Book excerpt: There has been a sea-change in dermatology in the last three decades. Managed care, electronic records and communication, cosmetic dermatology, direct-to-consumer advertising, core competencies, and conflicts of interest were either nascent concepts or not even on the horizon as recently as the mid-1980s. The public, accrediting organizations, and physicians themselves recognize the need for training resources in dermatology ethics and professionalism. There is a need to address these topics in a format that will stimulate dialogue and reflection.