Evolving Mentorship in Medicine
Mentorship in medicine is crucial for both professional development and subsequent work stability. Traditional mentorship involves senior individuals imparting knowledge on juniors while focusing on a specific goal, such as preparing a medical student for their first clinical rotation. Modern mentorship is more holistic. It incorporates the personal and professional needs of each mentee and promotes diverse mentor-mentee relationships and networking.
A 2019 Journal of Cancer Education1 article highlighting the integration of professional goals with work-life balance mentions several benefits to mentorship, including reduced burnout, increased job satisfaction, and improved overall well-being. In medicine, mentorship has evolved beyond solely providing professional guidance aimed at helping mentees achieve academic success to forming a professional relationship that encompasses personal development, work-life balance, and the fostering of leadership skills — ultimately shaping well-rounded clinicians and researchers.
Collaboration between mentors and mentees leads to fruitful and mutual growth, with data strongly supporting mentorship’s benefits. Of those participating in a mentor-mentee relationship, one study found that 87% felt empowered by the relationship, while 97% said they found mentorship impactful. Surprisingly, however, less than 37% of students or young health care professionals reported having mentors.2
Mentees are five times more likely to be promoted to an advanced position, while mentors are six times more likely to move upward. Moreover, 50% of younger professionals and 86% of all employees at companies that offer mentorship programs are more likely to become stable, long-term workers.2 Thus, expanding such programs is vital for personal and professional development, employee retention, and job satisfaction.
Table. Prevalence of mentors in academic medicine and importance of diverse mentorship representation3
| Who has a mentor | |
| Medical students | <50% |
| Medical faculty | <20% |
| Women | <30% |
| How mentorship relationships start | |
| Assigned | 42% |
| Requested | 31% |
| Initiated | 27% |
| Mentorship among medical students and physicians | |
| Adolescent medicine | 19% |
| Primary care research faculty | 93% |
| Third-year and fourth-year medical students | 36% |
Mentorship is a crucial aspect of all modern workplaces, beyond just professional medicine. Research reveals that individuals who have a mentor are happier in their workplace, feel more included and engaged, and have a higher standard of performance for themselves.4 Mentors, in turn, play a critical role in facilitating learning, encouraging advancement, and motivating their mentees. Taking advantage of a mentor-mentee relationship is an invaluable resource to help obtain fulfillment and grow both professionally and personally.
The professional journey is often difficult for many reasons. As such, having the support of a mentor can assist in not just overcoming obstacles, but in learning and acquiring wisdom. Instead of being summarized in a textbook, the resources, skill sets, and knowledge offered by mentors are reinforced and developed through lived experience.5 It is therefore crucial to develop such programs to allow everyone the opportunity of a mentorship experience.
Selecting a mentor can be a challenging process. The sheer diversity of potential mentors, each with unique expertise, experiences, and mentoring styles, can make it difficult to identify the best fit. Aspiring mentees should start by considering their own professional goals and aspirations and look for mentors who they feel can best help achieve these goals. It is also important to understand that goals and aspirations can change over time, which means your mentor might need to change as your career evolves. Adaptability is natural in this context, and mentors should also strive to adapt in an effort to continue providing necessary and relevant guidance to help their mentees succeed.
There are seven key areas that can help define professional and personal objectives when selecting a mentor: career, mental health, physical health, personal growth, environment, relationships, and finances.6 Future mentees should choose one of these areas as the central priority around which the other goals revolve, ensuring that related aspirations align with a mentee’s priorities.
During a recent MedNews Week conference, Razia Jayman-Aristide, MD, MS-HPPL, chief medical officer at New York Health, highlighted the importance of mentorship in the medical field. She said that mentors profoundly impact their mentees, enhancing advancement from both a professional and personal perspective, including work-life balance and job satisfaction.6 Further, modern mentorship’s emphasis on a holistic approach helps address diverse mentee needs through evolving relationships (Figure).
However, a significant gap exists between the desire for mentorship and its availability, and finding mentors can be challenging. Leading associations like the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology therefore play a fundamental role in supporting dedicated mentorship programs or providing networking opportunities in the field.7,8
By strengthening these relationships, both mentors and mentees benefit from mutual growth. As mentorship continues to evolve, it remains an indispensable tool for supporting the next generation of professionals and leaders.
Figure. Benefits of mentee-mentor relationships in all areas of life
- Henry-Noel N, Bishop M, Gwede CK, et al. Mentorship in medicine and other health professions. J Cancer Educ. 2019;34(4):629-637.
- Mentoring statistics in 2024: everything you need to know. PushFar. 2024.
- Sambunjak D, Straus SE, Marusić A. Mentoring in academic medicine: a systematic review. JAMA. 2006;296(9):1103-1115.Sambunjak D, Straus SE, Marusić A. Mentoring in academic medicine: a systematic review. JAMA. 2006;296(9):1103-1115.
- Cook S. 40+ definitive mentorship statistics and research for 2024. MentorcliQ. February 2, 2024.
- McKenna AM, Straus SE. Charting a professional course: a review of mentorship in medicine. J Am Coll Radiol. 2011;8(2):109-112.
- Jayman-Aristide R. Mentorship 102: a revitalized perspective. Presented at MedNews Week Keynote Conference; March 25, 2023.
- Mentoring. American Society of Clinical Oncology.
- Career mentorship. American Society of Hematology.
The authors indicated no relevant conflicts of interest.
*Contributed equally as second authors
**Contributed equally as third authors
Acknowledgment: This article was edited by Drs. Jessica Stempel and Andrew Volk.