February 2024 SOCRA Source Journal - Journal - Page 13
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Creating a Professional
Workplace
Barbara van der Schalie, MS
Senior Clinical Research Training Manager
Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate
Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research
Barbara van der Schalie, MS
Abstract: Professionalism is a key component of a dynamic, thriving workplace and a defining element of
a productive workplace culture. As clinical research becomes more generationally diverse, professionalism
standards are becoming less consistent. This article describes the changing concepts of professionalism,
how it is judged, and how to optimize professionalism to benefit individuals and organizations.
Disclaimer: This project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Institutes
of Health’s National Cancer Institute, under Contract No. 75N91019D00024. The content of this article
does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor
does mention of tradenames, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S.
government.
INTRODUCTION TO
PROFESSIONALISM
Research on professionalism will
help staff who are managing
clinical research programs
make decisions about the
professionalism program in their
workplaces. As David Maister,
author of “Trusted Advisor”
said, “Professionalism is not a
label you give yourself. It’s a
description you hope others
will apply to you.” This article
focuses not only on how clinical
research professionals behave,
but also on how others perceive
their skills and behaviors,
and how those factor into
professional conduct.
Webster’s dictionary defines
professionalism as “The
conduct, aims, or qualities
that characterize or mark a
profession or professional
person.” Professionalism
applies to occupations requiring
specialized knowledge and
often long and intensive
academic preparation. A
professional conforms to
the technical, ethical, and/
or behavioral standards of a
profession.
In the past, a professional
was someone who received
money for providing a specific
service. For example, there
was a time when professional
athletes could not compete
in the Olympics because they
were being paid to provide
that service elsewhere. Clinical
research professionals are also
paid for providing a specific
service.
Extensive research has been
conducted on professionalism,
including the Center for
Professional Excellence
Survey, which began in 2009.
The Center for Professional
Excellence, located at York
College, wanted to learn how
to prepare its students to be
professionals in the workplace.
The last data from the survey
were available in 2015. Table 1
highlights the survey results.
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