title: A teaching oath: a commitment to medical students' learning and development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There are several oaths and affirmations that are integrated into the academic customs of the health sciences, such as the Hippocratic Oath and the Ethical Affirmation for Scientists. What current oaths do not communicate is that teaching and learning are the foundation of the professions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We articulated an oath to punctuate the important role of teaching and to emphasize that educating students is not a marginal responsibility but an important duty. The goal of this oath is to include all educators who contribute to teaching medical students, including basic science and clinical faculty, residents, nurses, and healthcare providers. This oath is also designed to be concise, allowing for a public declaration during ceremonies that call attention to teaching and learning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Publically declaring the Teaching Oath is an opportunity to clarify the highest standards of teaching and to energize educators to fulfill the promise of a dynamic learning community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26506, USA. scottrell@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cottrell
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crow
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saizow
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shumway
mesh_terms: D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D024382:Professional Role