Tools for Building Professional Identity

How does Professional Identity help us be more effective? How does it relate to our health and sense of well-being? 

The inner tensions that are experienced as we grow -- the growing pains -- can overwhelm us, and disrupt our sense of self and well-being. So is the goal to reduce or eliminate tension and anxiety? Quite the contrary, in fact, growth of identity development -- meaning how we make sense of what happens around us and within us -- requires some discomfort or even disorientation in order to grow. Think of this simple analogy: The experience of going to another country and hearing a foreign language can be overwhelming and disconcerting. But having a colleague or guide who speaks the language to help us, we come to enjoy the challenge and the experience -- and it often expands our perspective so much so that it can be life changing. Suddenly we can better relate to an immigrant in class or in our workplace who is struggling to learn English. We now have increased sensitivity to their feelings and appreciation for the determination to struggle with a second language.

But in medical school, growth of a professional identity is not as simple as a visit to a far off land. As a medical student the tasks are more complex than a semester abroad in China or to Uganda. It means preparing to face the discomfort, pain, and traumas of others whose health, well-being, and even life depends on you, the physician. Preparing for this challenge -- along with the pressures of tests, exams, and clinical skills -- can be stressful, even anxiety provoking. What to do? The usual suspects of stress management can work, but often it's not enough. And we can tamp down feelings of self-doubt and shame for awhile, but it's only a temporary reprieve. An alternative approach that can lead to more lasting ability to cope to manifest our highest potential is to develop a habit of reflecting on our thoughts and our feelings. That, along with seeking supportive mentors and colleagues, allows us to go beyond our old understanding. Reflecting on those uncomfortable, "icky" feelings about ourselves and exploring their meaning is essential to growth of our professional identity.

The following are two approaches intended to be used along with Kegan and Lahey's Immunity to Change model of coaching that are recommended for medical students:

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is helpful and increasingly accepted practice to enhance our capacity to act in accordance with our professional identity values. Our ability to manage stress is central to self-care that is essential to preventing lapses in professionalism, preventing burnout, and maintaining our mental and physical health. MBSR is research-validated and classes are offered in a wide variety of healthcare and community settings. One option is a self-study version of the MBSR program, called Palouse Mindfulness, offered online at no cost. It is based on the original MBSR program developed by Jon Kabatt Zinn, M.D. at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. The website can be accessed here.

Another powerful resource for self-directed exploration of managing one's self, including emotions and thoughts, is Dr. Kristin Neff's work on Self-Compassion. The following site provides free resources for applying self-compassion to your life to enrich your well-being and effectiveness.

Both Mindfulness and Self-Compassion provide you with resources to explore to help you reach your full potential and overcome your Immunity to Change.

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As we grow in learning, we more justly appreciate our dependence upon each other. The sum-total of medical knowledge is now so great and wide-spreading that it would be futile for one man to attempt to acquire, or for any one man to assume that he has, even a good working knowledge of any large part of the whole. The very necessities of the case are driving practitioners into cooperation. The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered, and in order that the sick may have the benefit of advancing knowledge, union of forces is necessary.  

Dr. Will Mayo