To be 'professional' means to show CHARACTER.
To be able to evaluate 'professionalism' requires reflection on the component parts.

Compassion

Honesty

Altruism

Responsibility

Aiming for excellence

Confidentiality

Teamwork

Ethical Approach
Respect

PRISM ANALOGY
Just as a prism breaks light into its component parts,
the CHARACTER acronym breaks the construct of 'Professionalism' into its component parts.

SOURCES:   The CHARACTER acronym was developed using constructs outlined in

• the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)

• the Gold Humanism Foundation

• the ABIM Physician Charter (2002)

• the UTMB Professionalism Charter

RATIONALE

CURRICULUM.  Professionalism in Pediatrics is a curriculum with one module for each of the letters, including short readings and a Reflection activity.  

Applications and Dissemination Activities

CHARACTER was created during the development of a curriculum development project,
Professionalism in Pediatrics, funded in part by a grant
from the UTMB President's Office and the UTMB Professionalism Committee,2006