Shaping minds and hearts in medical education: Embedding and implementing a personal and professional development curriculum

This paper explores personal and professional development (PPD) as a key learning domain for the future of medical education and person-centered care. Guided by existing curriculum development models and lessons learned in practice, scenarios from academic and clinical learning environments will guide a theory-driven discussion of concepts and competencies that humanize the practice of medicine, such as emotional intelligence, professional identity formation, lifelong learning and inclusive practice. Factors contributing to contemporary curriculum implementation will be informed by a case study of a PPD program delivered to post-graduate medical students in Australia and propose an action-focused series of next steps to connect past, current and future directions for medical schools and graduates. Through reflections on iterative stages of program development and the incorporation of emerging concepts in PPD, this paper advocates for the true valuing of personal growth and professional development in medical education. If future doctors are to graduate as compassionate, socially informed, and critically reflective practitioners, they need dedicated PPD learning, opportunities to practice and active encouragement to remain curious towards and beyond their own experience.