In our ongoing series on Professional Identity and Medicines Development, Jocelyn Nava shares an illuminating perspective on how cultivating a sense of purpose shapes both our personal and professional lives in medical affairs.

Jocelyn Nava is a Clinical Research Physician for the Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine Departments of Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain.

A firm believer of patient centricity, she is committed to ensuring that patients and their families get timely access to better medicines and optimal care through the ethical and meticulous implementation of clinical trials.

Discuss Professional Identity and the Sense of Purpose in Medicines Development and Their Relevance for Professionals Involved in the Field

Sense of purpose has been cited in studies as having multiple benefits across different areas of our lives. Regarding psychological well-being, a sense of purpose results in higher life satisfaction, positive emotions, perseverance, and hope. Concerning physical and mental health, it leads to better cognitive outcomes, increased life expectancy, and improved quality of life. It is also associated with greater acceptance of diversity, as well as higher income and net worth. Simply put, a strong sense of purpose contributes to both better health and greater wealth. 1,2

How do we define purpose? According to McKnight and Kashdan, “Purpose is a central, self-organizing life aim that organizes and stimulates goals, manages behaviors, and provides a sense of meaning.” 3 It is the reason behind what we do, why we look forward to waking up each morning with anticipation and joy. What, then, is our sense of purpose as medical affairs professionals? Without oversimplifying the multifaceted nature of medical affairs, I propose that its purpose is to act as a bridge between science and healthcare practice, helping to bring safe and effective treatments to patients through patient-centered drug development. 4,5

Identifying and connecting to our sense of purpose contributes to building and refining one’s professional identity, which has gained increased attention and recognition over the past two decades. The shift from focusing on professionalism to professional identity began in the early 2000s, as reflected by a rise in research on the topic. .6,7  This shift recognizes the distinction between professionalism—defined as external behaviors and attitudes—and professional identity, the internalization of a professional community’s norms. 8 Recognizing this, it has been proposed that professional identity formation should be a fundamental part of medical education, with the goal of teaching professionalism as a means of facilitating students’ development of professional identities. 9

Several definitions of personal identity exist. In medicine, a physician’s identity is described as “a representation of self, achieved over time in stages, during which the characteristics, values, and norms of the medical profession are internalized, resulting in an individual thinking, acting, and feeling like a physician.” 10  More broadly, professional identity across healthcare professions can be defined as “a complex construct of personal and social identity relating to the attitudes, behaviors, ethical values, commitment, quality awareness, and competencies of the professional.” 11 This journey is a dynamic and continuous process, and individuals may acquire multiple professional identities throughout their lives.

Individuals with strong professional identification tend to have better self-regulation and loyalty, making them inclined to always do what is right, as doing otherwise would feel like a betrayal of both their community and themselves. 8 

 A strong professional identity shapes professional motivation, enhances confidence in performing tasks, helps define the scope and nature of work, keeps individuals focused on their goals, and supports mental well-being through a sense of belonging. These benefits contribute to a sense of meaning and fulfillment in one’s professional life.

Since the creation of the first medical affairs roles by Upjohn Company in 1967, the remit of medical affairs functions has evolved significantly, particularly now in an era of global disease burden, personalized medicine, and advancing technology. The support role traditionally associated with medical affairs has now transformed it into a third pillar in the industry alongside R&D and Commercial. 4,5,12

It is evident that having a strong professional identity and sense of purpose leads to confident and competent professionals. With the increasing complexity of medicines development, professionals in this field should actively engage in the development of their professional identity through high-quality education and ongoing interaction with mentors and peers. Such formative experiences help align their sense of purpose with a solid professional identity, empowering medicines development professionals to fulfill their mission of improving patient care and outcomes through patient-centered medicines development.

References

  1. Pfund, G. N., & Hill, P. L. (2018). The multifaceted benefits of purpose in life. International Forum for Logotherapy, 41(1), 27–37.
  2. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/changepower/202108/10-powerful-benefits-of-living-with-purpose
  3. McKnight, P. E., & Kashdan, T. B. (2009). Purpose in life as a systemthat creates and sustains health and well-being: An integrative, testable theory. Review of General Psychology, 13(3), 242-251.doi.org/10.1037/a0017152
  4. Vandenbroucke P. (2023), The Purpose and Identity of Medical Affairs. Module 1 Lesson 2 Lecture, GMDP Academy – King’s College London
  5. Kremer C. (2023), How to Prepare Medical Affairs Professionals for the Future. Module 6 Lesson 1 Lecture, GMDP Academy – King’s College London
  6. Cornett M, Palermo C, Ash S. Professional identity research in the health professions-a scoping review. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2023 May;28(2):589-642. doi: 10.1007/s10459-022-10171-1. Epub 2022 Nov 9. PMID: 36350489; PMCID: PMC10169899.
  7. Cardoso I., Batista P., Graça A. (2014). Professional Identity in Analysis: A Systematic Review of the Literature,The Open Sports Sciences Journal DOI: 10.2174/1875399X01407010083 https://opensportssciencesjournal.com/VOLUME/7/PAGE/83/
  8. Bloom TJ. Understanding Professionalism’s Interplay Between the Profession’s Identity and One’s Professional Identity. Am J Pharm Educ. 2022 Nov;86(9):ajpe8956. doi: 10.5688/ajpe8956. Epub 2022 Jan 31. PMID: 35101859; PMCID: PMC10159390.
  9. Cruess RL, Cruess SR, Steinert Y. Amending Miller’s Pyramid to Include Professional Identity Formation. Acad Med. 2016 Feb;91(2):180-5. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000000913. PMID: 26332429.
  10. Cruess RL, Cruess SR, Boudreau JD, Snell L, Steinert Y. Reframing medical education to support professional identity formation. Acad Med. 2014 Nov;89(11):1446-51. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000000427. PMID: 25054423.
  11. Biehl, V.;Wieber, F.; Abegglen, D.; Glässel, A. Professional Identity Formation in Health Promotion Practitioners: Students’ Perspectives during an Undergraduate Program in Switzerland. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 10754. https:// doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010754
  12. McKinsey & Company, A Vision for Medical Affairs, June 12, 2019

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