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Find the right mentor for your fellowship
A second-year fellow outlines the qualities of a good mentor.
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After the long hours of work, weekend calls, and moments of doubt when the future beyond medical school and residency appeared somewhat distant and murky, becoming a fellow in medical oncology seemed something I had really earned. It was a welcome fresh start and the beginning of the rest of my life as a clinician.
In addition to thinking about which journals to read, deciding whether to do bench research or clinical research, keeping up with clinical trials and figuring out which drug works on which target, choosing a mentor was a vital decision for me.
A new fellow should identify a mentor as soon as possible because fellowship is a short, protected time. A fellow does not need to identify only one person, as no one mentor may be the perfect match. In fact, more than one mentor may be needed to satisfy a fellow’s intellectual quests.
These are the qualities in a mentor that I most value:
Well-read
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Whether a researcher or clinician, involved in laboratory-based or translational research, the mentor should be well-read and a person who stays informed about the most recent literature. In the beginning of our careers, not all of us have the insight to come up with viable and feasible research questions and ways to find answers.
A well-read mentor is a person who will help direct a fellow’s career path.
Unselfish
The single most important quality to seek in a mentor is unselfishness. A good mentor will let the fellow take an idea and develop it, be the lead author on a manuscript, and represent the research group at conferences and meetings.
Supportive
A good mentor will provide encouragement and motivation about writing and will review manuscripts, grants, clinical and/or laboratory protocols and help the fellow develop those skills. It is a mentor’s duty to steer the writing process in the right direction and to offer constructive criticism.
A good mentor will respond quickly to an urgent message, will review a draft manuscript in a timely fashion, and will meet after clinics to discuss articles.
Although there are many other qualities of a successful mentor, these are the most important to me. I have built a lifelong relationship with my mentor, who has encouraged me to be an inquisitive learner. It is an experience that I hope will make me a good mentor in the future.
Sikander Ailawadhi, MD, is a second-year medical oncology fellow at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York.