertise, misinformation, and financialization, threaten its foundation. 

The ABIM Foundation recognizes the deep connection between trust and medical professionalism. Trust enables medical professionalism to thrive, while medical professionalism fosters trust through integrity, transparency, and a focus on patient-centered care. Yet, as health care evolves, new tensions emerge: 

• Generational shifts and conflicting priorities challenge traditional notions of medical professionalism

• Balancing transparency, collaboration, and work-life balance with autonomy and duty requires tradeoffs 

Medical professionalism has continually evolved with the practice of medicine. These shifts create opportunities to redefine and strengthen medical professionalism in ways that continue to center the provision of high-quality patient care in today’s changing medical landscape. 

At the ABIM Foundation, we are dedicated to fostering medical professionalism as a path to improving health care for all. Through research, initiatives, and collaboration, we explore how the health system can cultivate intrinsic motivation and ethical practices at every level.