IN this editorial, the fourth in a series of four on excellence in anesthesiology, I will present the concept of professionalism and how it is uniquely denned within anesthesiology. The series was introduced by Andrew Smith, F.R.C.A. (Consultant Anesthesiologist and Honorary Professor, Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Lancaster University, Lancaster, United Kingdom), who highlighted the risk we take of losing sight of our professional work as a whole when we pay attention mainly to measurable competencies. He also reviewed research into how knowledge is acquired and used in anesthesiology.1 In the second editorial, Ronnie Glavin, F.R.C.A. (Consultant Anesthesiologist, Anesthetic Department, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, United Kingdom), discussed anesthesiologists' nontechnical skills, which emerged as a result of a study based on qualitative methodology.2 In the third editorial, Jan Larsson, M.D. (Consultant Anesthetist, Clinic of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden), presented a brief introduction to the concept of tacit knowledge and a discussion as to how qualitative studies can clarify its role in anesthesia.3 In this editorial, I will define concepts related to professionalism and reflect on them within the context of anesthesiology practice.
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