The Value of Mentoring
Michael Epter, DO FAAEM
President, Chapter
Board of Directors, Young Physicians Section
Chair: Mentoring Committee, Young Physicians Section
Simply defined, a mentor is a wise and trusted counselor or teacher. The origin of the word can be traced back to Greek mythology, and its first recorded modern usage of the term can be traced to a book entitled "Les Aventures de Telemaque," by the French writer François Fénelon [1]. In the book, the lead character is that of . This book was published in 1699 and was very popular during the 18th century. The modern application of the term can be traced to this publication [2]. Interestingly enough, (and if our Greek ancestors only knew) the term mentor results in over 38.9 million hits on a Google search[3].
The value of having a mentor cannot be understated. In emergency medicine, SAEM has established a Virtual Advisor Program for medical students to help gain access to information concerning emergency medicine, as well as having a unique opportunity to talk with some of the leaders of our specialty. This early contact helps us attract future leaders at an entry level in undergraduate medical education and is critical to the advancement of our field.
In residency, most programs assign their residents an advisor - who may or may not ultimately become their mentor. One of the main weaknesses in our specialty is that during the time period following residency, perhaps the most critical period of all, there is no established mentoring program. The transition period that ensues following residency is often our most challenging time as an emergency physician. All of us recall our first night as an attending and the hyper-stimulation of emotions that we went through, “Doctor, you have a cardiac arrest in 5 minutes and a new pediatric patient with a fever in bed 5. Oh, by the way, did you see the labs on the patient in critical 4?!!” I remember my charge nurse who, if I hadn’t known better, possessed a sixth sense and used nursing as a stress release from her daily job as a psychic or palm reader. I introduced myself as the new attending in the department and shook hands with her with my sweaty palm. Just as all superior emergency physicians have a gestalt for recognizing sick versus not sick, I was sized up within seconds and wondered if I could use a lifeline to phone a friend and see if there were any potential openings in medical school again or maybe at the local Home Depot. Morbidity and mortality conference would pale in comparison to hearing her voice one decibel above silent if I wasn’t meeting her expectations to offer our patients top notch care that evening.
What I didn’t have during those early post graduate experiences, that I look back on and laugh about with friends and colleagues, was a mentor. In addition to clinical work, the post residency transition is a challenge from both a personal and professional standpoint. Young physicians are faced with continual questions concerning job opportunities (e.g., academic versus community based practice, group versus hospital employee, geographic practice areas), professional development and advancement, contract and financial concerns, as well as the stressors of a high paced field. The value of having a mentor during these early years is extremely important.
For the mentor, you have the opportunity to establish an important bond with a colleague in the field and be an advocate and advisor. One of the many benefits I have personally achieved from mentoring residents and young physicians alike is watching the maturity and growth which takes place. The call from a mentee just saying “thanks” is something that brings me true happiness. I’ve heard it said that, “ Unless we think of others and do something for them, we miss one of the greatest sources of happiness.” It is remarkable just how much it can mean to the one being mentored that there is someone who has your best interests in mind, especially someone who has been down the same road.
For the mentee, you have the chance to interact with true leaders in our profession and to receive first hand exposure to the amazing camaraderie that exists within emergency medicine. It is this mutual support that defines the practice of emergency medicine and gives us the ability to care for the ultimate one that matters most – the patient. As practitioners, we all have a wealth of experiences in the clinical setting, so much so that they form the basis of successful, award-winning television shows. The sharing of these unique experiences (both good and bad) between mentor and mentee serves as an opportunity for personal and professional growth, as well as deepening the bonding experience for the parties involved. And last but not least, mentees often derive a sense of confidence and support from the knowledge that a fellow professional “has their back.”
In closing, I invite both physicians who want to be mentors as well as those who want to have mentors to contact me directly by email at nvaaem01@gmail.com.
What we do for ourselves on an individual basis will never permeate to the degree as what we do for our specialty and the young physicians of the future.
1 Roberts, Andy. (1999) "The origins of the term mentor.", History of Education Society Bulletin, no 64, Nov 1999, p313-329.
2 Roberts, Andy. (1999) "The origins of the term mentor.", History of Education Society Bulletin, no 64, Nov 1999, p313-329.
3 Google Search, “mentor”