1. How to be mentored? (And how to manage your mentor?)
Valérie Biousse, MD
Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology; Emory University
Chair of Mentoring Committee
Department of Ophthalmology

2. Disclosures No conflict of interest Consultant for Gensights Biologics
Receives honorarium for books:
Neuro-Ophthalmology Illustrated
Walsh and Hoyt’s Clinical Neuro-Ophthalmology
The Essentials: Neuro-Ophthalmology

3. Objectives Provide several definitions of mentorship
Explain the benefits of having a mentor to different career paths
Describe strategies for finding a “good fit” mentor for yourself

4. How to find a mentor?
(And how do you make busy people -- who do not know you -- want to mentor you?)

5. What’s a mentor? “A wise and trusted counselor or teacher”
Particularly important in occupational settings

6. Mentor Serves as: coach, role model, sponsor, provider
Provides: guidance, advice, skills/knowledge, assessment/feedback

7. Hippocrates Oath (late 5th century BCE)
I swear … to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art

8. Mentor ≠ Role Model Mentoring refers to an ACTIVE process
Role modeling refers to a more passive process

9. The mentor might (should?) also be a role model
A mentor interacts one-on-one with a mentee and offers wisdom, guidance and encouragement
In doing so, the mentor frequently comes to know the mentee on a personal level

10. What’s mentoring?
Symbiotic relationship aimed at advancing careers and career satisfaction for both the mentor and the mentee
Dynamic, collaborative, reciprocal relationship focused on a mentee's personal and professional development
Can develop either spontaneously, based on mutual interests, or be set up institutionally

11. What studies have shown
Increased mentoring associated with increased overall satisfaction with student training
Mentorship helps with:
career decisions; finding a job; productivity with research; reducing stress
Lack of mentorship associated with a loss of interest in pursuing a career in academia

12. Mentoring Teaching / learning process
Professional socialization (networking)
Career development
Enhanced student / faculty productivity
Promotion
Sustained institutional viability

13. “Managing up” by the mentee
Corporate concept
Requires the mentee:
To take responsibility for his/her part in the collaborative alliance
To be the leader of the relationship by guiding and facilitating the mentor's efforts to create a satisfying and productive relationship for both parties

14. “Managing up” by the mentee
Being mentored is the responsibility of the mentee
Do not complain that “you are not being mentored”…
Make it happen!
Keep the relationship active

15. Where do you find a mentor?
Usually not in the classroom
Usually not by
Sometimes on a list of “potential mentors”
Most often in clinic / in the hospital / in the lab