[Beyond the role: Who we can truly be as doctors. - Why professional identity development is more than just knowledge and skills.]

Abstract

Beyond the role: WHO WE CAN TRULY BE AS DOCTORS. WHY PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY FORMATION IS MORE THAN KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS: How do we become - and remain - the kind of doctors we truly aspire to be? This article explores how self-reflection and teaching methods from narrative medicine can open up space for developing a professional identity within medical training. From clinical, educational, and lived illness perspectives, the authors argue that vulnerability, subjectivity, and humanity are fundamental to the medical profession.