The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
(ACGME) has recognized a significant problem with traditional
methods of physician training and assessment and has
suggested a response to improve physician didactic experiences,
clinical capabilities, and interpersonal and communication
skills to cope with the increasingly complex patient-
care environment they will find in their practice of
medicine. Many experts agree that a focus on interpersonal
communications and professionalism (leadership development
attributes) is critical for medicine in general and Anesthesiology
in particular. The preparation of Residents and
Fellows in the area of noncognitive behaviors is not currently
sufficient. Failure to address this will result in serious
consequences to medicine and the professional satisfaction
of individual physicians.