How to Choose & Be An Excellent Mentor Margot S. Damaser, Ph.D. Staff, Dept of Biomedical Engineering and Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH USA Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH Senior Rehabilitation Research Career Scientist Advanced Platform Technology Center of Excellence Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH damasem@ccf.org

Who is a Mentor? Mentor – (noun) An experienced and trusted adviser

Who Am I? I earned my Ph.D. in Bioengineering in 1994 Highly interdisciplinary topic with mentors from Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Urology, Statistics I did 2 postdocs between 1994 and 1996 gaining several more mentors – Scientists & Urologists In 1996 I started as Assistant Professor in Chicago at Hines VA Hospital and Loyola University Medical School I began to mentor Residents, graduate students, and other trainees I have mentored the research of over 50 trainees with a wide variety of backgrounds and career goals, trajectories Including Urology & Gynecology Residents & Fellows, Medical Students, graduate students in engineering & biology, postdocs, foreign fellows, undergraduate & high school interns I have published 85 papers & 25 reviews with trainees I have no official training in mentoring

So, how do you find a good mentor? Mentoring The essential difference between an adviser and a mentor is that the adviser directs while the mentor guides An adviser often has an agenda, be it to point your research in a particular direction or merely to publish more papers Foremost among a mentor's concerns are your professional development and personal well-being A mentor offers you support, guidance, and even solace with no other motive than helping you identify and reach your own goals A mentor is someone you can open yourself up to without fearing deleterious consequences So, how do you find a good mentor? http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2012/02/mentoring-advice

How to Find an Excellent Mentor Seek them Out Go to seminars, ask a question, listen how it is answered, contact the speaker afterward if you think they have potential say ‘Yes’ if invited to a meeting, lunch, dinner with a visitor Know what mentoring you need at your current stage and look for people who can provide it Conduct Auditions Ask about experience with specific areas/topics Ask about willingness to mentor on specific topics Ask about mentoring philosophy Look for humanity Recognize that one mentor isn’t enough and that mentors can & often should be different from advisors 5) Participate in a mentoring ladder 6) Stay in touch http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2006/11/mind-matters-getting-yourself-mentored

How to get the most from a mentor Know your goals, either short- or long-term Choose a mentor to help with specific goals Discuss mutual goals and expectations Learn to accept and give feedback Practice good communication Know your path is your responsibility Try to avoid burning bridges if things don’t work out Try mentoring someone yourself http://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2009/08/top-10-tips-maximize-your-mentoring

How to be an Excellent Mentor Respect your mentees; learn from them too Care about the mentees future career Be professional Communicate clearly and nonjudgmentally Understand strengths & weakness of mentees Encourage growth in areas of strength Facilitate improvement in areas of weakness often by providing opportunities to practice a new or weak skill Inspire to perspire Be patient and positive Be responsive to mentee’s needs in a timely fashion Understand that there is a wide variety of normal Show your humanity

We Recruit! damasem@ccf.org