Equal Standards: Should Faculty Be Held to the Same 48-Hour Email Response Policy as Medical Students?

Email response policies in medical education shape communication expectations for students and faculty. 48-hour email response policies for medical students are typical at many UK medical schools, with University College London, Glasgow Medical School, and Queen Mary University of London formalising these expectations through signed agreements. However, the absence of similar standards for faculty members raises questions about equity, professionalism, and the hidden curriculum in medical education. This article explores the implications of asymmetric email response policies, focusing on their impact on power dynamics, student-faculty relationships, and professional identity formation. We propose four recommendations to improve professionalism and the collaborative culture essential for future healthcare practitioners, ensuring that communication policies reflect the values they aim to instil.