Introduction of a new teaching method to support Professional Identify Formation in medical students 

Abstract

Professional Identify Formation is regarded as fundamental to medical education. It involves a process of socialisation where knowledge is often acquired unconsciously via social interaction. Concrete teachings to support and mediate this socialisation process are difficult to implement, because of the implicit nature of the transferred knowledge. Before effective reflection can start, the implicit knowledge has to become explicit. The authors argue that training based on the Systemic Constellation method may be a promising way to support Professional Identify Formation among medical students, by increasing students’ awareness of their own socialisation process and the implicit knowledge that they have acquired. By visualising their social context with a group of students, the method is effective in making explicit the social context and the values, beliefs, perspectives that are present. This creates the possibility to discuss these values, beliefs, perspectives and explore differences, and stimulates individual and group reflection. The method is already widely used in business settings, but not yet in the medical education setting. This article presents how this new training method was implemented in the undergraduate medical curriculum of the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, and discusses its feasibility, acceptance and perceived usefulness by medical students.