The following professionalism principles must be met for a student to qualify for the conferral of the MD degree from the Stanford University School of Medicine. These principles are consolidated into four key components of professionalism:

Demonstrate thoroughness and dependability in following through with assigned tasks:  Exhibit reliability in completing assigned duties and fulfilling commitments in a timely manner. This includes being prepared for educational and patient care responsibilities, maintaining personal control in challenging situations, and ensuring accurate reporting of academic and patient care activities. Take initiative and collaborate effectively within teams, clarifying roles and responsibilities.

• Expectations include:  
• Complete all assignments and responsibilities in a timely and thorough manner.
• Communicate proactively with course and clerkship directors, coordinators, and team members about progress and challenges.
• Maintain organization and prioritize tasks effectively to manage time efficiently.
• Example Behaviors include:
• Arrive on time and prepared for class sessions and clinical duties, having reviewed relevant prework and/or patient information and protocols.
• Follow up on assigned tasks, including homework and necessary studying in the classroom spaces as well as patient care tasks, assigned teamwork, referrals, and documentation in clinical spaces, ensuring nothing is overlooked.
• Collaborate with course instructors/coordinators in the classroom space and team members in the clinic space to clarify roles and responsibilities.

Demonstrate accountability for all professional responsibilities, including all components of classroom education, research and scholarly activities, and clinical patient care:  Take full responsibility for one’s learning in classroom spaces and for all aspects of patient care in clinical spaces. The former involves staying on top of all learning assignments, awareness of and responsibility for closing gaps in knowledge, and prioritization of one’s medical education. The latter includes advocating for patients and addressing their needs as well as recognizing and reporting errors, understanding the implications of one’s actions, and being responsive to the health needs of society. In all spaces, students should advocate for patients including underserved populations and collaborate with communities to address social determinants of health.

• Expectations include:
• Take ownership of your actions and decisions in classroom, laboratory, and patient care settings.
• Advocate for patients’ needs and ensure they receive appropriate care.
• Recognize and report errors or near misses to improve patient safety and care quality.
• Example Behaviors include:
• Follow up on patient care plans and ensure continuity of care, communicating with the healthcare team as needed.
• Reflect on personal performance and seek opportunities for improvement after classroom and clinical experiences.

Demonstrate an appropriate balance of truth and tact, maintaining professional integrity:  Uphold honesty and integrity in all interactions, ensuring fairness and truthfulness in communications with patients, peers, and colleagues. Maintain confidentiality and be forthright in reporting errors or conflicts of interest. Balance transparency with sensitivity, demonstrating empathy and compassion in all professional relationships.

• Expectations include:
• Communicate with honesty, respect, and transparency with course directors/coordinators in classroom spaces and with patients, families, preceptors, and colleagues in clinical spaces.
• Approach sensitive topics with empathy and consideration for the emotional impact on others in all spaces.
• Uphold confidentiality and ethical standards in all interactions.
• Example behaviors include:
• Request absences and accommodations for consideration in a timely and respectful manner.
• Report attendance and findings honestly.  Take ownership for any lapses or omissions and follow-up appropriately.
• Complete evaluations for courses and clerkships in a timely manner with both honesty and respect, in the manner in which you hope to be evaluated.
• Deliver difficult news to patients with compassion, allowing time for questions and emotional responses.
• Provide constructive feedback, both written and oral, in a respectful and supportive manner.
• Report any conflicts of interest or ethical dilemmas to appropriate authorities promptly.

Demonstrate awareness of the limits of one’s knowledge and skills:  Recognize and acknowledge the boundaries of your clinical knowledge and skills. Engage in continuous learning and seek guidance when necessary to ensure the highest standards of patient care. This includes being aware of personal biases and actively soliciting feedback for personal and professional growth.

• Expectations include:
• Acknowledge when you do not know something and seek assistance or clarification.
• Engage in self-directed learning and reflection to identify areas for improvement.
• Actively solicit feedback from peers and mentors to enhance your clinical skills.
• Example behaviors include:
• Ask questions during class when uncertain about content understanding and during clinical rounds when uncertain about a diagnosis or treatment plan, when timing is appropriate.
• Participate in workshops or additional training to address knowledge gaps.

Demonstrate respect for differing perspectives and foster a constructive environment in all professional settings:  Maintain professionalism and respect in the face of differing opinions, whether in the classroom, clinical settings, or with patients. Engage thoughtfully with contrasting viewpoints, recognizing that respectful discourse supports learning and patient care. Demonstrate emotional discipline by managing personal reactions when confronted with perspectives—academic, clinical, or social—that challenge personal beliefs. Strive to cultivate an environment where peers, faculty, healthcare team members, and patients feel respected and heard, even in disagreement.

• Expectations include:
• Respond to differing views—whether from peers, instructors, healthcare colleagues, or patients—with professionalism and curiosity.
• Avoid personalizing disagreements or allowing them to compromise professional demeanor.
• Maintain compassion and empathy toward patients, even when their views conflict with your own values or opinions.
• Example behaviors include:
• In classroom and clinical discussions, engage in reasoned, respectful dialogue, seeking to understand others’ perspectives before responding.
• With patients, practice compassionate listening, redirecting or reframing conversations professionally when encountering offensive or controversial remarks, while preserving trust and patient care priorities.
• Avoid reacting with frustration or dismissiveness when encountering patient beliefs or choices that differ from medical recommendations or personal views.
• Demonstrate maturity by navigating emotionally charged discussions without escalating tensions.
• Support inclusive participation in classroom and clinical team discussions, encouraging quieter voices and respectfully addressing dominating behavior from peers or team members.

Demonstrate responsible and professional use of technology, digital communication, and artificial intelligence:  Uphold professionalism, integrity, privacy, and confidentiality in all uses of technology, including electronic communication, learning platforms, clinical tools, social media and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Communicate clearly and promptly via professional channels and use technology to enhance, not undermine, learning and patient care. Maintain academic honesty by properly attributing ideas and avoiding misuse of AI tools for academic work. Protect patient privacy and professional reputation in all digital spaces

• Expectations include:
• Communicate professionally and in a timely manner through email and institutional messaging platforms, including when away (use of away messages, etc.).
• Use AI tools (e.g., large language models, clinical decision aids) responsibly and consistent with the law and institutional policy, ensuring they support but do not replace critical thinking and original work.
• Avoid plagiarism by properly citing sources and refraining from using AI-generated text without appropriate attribution when required.
• Uphold confidentiality in all digital communications, especially regarding patient information.
• Maintain a professional online presence and be mindful of public digital footprints.
• When engaging in public forums, online spaces, or media, ensure accuracy and professionalism, recognizing the potential impact on public trust in the medical profession.
• Example behaviors include:
• Write professional, respectful, and timely emails to faculty, preceptors, clinical teams and colleagues
• Use AI-based tools ethically and not to bypass learning or submit unoriginal academic work.
• Not sharing patient-related information on unsecured platforms, including personal devices, text messaging apps, or social media.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries on personal social media accounts, avoiding content that could undermine professional credibility or patient trust.
• Represent the medical school and profession responsibly when participating in public events, interviews, or advocacy, upholding professionalism even in personal advocacy roles.

updated August 2025