ROLE MODELS FOR GRADUATES IN FAMILY MEDIC INE AND DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES IN QUEBEC

Objectives To describe and compare the role models of Quebec residents graduating from French-language faculties of family medicine and from medical specialities. Design Survey by mail. Participants Quebec resi dents graduating in family medicine (189), medical specialities (147), and surgical specialities (64) in 1990. Main Outcome Measures Number of models chosen, social, demographic, professional, and personal char acteristics of primary role models, role models' influence on students . Results Role models chosen by family medicine graduates more closely resemble those of their medical specialty colleagues than those of th eir surgical speciality colleagues. Family medicine graduates, particu larly female graduates, have more difficulty choosing models. Their ch oices are based mainly on qualities that reflect a biopsychosocial app roach to care and concern with the community aspects of medical practi ce. Conclusion Choosing role models is a complex process. Medical facu lty in residency programs play an important role in the professional i dentity of future physicians.