Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study
Abstract
This letter comments on a recently published study examining the relationship between physicians’ appearance and professionalism from the perspective of medical students. The study addresses a timely and relevant topic in contemporary medical education, where visual cues and first impressions continue to shape professional interactions. By focusing on future physicians rather than patient perceptions, the work offers valuable insights into early professional socialization and identity formation. The findings may be interpreted within established theoretical perspectives related to impression formation, symbolism, and professional identity development.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
N-A
Ethical Statement
This manuscript is a Letter to the Editor and does not involve original data collection or human participants. Therefore, ethics committee approval was not required.
Thanks
N-A
References
- Karmakar T, Das A, Chatterjee A. Relationship between the appearance and professionalism of a doctor – a questionnaire-based study among medical students. J Med Educ Family Med. 2025;2(3):86-91.
- Lopez-Ruiz A, Misra L, Lamb L, et al. Presenting your best self: how physician appearance influences patient perceptions and impacts women in medicine. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2025;6(1):29-36.
- Willis J, Todorov A. First impressions: making up your mind after a 100-ms exposure to a face. Psychol Sci. 2006;17(7):592-598.
- Blumer H. Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press; 1969.
- Cruess RL, Cruess SR, Steinert Y. Amending Miller’s Pyramid to include professional identity formation. Acad Med. 2016;91(2):180-185.
- Yayla ME. Yaşam, İletişim ve Bilişsellik Üzerine [On Life, Communication, and Cognition]. 2nd ed. Ankara: Akademisyen Yayınevi Kitabevi; 2023. p. 9. ISBN:978-625-399-272-9.
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Medical Education
Journal Section
Letter to Editor
Authors
Publication Date
August 10, 2026
Submission Date
January 21, 2026
Acceptance Date
July 14, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 3 Number: 2
APA
Büyükdereli Atadağ, Y. (2026). Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine, 3(2), 99-100. https://doi.org/10.62425/jmefm.1868635
AMA
1.Büyükdereli Atadağ Y. Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study. J Med Educ Family Med. 2026;3(2):99-100. doi:10.62425/jmefm.1868635
Chicago
Büyükdereli Atadağ, Yıldız. 2026. “Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study”. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine 3 (2): 99-100. https://doi.org/10.62425/jmefm.1868635.
EndNote
Büyükdereli Atadağ Y (August 1, 2026) Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine 3 2 99–100.
IEEE
[1]Y. Büyükdereli Atadağ, “Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study”, J Med Educ Family Med, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 99–100, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.62425/jmefm.1868635.
ISNAD
Büyükdereli Atadağ, Yıldız. “Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study”. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine 3/2 (August 1, 2026): 99-100. https://doi.org/10.62425/jmefm.1868635.
JAMA
1.Büyükdereli Atadağ Y. Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study. J Med Educ Family Med. 2026;3:99–100.
MLA
Büyükdereli Atadağ, Yıldız. “Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study”. Journal of Medical Education and Family Medicine, vol. 3, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 99-100, doi:10.62425/jmefm.1868635.
Vancouver
1.Yıldız Büyükdereli Atadağ. Future Doctors’ Views on Professional Appearance: A Reflection on a Recent Study. J Med Educ Family Med. 2026 Aug. 1;3(2):99-100. doi:10.62425/jmefm.1868635