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Mentorship

Teaching Mentorship

The Mentoring subcommittee works to facilitate and enhance the development of mentorship relationships within the Academy.  We see mentorship dyads as dynamic, reciprocal relationships between an advanced career incumbent (mentor) and a mentee aimed at promoting advancement of the teaching careers of both.

TEACH-Mentoring Advancement Program (T-MAP)

TEACH-Mentoring Advancement Program (T-MAP) is designed to foster the growth and connection of faculty through linking early career VTCSOM faculty members with mentors, encouraging networking across our academic health center, and providing seminars and self-guided resources to enhance the professional development of all participants. To achieve this goal, groups of mentors and mentees from two different departments are paired into Mentoring Circle. Over the course of the program, T-MAP participants meet regularly with their Mentoring Circle, complete self-directed learning pathways, and attend quarterly group sessions with the entire T-MAP cohort. New cohorts begin each fall and conclude at TEACH Education Day.

For additional information, contact Sarah Harendt, PhD at smumbargerwells@carilionclinic.org

Mentoring Relationships

Mentoring relationships should:

  • Lead to changes in mentees professional development as a teacher and support and enhance them in their teacher role.
  • Create an environment conducive to fostering the mentorship relationship and meeting goals.

Mentoring goals should be SMART:

  • Specific – be clear about what is required.
  • Measurable – identify how you will determine whether the goal has been achieved.
  • Achievable – your goal should be challenging, but achievable.
  • Realistic – what is the desired outcome.
  • Timely (or time-bound) – when will you complete this goal by.

Mentoring Skills Presentation

Title: Mentoring Skills for Faculty Who Supervise Medical Students and Residents in Research
Presenter: Leslie Laconte, Ph.D., director, Research Education, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Objectives:

  • Define the responsibilities of research mentors and mentees.
  • Recognize the resources necessary for effective mentoring.
  • Implement strategies for maintaining effective communication as a research mentor.
  • Implement strategies for assessing understanding in a research mentee.
  • Implement strategies for fostering independence in a research mentee.

Resources for Mentors

Faculty wear many hats when it comes to their role as teacher, one of which is the role of mentor. Mentorship can take many forms from research mentor to education mentor. Serving as a mentor is a critical and complex role for our faculty and we recognize that there are several resources to help support development. Please use the resources below to help support the growth of your skills and overall development in your role as a mentor.

The National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) graciously provides free access to a special webinar series that will discuss the key role mentoring plays in helping scientists advance at all levels of their career, the challenges and importance of finding a mentor within the biophysical community, the role of mentoring in advancing opportunities for underrepresented scientists, as well as the opportunities to become or find a mentor through. NRMN: https://nrmnet.net/videos/

Mentorship Resources