Elements of Contemporary Practice / Chapter 1 Professionalism in Surgery

Table 1 Elements of a Profession

A profession
  • Is a learned discipline with high standards of knowledge and performance
  • Regulates itself via a social contract with society
  • Places responsibility for serving others above self-interest and reward
  • Is characterized by a commitment to excellence in all undertakings
  • Is practiced with unwavering personal integrity and compassion
  • Requires role-modeling of right behavior
  • Is more than a job—it is a calling and a privilege