Reflections on leadership: Mentoring matters

Abstract

I wouldn’t be where I am without the benefit of a few great mentors, and I consider it my duty and privilege to pay it forward. I am often asked to be a mentor and, from time to time, still seek the advice of one of my old mentors. I know many of you can say the same. In the early days of our field, mentoring was automatic. There were so few people with similar backgrounds and career paths that there was a dual expectation, both to have a mentor and to be one. Being known as a mentor was synonymous with being respected in the field. Today, the field is different. New people have to create a path forward with less support than in the past and must develop additional skill sets to succeed in the current environment. At the same time, reimbursement requirements and institutional