Aligning Person and Profession: The Work of Identity Formation in Medical Education—and Beyond (EP:43)

Aligning Person and Profession: The Work of Identity Formation in Medical Education—and Beyond (EP:43) With Joke Fleer

What if the future of medicine depends not just on what learners know—but on who they are becoming? In this thought-provoking episode we sit down with psychologist and medical education expert Joke Fleer to explore the invisible but powerful process of professional identity formation. From the unspoken cultural norms that shape future physicians, to the risks of unchecked assumptions, Fleer unpacks how reflection, self-awareness, and safe learning spaces can help learners stay true to themselves while stepping into demanding professional roles. Whether you’re in healthcare, education, or any high-pressure field, this conversation offers insights that go far beyond the clinic.

Discover why reflection isn’t just a soft skill, and why grading it might be missing the point entirely.

Questions? Feedback? Ideas? Contact us at edufi@mayo.edu

Audio Editing: Celina Bertoncini

Additional Resources

• Vaa Stelling BE, Andersen CA, Suarez DA, Nordhues HC, Hafferty FW, Beckman TJ, Sawatsky AP. Fitting In While Standing Out: Professional Identity Formation, Imposter Syndrome, and Burnout in Early-Career Faculty Physicians. Acad Med. 2023 Apr 1;98(4):514-520. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000005049. Epub 2022 Nov 1. PMID: 36512808.
• Fleer, J., Smit, M. J., Boer, H. J., Knevel, M., Velthuis, F., Trippenzee, M., de Carvalho Filho, M. A., & Scholtens, S. (2025). An evidence-informed pedagogical approach to support professional identity formation in medical students: AMEE Guide No. 171. Medical Teacher, 47(4), 580-588. https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2024.2387809
• Scholtens, S., Barnhoorn, P. C., & Fleer, J. (2023). Education to support professional identity formation in medical students: guiding implicit social learning. International journal of medical education, 14, 19-22. https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.63f3.ddcb
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