The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between a clinical environment and the development of empathy, teamwork, and lifelong learning in medical students who are doing their first clinical rotation. The Jefferson Scales of Empathy, Jefferson Scale of Attitudes toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration, and Jefferson Scale of Physician Lifelong Learning were administered to 60 sixth-year medical students, before and after their first clinical rotation in five health care institutions. The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure questionnaire was administered to (...) measure their perception of the educational environment after the rotation was finished. Scores were compared to determine differences before and after the rotation. Other variables associated with gender, age, and moral perception, were included into the comparisons. A correlation analysis was also performed. The analyses confirmed a positive association among the measured elements of medical professionalism. Lifelong learning decreased after the rotation. Associations were found between the educational environment and the development of lifelong learning ; and between the development of attitudes toward teamwork and the educational environment. During the rotational internship, the development of some components of professionalism in medical students is influenced by the clinical environment. Gender, age, and moral perception influence the development of some elements of medical professionalism and the perception of the educational environment. (shrink)