This concept was thwarted by the idea that there are different standards for the classroom and for the bedside and that each age and cultural group have differing norms for behavior. What is acceptable and appropriate to one culture or to one age group is at times vastly different from another, therefore ones values can not be determined exclusively from behavior, i.e. all agreed their concept of professionalism has changed with age. One suggestion was that teaching ethics would allow students to codify their values. But acting on these ethics is sometimes where we fail. We must take a good hard look at ourselves and our environment, not just the students.
Role modeling professionalism is the best means of instruction.
With that in mind, perhaps we should look at how we project professionalism to the student. We should treat the students as professionals and they in turn will learn professionalism and mirror it back. To enhance this, the faculty could be offered training courses on professionalism. Then through the faculty the students would be socialized in professionalism. This idea was agreed upon as a way to teach professionalism with the exception of the web-based distance education students.