Masters of Radiology Panel Discussion: Encouraging and Fostering Mentorship—How We Can Ensure That No Faculty Member Is Left Behind and That Leaders Do Not Fail

Abstract

149 The best way for an effective mentor– mentee relationship to be formed is by the mentee doing a gap analysis. This analysis should identify what skills the individual has versus the skills that are needed to be successful. The individual should then recruit a mentor who can help fill these gaps. This approach often results in having a series of mentors. A reasonable 4-step process is to seek others who know more than you do in a desired area of growth, establish a relationship, acquire desired skills, and repeat. Monsees: First and foremost, mentoring has to be well engrained in the culture of the institution and it has to be in the mission. There also needs to be a clear understanding of what might be expected among both the senior and junior faculty members. One of the most crucial aspects is time. We are all asked to do more, and it’s very hard to figure out how to get all of it done. Also, we need to decide early on in somebody’s career how they are going to start out and what type of track will they choose. When I first started, there was one track and everybody was on the same track. Now we have options that people need to choose from. Someone may not know where they are going to end up a decade or two from now, but at least they can get an idea of where they want to start out. Also, expectations for advancement may be different depending on what track someone chooses and who is selected as a mentor. As things change in someone’s career along the way, it may be necessary to bring in other individuals to help. We also have to recognize that it is very time consuming to be a mentor. You have to reward generous mentors and people who have been successful at what they do. The rewards don’t have to be financial. They could be extra time, a pat on the back, or whatever an institution can give for that service that is important. I also believe that there are lots Masters of Radiology Panel Discussion: Encouraging and Fostering Mentorship—How We Can Ensure That No Faculty Member Is Left Behind and That Leaders Do Not Fail