Lessons in leadership: Developing a longitudinal evidence‐based teaching curriculum on professionalism in healthcare

Given the responsibility of healthcare organizations to promote positive workplace cultures, the development of appropriate teaching material focused on professionalism is of relevance. A longitudinal evidence-based educational curriculum was thus constructed to equip participants with tools to enhance team-based care and to create an inclusive, respectful environment. Core themes on which to center the curriculum were identified based on the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) statement. A MEDLINE search was undertaken to identify original peer-reviewed works using terms associated with professionalism in healthcare with the goal of building a foundational basis. Articles published from January 2014 to January 2024 and restricted to the English language were included. Based on the search results, a 12-month curriculum designed to promote workforce engagement and discussion was established. The 537 peer-reviewed publications selected to develop this thematic framework were broadly categorized as follows: ethics/accountability (N = 131); conflict resolution (N = 120); collaboration (N = 107); interpersonal communication (N = 70); empathy (N = 57); and wellness (N = 52). Between November 2023 and November 2024, a total of 12 sessions were scheduled. The feasibility of developing a standardized, evidence-based curriculum on workplace professionalism was demonstrated. The practical implications are discussed.