Good military habits relatable to ophthalmology
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MONTEREY, Calif. — Mentorship, sponsorship and coaching are three points of support that Lt. Cmdr. Loretta Stein, MD, MSc, has gleaned from her Navy career that can translate to careers in ophthalmology.
“Mentors talk to you, sponsors talk about you, and coaches talk with you,” Stein said here at the Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium.
In the military, a performance rating system clearly spells out what the Navy values and provides a rubric for evaluating an individual’s performance, she said.
“You can draw from this when you mentor,” Stein said. “Have your mentee, the person you’re talking to, articulate their priorities, their values and the values in their practice, their organization. Do they align?”
A sponsor is traditionally a senior leader who assists their “sponsee” in obtaining more visibility, promotions and recognition, Stein said.
“Look for opportunities to talk about and lift up your talented colleagues,” Stein said.
Coaching allows for peer-to-peer conversations that often set the framework for greater accomplishments, she added. Providing a space for conversations to address personal or professional challenges, active listening, promoting growth and driving action can be used in any workspace.
“I certainly couldn’t have gotten this far without the support of tremendous mentors, sponsors [and] coaches,” Stein said. “No matter what stage that you are in your career, from resident to the saltiest of ophthalmologists, there are ways that everyone can give back.”
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Stein L. Keynote session: Where do I go now? Elite status mentality. Presented at: Women in Ophthalmology Summer Symposium; Aug. 25-28, 2022; Monterey, California (hybrid meeting).
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