This research explores the relationship between professional and personal identity in medical oncologists working in Australia. It is informed by studies suggesting alignment between professional and personal aspects of self is associated with positive professional experience (Volpe et al. 2018;2021) as well as findings that some doctors describing selves as falling short of their professional ideal (Gilligan et al. 2020) and studies revealing professional challenges for the Australian oncology workforce (Lwin et al 2018; Broom et al. 2016; Wong et al. 2018).
Literature supports professional identity development in doctors as integral to underpinning connection to the profession and professional behaviour (Monrouxe 2010; Cruess et al. 2015). There is less but revealing research focussing on personal identity in the context of professional identity formation. There is concerning indication that professional identity formation in doctors necessitates minimising aspects of personal identity with doctors reporting this as having a negative impact.
This current research is novel in its exploration of the experience of oncologists and certainly the only work of its kind in Australia. The professional experience of senior, consultant doctors is unique. Consultant role and responsibilities differ to their junior colleagues. These factors and their important role in shaping the profession through professional management and as role models to junior doctors suggests that understanding consultant oncologist experience the relationship between their professional and personal identity might stimulate thinking about how to positively impact the profession, clinician well-being and service provision.
This research will be informed by interviews with approximately 20 medical oncologists in Australia, representing metropolitan, regional, public and private work contexts. Interviews have commenced and findings to date will be presented. Interesting themes are emerging that inform understanding of the professional experience of doctors and a more nuanced understanding of identity theory in general.