What this means
This paper argues both sides of how professionalism fits into family medicine's future. It says the idea is often misused as a tool for punishment. It says family medicine should redefine it around values like integrity and accountability.
Plain-English summary written by an AI model from the abstract. The original is below.
- Who it was tested in
- People
- Kind of research
- A study
The science
- Original title
- What Is the Role of Professionalism in a Model of Care for the Future of Family Medicine?
- Authors
- Anderson A, Robinson J, Hancock C
- Journal
- Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM
- Published
- Oct 15, 2026
- Study type
- Study · in humans
- PMID
- 42880976 ↗
Abstract
This article presents a structured pro/con analysis examining the role of professionalism in a future model of care for family medicine. The pro argument asserts that professionalism represents the ethical and relational core of the specialty, grounding public trust, guiding advocacy for equity and justice, and shaping meaningful, person-centered care across the lifespan. The con argument critically examines how professionalism has been used as a homogenizing and punitive construct, questions its prioritization amid competing crises, and challenges the effectiveness of national professionalism initiatives compared with locally grounded behavioral interventions.In synthesis, we argue that much of the tension surrounding professionalism arises from conceptual conflation-specifically, the failure to distinguish professionalism from professional misconduct and basic professional duties. When professionalism is framed primarily as surveillance or discipline rather than as an aspirational, values-driven commitment, it loses legitimacy and educational value. We propose that family medicine must reclaim and redefine professionalism with clarity, humility, and intentionality, acknowledging past harms while articulating a vision rooted in integrity, inclusivity, accountability, and community engagement. Although this work is difficult and unfinished, it is essential to sustaining the foundational center of the specialty and securing a just, resilient, and meaningful future for family medicine.
Anderson A, Robinson J, Hancock C What Is the Role of Professionalism in a Model of Care for the Future of Family Medicine?. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM. 2026. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2025.250483R1. PMID: 42880976. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42880976/