E-professionalism: a new paradigm for a digital age

Abstract 

Issues related to emerging social web applications have created new questions regarding health professions student professionalism. Some of these questions are philosophically challenging for educators and are difficult to address without an evolving framework. In this paper, the authors define and elaborate on a new construct of e-professionalism. In particular, close attention is directed to how e-professionalism interfaces with and extends the traditional framework of professionalism by including attitudes and behaviors expressed in digital and oftentimes personal settings. The authors conclude by providing health professions educators and administrators with recommendations for addressing these emerging e-professionalism issues.

Keywords: E-professionalism, Professionalism, Web 2.0, Online social networks