The educational and social milieu of medical learning environments is a complex system of influences. Role models across peer relationships and the hierarchy of medicine contribute to the formation of professional identity, behaviors, and attitudes of future physicians. The best solutions to the influence of the hidden curriculum will uncover it, integrate its positive aspects into the formal curriculum, and lead to development of approaches to understand and mitigate its negative aspects by educators and practicing clinicians. The hidden curriculum in medicine presents challenges but also opportunities to help reshape not only education but also the culture of medicine.

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