Tips to Find a Mentor
Written by Andrew Woods
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take," said Wayne Gretzky, then reiterated by Michael Scott.
The unfortunate reality of mentorship is that the first shot is often the one we are most afraid of taking. But have no fear, the advice I am about to give you will soothe those fears and put you on a path of support, encouragement, and direction as you navigate the treacherous waters known as medical school.
While I am giving you this advice based on my experience pursuing the best-kept secret in medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), these tips apply to any specialty.
Tip #1: Find a Mentor Early, Check-In Often
Often when we get to medical school, we are overwhelmed by the amount of advice we are given, whether it be which question bank to use, or whether Anki actually works (note: it does!), or if Sketchy is really all you need (note: it is!).
One thing that seems to slip through the cracks is the pros and cons of mentorship. Mentorship does indeed require extra effort, not just from you but also from your mentor. A good mentoring relationship doesn't happen overnight; like any relationship, it requires time and effort to grow. The reward for that expenditure, though, is advice, support, and knowledge from someone who has been there, done that, and has the scars to prove it. At the end of the day, the ultimate reason for mentorship is to receive a warning for the pitfalls on your journey and how to traverse them with finesse.
Tip #2: Find Three Types of Mentors
I know, I know, it is hard enough to find one mentor, but now you're recommending three? Hear me out: there are different types of mentors, and each serves a different purpose.
Mentor #1, The Peer Mentor: find someone who is a year or two above you in training. These mentors are valuable because it is unlikely to have a dramatic shift in the pathway between years, so they will help you navigate the short-term hurdles like balancing school and pursuing your specialty of interest.
Mentor #2, The Resident Mentor: these mentors are able to guide your clinical years as you start investigating programs, navigating sub-internships, and figuring out how to make your clinical dreams come true.
Mentor #3, The Attending Mentor: these mentors are valuable because, while they are more removed from school and residency, they can reflect on their own journey and see the obstacles to overcome, which will help as you make the transition in each stage of training.
Tip #3: Look Everywhere for Your Mentors
The best part about the time we live in is that information is at our fingertips. First, look at your school; join the PM&R Club and if one doesn't exist, start one! Within that club, you can find that peer mentor to guide you through the immediate tribulations of school. Next, look into the professional organizations; the American Academy of PM&R (AAPMR), the American Osteopathic College of PM&R (AOCPMR), and the Association of Academic Physiatrists (AAP) all have formal mentorship programs that you can sign up for and get matched to physiatrists based on shared interests. Finally, social media has provided an excellent support base within the #MedTwitter and #Physiatry world. I have yet to have a negative encounter and have found practicing physiatrists to be more than happy to DM with me about a particular topic, including mentorship.
“Remember, the worst thing someone can say is they don't have the time to be your mentor. It is worth the effort to take that first shot, and if you miss, pick up the ball and shoot again. I would be remiss not to give proper thanks to my own mentors who have guided me to where I am today. Thank you to Dr. Grant Allbritten, a former classmate of mine and current PGY-1 at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Derek Dixon, connected through the AOCPMR mentorship program and a current PGY-3 at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Nick Elwert, connected through social media and a current attending at the University of Kentucky, and Dr. Michael Wieting, Senior Associate Dean at LMU-DCOM and physiatry extraordinaire.”
*Opinions in this piece are my own.
