How to be a Mentee/How to Mentor Hospitalist Pathway Conference September 9, 2014 ( with adaptations from Society of Hospitalist Medicine, Academic Hospitalist Academy )

Intro 1.What is a mentor/mentee 2.What kinds of mentors are there 3. Finding a mentor 4. Mentoring others

What is a mentor? Old Oxford Dictionary- as common noun: An experienced and trusted adviser. Feminist scholars have argued that the concept of mentoring is fundamentally male gendered.

What is a mentee? The person in receipt of mentorship may be referred to as a protégé (male), a protégée (female), an apprentice or, in recent years, a mentee.

Telemachus and Mentor in Homer’s Odyssey

An Ancient Story Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who left for the Trojan War. Odysseus placed Mentor and Odysseus‘ foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus.

The real story… Though the actual Mentor is a somewhat ineffective old man, the Goddess Athena takes on the appearance of Mentor in order to guide young Telemachus in his time of difficulty.

Mentor is female? Athena also called Pallas Athena, is the GODDESS of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, just warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill.

Tabletop exercise What would you like a mentor to do for you?

Hospitalist Burnout Arch Int Med, 2011, Glasheen, J. Cross-sectional survey of 420 hospitalists at 20 academic med centers – 266 respondents 67% high levels of stress 42% can identify a mentor

Pediatric Hospitalist Survey Ped Hosp, 2012, Pane,L et al 222 respondents “I have adequate mentorship in my career” – Only 44% agreed Adequate mentorship associated with: – Career satisfaction – Opportunities for promotion – Feeling of value – Increased retention at their hospital

Kinds of mentors Few mentors can serve all needs- expect to have more than one – Career mentor/Professional Coach – Project or skills-specific mentor – Mentors-at-a-distance

Special consideration: Peer mentors Important but unrecognized resource – Personal benchmarking – Sounding board – Friendship Likely not as useful for: – Skill building (teaching you stuff) – Project building (giving you stuff to do) – Career strategy

Career Mentors People to help you stay on track People who give you the 50,000 foot view People with great ideas who stimulate your thinking People who are “connectors” in your institution Meet semi-annual

Task (or Project)-Specific Mentors Someone who gives you a project Someone who needs help with a project *often career and task mentors are a blended role Meet weekly-monthly

Mentors-at-a-distance Good for impartial opinions (review my CV) Networking Compare-contrast different institutions Remote contact yearly or at national meetings

Effective Mentors In general, good mentors those at the late Assistant Professor stage (5-10 yrs on faculty) – Have time and desire to establish themselves – Beware the overextended but prominent investigator – Has a tract record of mentorship Note productivity does not always = mentorship

Effective Mentors Assess mentee’s skills Figure out what the mentee can do that is unique, what can give them a niche You are your mentee’s “coach”

Shaping your career? Decide which people, projects and ideas best fit with your goals and inspire you Set up a meeting to facilitate or refine your immediate and/or long-term career goals

The 5-55 minute mentoring session 1.Assess the situation 2.Set an agenda 3.Assist with ongoing projects 4.Career guidance, professional/personal balance 5.Wrap-up, set expectations, schedule next meeting