As we are exploring ‘professionalism’ this month in the Herbal Practice Connexion (HPX), I have been taking some time to dive beneath the shallows of my own constructs by seeking perspectives about professionalism from Western popular culture as well as other healthcare fields. However, before jumping into the ocean of opinions on professionalism, I first needed to get clear about my own. What are my beliefs surrounding what it means to ‘be professional’ or ‘act with professionalism’ as a clinical herbalist?

References:

• More than a list of values and desired behaviors: a foundational understanding of medical professionalism
• Refining a Definition of Medical Professionalism
• The Problem and Power of Professionalism: A Critical Analysis of Medical Students’ and Residents’ Perspectives and Experiences of Professionalism