The Vanderbilt Method for Resolving Unprofessional Behavior

TO THE EDITOR:

We read with great interest the article by Papadakis and colleagues (1) on the relationship between performance during internal medicine training and subsequent disciplinary action by state licensing boards. We were particularly interested in the relationship between poor ratings on professionalism by program directors and subsequent disciplinary action.

The decision of a program director to give a particular rating on any dimension of the American Board of Internal Medicine Resident's Evaluation Summary is clearly influenced by many sources of data. With regard to professionalism, this should …