Twelve tips for positive role modelling in medical education

Role modelling has powerful impact in medical education, with the potential to shape the professional development, clinical skills and career choices of the medical workforce. In this article we provide twelve tips, some aimed at educators and some at curriculum leaders, to increase the positive potential of role modelling. Our tips are based on theory, evidence, our own research and experience. They include ensuring educators are conscious of their role modelling potential, providing role models to represent the diversity of learners, facilitating reflection in the role modelling process and supporting role modelling to improve recruitment to shortage specialties.