Mentorship is a vital component of career development, particularly in healthcare where, according to the Journal of Cancer Education, it “can enhance implicit knowledge about the ‘hidden curriculum’ of professionalism, ethics, values, and the art of medicine not learned from texts.” Mentors pass on valuable experience, giving mentees insight as to how to respond to certain medical and career challenges. The benefits of mentorship aren’t one-sided, either—mentors also learn from their mentees and can receive personal and professional gratification as they help mentees progress in their careers.
Here’s a look at some of the benefits of mentorship in medicine, how to find the right mentor and sustain a mutually beneficial relationship, and some examples of successful programs at renowned institutions.
Career Support and Networking
Career guidance from mentors plays a critical role in the development of young physicians and other medical professionals. Mentors can share unique insights gained through years of experience that may not have been explicitly covered in textbooks, serve as a sounding board for complex cases, introduce historical perspective, and can provide alternative opinions on difficult diagnoses. Mentors can be especially helpful for medical students, helping them navigate various medical specialties and demonstrate the professional behavior they’re expected to model as they enter residency programs and begin their careers.
With this support, mentees generally report higher levels of confidence and career satisfaction. They’re also more likely to receive greater networking opportunities as more experienced physicians typically have larger professional circles and can introduce mentees to knowledgeable researchers and potential collaborators. This can help facilitate career advancement opportunities such as writing for peer-reviewed publications, earning grants, or joining medical boards.
Reducing Burnout
Burnout is a psychological syndrome associated with emotional fatigue, lacking motivation, and compromised performance. While it can affect workers in all industries, it disproportionately impacts healthcare professionals. Mentorship, however, has shown to be a valuable resource in mitigating and preventing burnout in medicine, both for the mentor and mentee.
In a 2021 study published in the Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that medical professionals in mentoring relationships were far less likely to experience burnout than those without peer guidance. Twenty-two thousand employees, including clinicians, physician assistants, administrative assistants, and trainees, participated in a confidential online survey examining their emotional state. Some 25% of employees in mentoring relationships reported symptoms of burnout, whereas 28% of employees without a mentor or mentee said they experienced burnout.
The study authors theorized that human connection and social support, both of which are core components of a mentoring relationship, play a vital role in keeping healthcare workers grounded and reducing risk of burnout.
Gratification for Mentors
It’s also not uncommon for mentors to learn from their less experienced counterparts. Medical practices, techniques, and technology can evolve over time, which is why continuing education is so valued in the medical field. Mentors, then, can learn about emerging technologies or glean new perspectives from mentees who have recently completed medical school. They can also feel a sense of gratification and accomplishment by helping mentees achieve their goals.
“There’s no better feeling than when your mentee gets a grant, wins an award or presents well at rounds,” notes Dr. Sharon Straus, a former mentor in the University of Toronto’s Diversity Mentorship Program. “It keeps me engaged, and I get to see their careers develop over time.”
How to Find the Right Mentor
There are many different forms of mentorship. Some medical schools and hospitals have formal mentorship programs, while in other cases physicians learn informally from their more experienced colleagues. In a 2018 article on the importance of physician mentorship in the New England Journal of Medicine’s CareerCenter, physicians throughout the US offered guidance on finding the right mentor. Noting that most mentor relationships are informal, Wayne State University dermatology resident Fatima Fahs suggested asking specific questions to a person you admire and gradually building a relationship from there. Others spoke about the need for a mentor who can inspire and celebrate their mentee rather than intimidate them.
Some other tips for finding the right mentor include attending networking events, reaching out to the alumni office at your school, and being receptive to mentors with diverse experiences and backgrounds. To maintain a mutually beneficial relationship, both parties should establish clear expectations, be receptive to feedback, and review progress regularly.
Successful Mentorship Programs
The University of Toronto’s Diversity Mentorship Program, launched in 2017, has helped increase equity for underrepresented groups in medicine, pairing first- and second-year medical students with experienced mentors sharing similar social identities. Meanwhile, a University of Stanford mentorship program has also proven successful, particularly in regard to promoting wellness and preventing burnout.
The Stanford Neurology Wellness and Mentorship Program, also created in 2017, incorporates peer guidance, wellness education, and social activities to establish a greater sense of community in the neurology department. Mentors and mentees are put into teams based on their shared interests outside of work. They meet regularly and participate in wellness-related workshops and team-building exercises. An early analysis of the program, reported at the 2018 International Conference on Physician Health, found that participants experienced decreases in burnout and feelings of interpersonal disengagement and had greater professional fulfillment.