Assistant professor of professional practice Adrian Reynolds discusses his article, "What is professional identity formation in medicine?" He explores how a student's frustrated question, "Did I get dumber?" reveals the deep crisis of professional identity formation (PIF) in medical education. Adrian argues that the role of academic coaches and learning specialists is often misunderstood as remedial, when in fact their "hidden work" in teaching metacognition, self-regulated learning, and growth mindset is the true backbone of the curriculum. This discussion reframes PIF by focusing on the non-clinical specialists who guide students, navigating their own identity dissonance and role ambiguity in a hierarchical system. Learn why the curriculum "stands on the shoulders" of these educators and how they are central to transforming medical education.

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Why learning specialists are central to medical education