Professional Behavior Expectations

MD Program Code of Professional Behavior

Professionalism Reporting

The Keck School of Medicine of USC (Keck School) is committed to maintaining and promoting a respectful learning environment for all members of the Keck School community.

USC’s Unifying Values are the cornerstone of the university community.  Faculty, staff and students are held to codes of behavior, each of which include specific definitions of prohibited conduct that fall within the broader definition of mistreatment.

Honesty and Integrity

  • We conduct ourselves with the highest degree of integrity and honesty.
  • We truthfully conduct our research and report our research findings and will not represent others’ work or ideas as our own.
  • We do not seek, by action or implication, oral or otherwise, to create an incorrect impression of our abilities or to create an unfair advantage over our colleagues.
  • We do not tolerate or support unethical behavior in ourselves or our colleagues and will report such behavior when it occurs through established procedures as detailed in the Mistreatment Policy.

Responsibility, Reliability, and Accountability

  • We accept our professional responsibility to be punctual and to respect the time and effort of others.
  • We hold ourselves accountable to local, state, and national laws relevant to learning and healthcare environments and to the policies and procedures of the school and its associated clinical sites.
  • We respond in a timely manner to all official Keck School communication.
  • We recognize our limitations and will seek help when needed. We will not assume responsibilities beyond our capabilities.
  • We do not conduct clinical responsibilities while impaired by drugs or alcohol.
  • We work to develop personal habits that promote social, physical, and mental health and wellness. If we recognize signs of impairment in ourselves or others, we will contact the Office of Student Affairs.
  • We represent the Keck School appropriately in all relevant settings including all forms of electronic communication.

Respect for Others (Students, Colleagues, Faculty, Staff, Patients)

  • We treat others with respect and honor their dignity.
  • We acknowledge that we all have known and implicit biases and work to mitigate the impact of biases on all interactions with students, colleagues, faculty, staff, and patients.
  • We do not discriminate nor tolerate discrimination based on race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, disease, or socioeconomic status.
  • We respect the confidentiality of our patients at all times.
  • We recognize the importance of teamwork and work respectfully in collaboration with others.
  • We demonstrate respect for our patients and colleagues by maintaining an outward appearance that is appropriate for learning and patient care.

Attendance at the Keck School of Medicine of USC constitutes de facto acceptance of the CODE OF PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR and its concepts and its procedures.

Reviewed and approved: November 19, 2025
Medical Education Executive Council