Professionalism in Predoctoral Dental Education: An Analysis of Five US Course Catalogs and the Need for Standardization

Professionalism is a foundational pillar in dental education, encompassing the ethical principles and behavioral standards expected of future dental practitioners. While accrediting bodies like the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) provide overarching guidelines, individual dental schools often articulate their own definitions and expectations of professionalism within their course catalogs. This variability can lead to inconsistencies in how professionalism is taught and assessed. This perspective paper examines the definitions and emphasis on professionalism in the predoctoral course catalogs of five dental schools: Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Rutgers School of Dental Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, and Texas A&M College of Dentistry. The analysis highlights the variations and proposes a move toward a more standardized, actionable definition across institutions.