Upholding the Highest Standards: Coaching Ethics at the Physician Coaching Institute
From the Executive Director, Dr. Francine Gaillour
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) has recently published its updated 2025 Code of Ethics, a comprehensive revision that reflects the evolving landscape of professional coaching. As an ICF-accredited organization, the Physician Coaching Institute fully embraces these new ethical standards and the spirit behind them.
Just as the medical profession is grounded in ethical principles that guide clinicians in serving patients with integrity and compassion, our coaching community is anchored by the ICF’s standards — ensuring that coaches uphold confidentiality, respect, professionalism, and fairness in every engagement.
Ethics as the Cornerstone of Healthcare Coaching
At the Physician Coaching Institute, we take ethics far beyond compliance. We believe ethical awareness is a cornerstone of coaching excellence — especially in healthcare, where coaches often serve physicians and clinical leaders navigating complex systems, responsibilities, and personal challenges.
Our training includes deep-dive discussions on coaching ethics in healthcare, exploring real-life case scenarios that test boundaries and judgment: dual professional roles, the influence of organizational hierarchy, confidentiality of internal coaching, and the expectation of safety in both client and sponsor agreements.
Through these conversations, our students develop a grounded understanding of how ethical standards translate into real practice — ensuring they coach with integrity and clarity, even in the most nuanced situations.
Honoring ICF’s Leadership
We hold deep respect for the ICF’s leadership in setting and continually refining professional standards for the global coaching community. The new ICF Code of Ethics reaffirm the organization’s dedication to trust, transparency, and inclusion — values we share wholeheartedly.
As we prepare the next generation of Certified Physician Development Coaches, we are proud to model and teach the ethical rigor that both medicine and coaching demand.
Whether or not you are a professional-level coach, we invite you to review the ICF’s new standards.
Learn more:
Physician Coaching Institute: https://physiciancoachinginstitute.com
ICF Code of Ethics: https://coachingfederation.org/credentialing/coaching-ethics/icf-code-of-ethics