Mentoring in medicine

Who and what?

The term mentor is defined as “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.”1 Mentoring is the process by which an experienced person provides guidance, support, and encouragement to a less experienced person. Such relationships are based on consideration, camaraderie, commonality, and confidentiality.2–5

How does mentorship operate?

Mentorship operates under different models, which suit different purposes and change with time and need2–7:

Is long-distance mentoring effective?

Although it is easier to have the mentee and the mentor in the same geographic location, long-distance mentoring can work well, especially if the mentee plans on going to the mentor’s institution as a staff physician or for further training. Long-distance mentoring also makes sense if both physicians’ educational or research interests match.

Benefits of mentoring

As a mentor, you will gain a number of benefits: the personal satisfaction of knowing that you have helped someone else; professional development, including as a mentor; increased commitment to your field and profession; opportunities for self-reflection and self-renewal; and appreciation of a new perspective.2,4,5

As a mentee, you will experience the following: increased confidence in your personal and professional successes; an increased desire to pursue a career in a field of interest; networking opportunities; career coaching and support; and research guidance.4,5,7–9

Initiation and management

Mentoring relationships need some help. Many institutions are addressing this by formalizing the process and assigning mentors for residents and junior faculty, although it is up to the mentees to find someone they respect and trust to help them reach their objectives. However, both formal and informal mentoring are effective. Once the partnership is underway, both partners must work to sustain the relationship and help it flourish or end it if it is not working.5,7–9

Many have more than 1 mentor at a time to accommodate different needs or purposes. Most students’ mentors are staff physicians, peers, relatives, or family friends.8 Look for mentors with specific characteristics that fit your purpose.10 Apart from academic or professional rank, factors such as sex, age, race, religion, and marital status are often also taken into account when choosing mentors.

Many mentors have mentors and mentees. So be a mentor and get a mentor!