This article, published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, discusses the role of teamwork in the professional education of physicians. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recommended that organisations establish interdisciplinary team training programs that incorporate proven methods for team management. Teamwork can be assessed during physician medical education, board certification, licensure and continuing practice. Team members must possess specific knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSAs), such as the ability to exchange information, which enable individual team members to coordinate.