9. Professional Behavior
The MGH Institute of Health Professions is committed to dignity and respect for all learners, staff, faculty, and colleagues and the communities we serve. Professionalism is expected in all courses and all forms of learning.
Professional behaviors that are expected of all learners in the MSDA program include, but are not limited to:
- Scheduling and attending advising meetings with faculty
- Professional communication in emails and oral meetings
- Responding to written communication in a timely manner (see section 6.1)
- Proactively re-scheduling and communicating tardiness, missed meetings or missed deadlines
- Appropriate and respectful behavior during synchronous interactions
Learners who fail to uphold professional behaviors may be subject to disciplinary actions.
The following professional standards are considered necessary for full participation in the MSDA program:
Communication:
- Ability to read, write, speak, and understand English at a level consistent with successful course completion and development of positive relationships
- Verbal and non-verbal interpersonal and communication skills that are consistent with productive course participation (virtually and in person), respectful interactions with faculty, peers, and staff, in one-to-one, small group and large group settings
- Demonstrate sensitivity in appropriate communication with all individuals, regardless of lifestyle, of various ages, genders, ethnic/racial and religious/spiritual backgrounds, educational levels, and socioeconomic status, with various physical, cognitive, emotional disabilities
- Uphold privacy and confidentiality policies
Intellectual/Judgment:
- Participate in intellectual activities that require critical thinking, judgment, analysis, conceptualization of spatial relationships, calculation of arithmetic data, problem-solving, abstract and professional reasoning, and organizing and planning within reasonable time frames and within a multitask setting
- Ability to interpret information from multiple sources, including observation, written, verbal, interpersonal, environment, etc.
- Comprehend and follow written instructions, such as policies and procedures
- Demonstrate self-reflection and ability to apply feedback in order to develop proactive strategies for professional growth and development
Professional Behavior/Social Skills:
- Possess the emotional health required for full use of one’s intellectual abilities, adaptation to change, exercise of good judgment, adherence to ethics, and safe and timely completion of all responsibilities
- Relate to others with respect, courtesy, maturity, and compassion to honor their dignity by using a tone and attitude that is the appropriate level and type of language for the person, group, and/or situation
- Demonstrate ability and willingness to modify behavior/performance after feedback from faculty, peer, or mentor