Clinicians should be aware of their responsibilities as role models: a case report on the impact of poor role modeling.
BACKGROUND
Role modeling is an important and valuable educational method. It is predominant throughout (under-)graduate medical education, and attributes of exemplary medical role models are manifold.


OBJECTIVE
This article describes the impact of poor role modeling on medical students' professional and personal development on the basis of a singular incident at an associated teaching hospital. In addition, scientific literature studying the effect of and the reasons behind poor role modeling in undergraduate and graduate medical education is analyzed and discussed.


RESULTS
To maximize the educational potential of clinical role modeling, medical schools have to consider strategies both on the individual as well as on the institutional level. Several suggestions are offered on both levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on a case report of significantly poor role modeling, this article outlines strategies through which academic medical institutions may maximize the educational potential of role modeling and lastingly enhance teaching proficiency of clinical faculty.
Clinical Skills Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; lukas.mileder@medunigraz.at.
Lukas P
LP
Mileder
Clinical Skills Center, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Albrecht
A
Schmidt
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria; Vice-Rectorate for Teaching and Studies, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Hans P
HP
Dimai
D004501:Education, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D013337:Students, Medical
faculty development; medical education; professional behavior; role modeling