Standards of Professional Behavior

These standards describe behaviors expected from faculty, housestaff, and students in the School of Medicine:

• Recognize their positions as role models for other members of the health care team.
• Carry out academic, clinical and research responsibilities in a conscientious manner, make every effort to exceed expectations and make a commitment to life-long learning.
• Treat patients, faculty, housestaff and students with humanism and sensitivity to diversity in characteristics such as culture, age, gender, disability, social and economic status, sexual orientation, etc. without discrimination, bias or harassment.
• Maintain patient confidentiality.
• Be respectful of the privacy of all members of the medical campus community and avoid promoting gossip and rumor.
• Interact with all other members of the health care team in a helpful and supportive fashion without arrogance and with respect and recognition of the roles played by each individual.
• Provide help or seek assistance for any member of the health care team who is recognized as impaired in his/her ability to perform his/her professional obligations.
• Be mindful of the limits of one's knowledge and abilities and seek help from others whenever appropriate.
• Abide by accepted ethical standards in the scholarship, research and standards of patient care.
• Abide by the guidelines of the VCU Honor System.

These standards were proposed by the Professionalism Committee and adopted by the School of Medicine in September 2001. The standards are also available in print in the form of pocket cards and posters. Contact Debbie Stewart (804-828-6591, dstewart@vcu.edu) for copies.