title: Professionalism: evolution of the concept.
abstract: The concept of professionalism has undergone major changes over the millennia in general and the last century specifically. This article, the first in a series of articles in this Journal on professionalism, attempts to provide the reader with a historical overview of the evolution of the concept of professionalism over time. As a result of these changes, medical school curricula, and contemporary specialist training programs are increasingly becoming competence based, with professionalism becoming an integral part of a resident's training and assessment program.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Intensive Care and Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. w.van.mook@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Walther N K A
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: van Mook
authors.forename: Willem S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: de Grave
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wass
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Jan Harm
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zwaveling
authors.forename: Lambert W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Schuwirth
authors.forename: Cees P M
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van der Vleuten
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000266:history* / Q000592:standards