Gasman1-
I've often wondered the same thing myself. If you look at the medical industry, professionals are required to receive continuing education (on an annual basis?) to maintain their credentials. In addition, there is pressure to participate in research (publish or perish). During my limited exposure to the airline inustry, I have no seen any similar requirements. And if you think about it, most surgeries are videotaped, with many observed as learning opportunities while there has been a great resistance to the same in aviation (medicine is a "public" activity; piloting is private). It seems to me that for the most part, they are completely different cultures with different definitions of professionalism.
J.