Mentoring Future Researchers: Advice and Considerations

Despite efforts to increase the diversity of academia, minority scholars continue to face significant barriers (e.g., higher financial burden, lack of institutional support for research interests, social isolation) that undermine their representation in the field and overall professional success. Researchers have suggested increased mentorship as a means of mitigating these challenges. In 2015, with the support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a panel of senior investigators met via WebEx to discuss strategies to improve the mentorship of underrepresented scholars. The topics covered by this panel included factors that optimize or challenge mentorship based on personal experience, what is special about mentorship in the context of race/ethnicity, relational dynamics, work-life balance, discrimination, and how to address challenges to the mentoring relationship. The current article provides an overview of the convening and synthesizes the lessons learned by panelists' first-hand experiences of mentoring trainees and junior faculty of color. Authors conclude with recommendations and a description of the social and institutional implications of bolstering the professional support of minority scholars. Public Policy Relevance Statement Faculty of color are underrepresented in academia and health research despite the importance of their contributions and their key role in addressing health inequities. Recommendations from senior investigators of color with significant mentorship experience highlight the importance of access to quality mentorship for scholars from underrepresented backgrounds to address important concerns of race and bias in the academic context, identify career and research opportunities, and build institutional programs and practices that can advance the work of faculty of color.