Professionalism PolicyHonor CodeUCLA Student Conduct Code

Professionalism Policy

Guiding Principles of Professionalism

Professionalism as a physician begins in medical school, and at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, professionalism is as important as academic performance, and is treated as such.  Professionalism is grounded in the commitment to maintain patient interests above physician self-interest and to maintain personal, academic, and professional integrity. These commitments are guided by the principles of our Cultural North Star: Do What’s Right, Make Things Better, Be Kind.  Our expectations of your professional behavior begin with your first day at DGSOM and include:

• A commitment to professional excellence
• Integrity, demonstrating exemplary moral and ethical character
• Intellectual and academic honesty
• Respect and compassion for others

Professional Responsibilities and Expectations:

As a medical student and future physician, we expect you to demonstrate exceptional professionalism. All students shall adhere to the Honor Code and Code of Conduct for the School of Medicine and the University; however, our expectations of your professional behavior extend beyond these oaths.  The following are our expectations for the demonstration of professional behavior for all students entering the medical profession.  Any violation of these professionalism expectations will be treated seriously. (Please see “Professionalism Concern Process” below.)

1. Professional Responsibility and Judgment
   1. Adhere to the standards of the profession outlined in the (ABIM Physician Charter) whose fundamental principles are social justice, patient autonomy, and the primacy of patient welfare.
   2. Meet all educational, administrative, and clinical responsibilities in a timely fashion (i.e. completion of course evaluations).
   3. Continuously seek feedback from supervisors in order to continually improve the educational experience, including the development of knowledge and clinical skills.
   4. Recognize limitations and seek help when in situations where expertise, knowledge, or level of experience is inadequate to manage the situation.
   5. Contribute to an atmosphere in the classroom, clinical setting, and laboratory that promotes optimal, respectful, and interactive learning.
   6. Attend to your physical and emotional well-being, and work to support peers and other members of the community during difficult times in their academic, professional, and personal lives.
   7. Refrain from using any substance and/or medication in a manner that may compromise judgment, safety, or the ability to contribute to safe and effective patient care.
   8. Maintain attire appropriate for the professional setting.
2.  Honesty, Integrity, and Confidentiality
   1. Place patients’ interests and well-being at the center of educational and professional behavior and goals.
   2. Treat patient medical records and patient/family communications as confidential and follow compliance and confidentiality guidelines for social media and conversations in public places.
   3. Assume responsibility for mistakes made in a mature and honest manner and develop productive strategies for correcting them.
   4. Demonstrate academic and scholarly honesty.
   5. Provide constructive feedback to others to facilitate ongoing improvement of the curriculum and learning environment.
   6. Adhere to DGSOM’s Honor Code, Technical Standards, University policies, and UCLA Student Conduct Code.

3. Respect and Compassion for Others
   1. Be respectful of everyone, including teachers, peers, residents, staff, and patients, with respect to their time, rights, values, religious, ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. There is no tolerance for any behavior that discriminates against another individual or group of individuals.
   2. Communicate respectfully, respecting everyone’s right to hold differing opinions.
   3. Maintain appropriate relationships with patients, teachers, staff, peers, and residents.
   4. Demonstrate care and compassion for others.
   5. Seek to constructively approach conflict resolution with others.

Professionalism Concern Process

When anyone (faculty, staff, residents, etc.) identifies a lapse in student professionalism, they may notify a Course Chair or Dean. The Course Chair or Dean may choose various courses of action.  They may choose to provide the student with feedback on the specific behavior, and they may also choose to formally document and report the lapse using the Professionalism Concern Reporting Form.

Professionalism Concern Reporting Form

If the lapse in professionalism falls within the parameters of the University disciplinary system (e.g. plagiarism, falsification of documents, verbal or physical or sexual assault, or sexual harassment), the student will be referred to the appropriate University Disciplinary Body.

After a Professionalism Concern Reporting Form is filed, the student will first meet with the Course Chair or their Assistant Dean to discuss the concerns and together, they will make a plan for remediation.

The procedure following the issuance of a Professionalism Concern Reporting Form is outlined below:

If a student receives one Professionalism Concern Reporting Form: 

1. The student will meet with the course chair and/or with their Assistant Dean, depending on the circumstances of the specific concern or violation. If necessary, the Chair develops a plan for remediation.
2. The form is then referred to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and kept in the student's academic file.
3. In most cases, if no other professionalism issues occur throughout the student's medical school career, no record of the incident will be recorded in the student's permanent file.
4. The student may also be referred to the Academic Performance Committee, and/or the UCLA Office of Student Conduct.

 If a student receives a second Professionalism Concern Reporting Form: 

1. The student will meet with the course chair and/or with their Assistant Dean, depending on the circumstances of the specific concern or violation. If necessary, the Chair develops a plan for remediation.
2. The form is then referred to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and kept in the student's academic file.
3. The student must meet with an Assistant Dean or Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
4. The student’s academic and professional status will be discussed at the Academic Performance Committee and their academic/professional standing may be changed. *
5. In most cases a change in status will not be reported in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).
6. The student may also be referred to the UCLA Office of Student Conduct.

If a student receives a third Professionalism Concern Reporting Form: 

1. The student will meet with the course chair and/or with their Assistant Dean, depending on the circumstances of the specific concern or violation. If necessary, the Chair develops a plan for remediation.
2. The form is then referred to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and kept in the student's academic file.
3. The student must meet with their Assistant Dean and the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
4. The student’s academic and professional status will be discussed at the Academic Performance Committee and their academic/professional standing will likely be changed. *
5. A change in status may be reported in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).
6. Student may also be referred to the UCLA Office of Student Conduct.

If a student receives a fourth Professionalism Concern Reporting Form:

1. The student will meet with the course chair and/or with their Assistant Dean, depending on the circumstances of the specific concern or violation.
2. The form is then referred to the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and kept in the student's academic file.
3. The student must meet with the Associate Dean for Student Affairs.
4. The student’s academic and professional status will be discussed at the Academic Performance Committee and their academic/professional standing status will be changed.
5. A change in status will be reported in the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE).
6. Student may also be referred to the UCLA Office of Student Conduct.

If a student on Academic/Professional Probation for professionalism concerns receives an additional Professionalism Concern Reporting Form, the student may be referred to the Committee on Academic Standing, Progress and Promotion (CASPP) for consideration of dismissal. CASPP has the authority to dismiss a student from the medical school for failure to demonstrate appropriate ethical or professional behavior.

*Note that students may appeal decisions of the Academic Performance Committee (APC) to the Committee on Academic Standing, Progress and Promotion (CASPP).

Approved by CASPP July 2020

Honor Code

"The act of detachment, the virtue of method, the quality of thoroughness, and the grace of humility."  -Sir William Osler

As a UCLA medical student, I recognize that it is a great privilege and responsibility to study medicine. When I entered this school, I undertook the task of maintaining a certain standard of conduct not only as a student, but also as a future professional.

Each student should strive to develop and maintain personal honor and integrity as well as compassionate and ethical behavior. It is the responsibility and duty of each student to achieve these ideals. Rather than an inclusive listing, the honor code outlines the behavior and ideals that we medical students believe to be important; student should strive to progress beyond these guidelines.

Academic Honesty

• I will maintain the highest standards of academic and personal honesty.
• I will neither give nor receive unpermitted aid in examinations or assignments
• I will conduct research in an unbiased manner, report results truthfully, and credit ideas developed and work done by others.
• I will uphold a classroom atmosphere conducive to learning.
• I will not undertake any activity that will impart me with an unfair and unpermitted advantage over others.

Confidentiality

• I will regard confidentiality as a central obligation of patient care.
• I will limit discussions of patients to members of the health care team in settings removed from the public (e.g. not in elevators, hallways, cafeterias).

Respect for Others

• I will treat patients and their families with respect and dignity, both in their presence and in discussions with other members of the health care team.
• I will interact with patients in a way that respects their privacy and modesty.
• I will interact with all members of the health care team in a considerate and cooperative manner.
• I will not discriminate or harass nor will I tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services.
• I will attempt to resolve conflicts in a manner that preserves the dignity of every person involved.
• I will be truthful with patients and will report accurately historical and physical findings, test results, and other information pertinent to the care of the patient.
• I will be sensitive to the religious and cultural beliefs of patients.

Responsibility

• I will set patient care and well-being as the highest priorities in the clinical setting.
• I will recognize my own limitations and will seek help when my level of experience is inadequate to handle a situation of my own.
• I will conduct myself professionally-in my demeanor, use of language and appearance-in the presence of patients, in the classroom, and in the professional setting.
• I will not use alcohol or drugs in a way that could potentially interfere with my professional responsibilities.
• I will not use my professional position to engage in romantic or sexual relationships with patients or members of their families.
• I will not permit access to controlled substances unless medically warranted, nor will I allow others to permit such access.
• I will not tolerate violations of the Honor Code in others.

Integrity

• I will endeavor to work harmoniously with my colleagues and do my share when teamwork is required.
• As their representative, I will uphold the reputations of my school and my profession.
• I will uphold the policies, regulations, rules of the University, the School of Medicine, and its Hospitals.

I will endeavor to uphold these principles in both letter and spirit.

UCLA Student Conduct Code

Please note that in addition to all of the School of Medicine Policies, the UCLA Student Conduct Code also applies to all students enrolled in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
Please go here for more information: http://www.deanofstudents.ucla.edu/Student-Conduct-Code