Selecting a Mentor: A Guide for Residents, Fellows, and Young Physicians

For trainees entering clinical practice, mentorship can be most helpful, and for those with an academic interest, mentorship is vital. A mentor can be a personal teacher, tutor, advisor, and coach. In addition to those pursuing academic advancement, similar issues also affect physicians entering a practice setting who are seeking comprehensive mentoring from their senior colleagues. The clinical trainee interested in pursuing a general clinical field or specialty can often achieve his/her goals with a personal faculty confidant or advisor. Here, Leier et al offer steps in choosing mentor.