The capacity for self-assessment is recognized as a key
element of professionalism by medical licensing and certifying
boards, and other professional organizations such as the
Association of American Medical Colleges and the American
Medical Association. Accurate self-assessment is the cornerstone
of physicians’ self-directed lifelong learning, and it is
necessary for the faculty to develop tools that students can
use to calibrate this skill. Although self-assessment is the
foundation for self-improvement, evidence indicates that
some medical trainees and professionals are unable to assess
their own strengths and weaknesses.