Mentor: Another Word, Another Fashion Statement

Abstract

As we journey through life, we appreciate the assistance of others. We hope that, when necessary, either through a master plan beyond our comprehension or through just plain luck, we will run into good Samaritans, friends, and experienced colleagues who will be willing to help us. We all need wise and trusted counselors—which, by the way, is the definition of mentor . But where does the wisdom come from? And is trust an automatic attribute of those who declare themselves to be mentors? Are you wise because you have a job with authority? Are you worthy of trust because of personal assurances? Even in the neighborhood where I grew up, even on the streets of Brooklyn, trust was something earned over time. People were thought to be wise because of what they said and did, not because of what they preached. Once, we expected each generation to prepare the next out of a sense of responsibility and an appreciation for the continuity of life. Times have changed. In our profession, we often believe that new clinicians and new faculty members need mentors. And they do. But new leaders also need mentors. When we assume leadership roles in practice, education, or research, that is a new …