Elevating professionalism is key to much of the day-to-day work of Ellen M. Friedman, MD, FACS, FAAP, and we knew we had to have her join the Faculty Factory Podcast to learn more.

Dr. Friedman serves as Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and is the Senior Associate Dean of Professionalism and the Director of the Center for Professionalism at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The end result of the Center for Professionalism, which we discuss at length in today’s episode, is a warm and positive professional climate at Baylor College of Medicine. We also dive into the concept of professionalism in general.

More about the Center: https://www.bcm.edu/education/academic-faculty-affairs/center-for-professionalism 

While promoting professionalism is the core service of the Center, it also has systems in place to report instances where professionalism is lacking.

The problem with traditional wellness programs is that they often place the burden on the individual while systematic issues at the institution remain unresolved, as Dr. Friedman points out. The Center at Baylor aims to address those systematic issues so they don’t stand in the way of wellness and progress.

More than anything else, however, the Center exists to acknowledge and recognize acts of positive professionalism.

“It’s a very small number of individuals who are perceived to have lapses in professionalism, but unfortunately, that small group of people tends to receive the most attention,” she says.

For that reason, the Center is dedicated to honoring professionals who demonstrate exemplary professionalism.

More resources: https://facultyfactory.org/