LAUSR

ho we are, our identities are essential. Identities give our lives meaning, guiding W behaviour. Professional identities are of utmost importance in medicine. They are the cornerstone of professionalism, providing us with ethical frameworks within which we work. For example, having a strong professional identity as a doctor enables you to consider your values and how they relate to those prescribed (eg, professionalism codes of conduct), and to patients’ and colleagues’ values. Furthermore, possessing a strong professional identity can foster confidence (both in yourself, and others in you), cultivate collaborative leadership styles and develop wellbeing. Conversely, having strong professional identities can lead to negative outcomes — including negative workplace behaviour, poor teamwork, challenges to shared decision making with patients, and hierarchical leadership styles — resulting in patient safety threats. For better or worse, professional identities matter: for you, your patients and your colleagues. In this article, we describewhatwemean by identities; how different identities play out during interactions; how they are formed, alongside the barriers and threats to development; and the consequences of developing (or not) professional identities. We also discuss how we may support professional identity formation.