Words Matter: Removing the Word Pimp from Medical Education Discourse

The history of medicine is littered with antiquated and harmful words that our profession has replaced with more appropriate and descriptive terminology. The word pimp, used to convey a style of teaching by question-asking, remains a persistent holdover propagated by medical educators, researchers, and trainees. As the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements demonstrate, we must identify and end sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace. Now is the time to critically examine the use of this oft-cited term and advocate for its removal from the lexicon of medical education.