Overview

Professional identity formation (PIF), or the process by which a medical graduate is socialized into a community of practice resulting in their thinking, feeling, and acting like a physician, has long been called upon as a key aim in medical education. Social shifts including changes in trainees’ conceptions of the profession, erosion of societal trust in physicians, and crises in physician wellness and burnout make the support of PIF for medical trainees more important than ever. Supporting PIF for internal medicine trainees in the ambulatory setting can feel particularly challenging. But why is that? And what can we do about it?  In this workshop, we will explore two primary theories of professional identity formation (PIF): the individualist approach, which posits that identity resides within an individual and evolves through stages of cultivating the desired values, attitudes, and attributes of a physician, and the social-contextual approach, which emphasizes the role of social interactions, relationships, and contextual influences in shaping identity construction. We will explore the challenges and significance of fostering PIF among internal medicine trainees in ambulatory care. Through breakout groups, participants will apply both individualist and socio-contextual theories of PIF to develop actionable strategies for enhancing PIF through educational and curricular structures in the ambulatory setting, and discuss strategies being used in other institutions. Participants will leave the workshop feeling more confident in how to use theories of PIF to design educational programming generally, and specifically in the ambulatory space.

Speakers

Jacqueline Birnbaum, MD
Amy Engler, MD
Kristen Lavere, MD 

Content Track

Faculty Development 

Audience

GME

Program Type

University-Based, Community-Based

Additional Information

Year Published: 2024 - APDIM Fall Meeting 2024