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Guide to Mentor

The most important aspects of a mentorship relationship are being open, honest, upfront, and engaged. The best relationships are built on communication that is thoughtful and consistent. We encourage our mentors to be frank about their recommendations as well as to encourage students in the areas in which they already thrive.

How Do I Find a Mentor?

The ACOOG has created a directory of residents and physicians who are interested in mentoring medical students throughout their education and medical training. To find a mentor, visit our web site and browse the Membership Directory (must be logged in using your ACOOG member credentials to access).

Before choosing a mentor to contact, we recommend that the mentee consider a few things first:

What do you hope to gain from a mentorship relationship?

Do you have specific goals or are you looking for more of a long-term sounding board?

Would you like to have one mentor for personal goals and another for professional goals?

What style of communication do you prefer? Is it important for you to be partnered with a mentor you can talk to on the phone, or does email suffice?

What type of time commitment do you have for this partnership?

Once you have given these topics some thought, scan the directory to find someone you think will match up with your goals. The mentor/mentee relationship should be rewarding for both parties and developing a solid understanding of your own goals will help to make this relationship even better.

Who Leads the Relationship?

Although the mentor/mentee relationship is collaborative, we encourage the mentee to lead the discussions. For more information, a good article to read is: Zerzan et al. 2009, "Making the Most of Mentors: A Guide for Mentees." List 1 in this article outlines a checklist for mentees to create a successful mentoring relationship.

Based on the concept of the mentee leading the relationship, we recommend you email potential mentors to introduce yourself. You can use the following as a guide for information to provide in your first communication:

A greeting that expresses your gratitude that they have volunteered to be a mentor for ACOOG

Your name, educational background, hometown (or where you are currently living)

Your goals in the mentoring relationship — Are you looking for advice on publishing your first paper? Do you want to learn more about presenting a poster? Are you a new medical student wanting guidance on how to tackle the workload?

Your preferred method of communication

What Should You Do at Your First Meeting?

Once you have reached out to your mentor, be patient! If you do not hear back within approximately 2 weeks, feel free to send a gentle reminder but remember that they are extremely busy and may not have had time to respond yet. When they do respond, please schedule the first meeting at your earliest convenience.

Here are some recommendations for how to make this first meeting a successful one:

1

Write up a schedule or list of discussion points that are important to tackle in your first meeting. You can send this list to the mentor before your meeting.

2

Define your primary goals and determine the best way to discuss these with your mentor during the first meeting.

3

Be sure to thank your mentor for the time they have committed to you.

4

If you have a specific goal (such as writing a paper or presenting a poster), address this immediately and ask if the mentor is comfortable helping you with that goal.

5

During the meeting you can open by discussing your background and personal interests, your values, what elements of medicine are most important to you, and what you think you might like to go into.

6

End the conversation by re-expressing your gratitude and setting up a schedule for meeting with your mentor — weekly, monthly, or only a few times a year.

7

Send your mentor a thank you email/note after the meeting.

What Should You Expect From Your Mentor?

We hope that ACOOG mentors will approach their mentees as they would their patients — with attention and respect for individual needs. Each mentee is unique, requiring different things from a mentor. The mentee can expect that the mentor will:

Provide guidance in their areas of expertise.

Provide recommendations on how to approach specific topics that the mentee and mentor have agreed on as the mentee's goal list.

Provide referrals and networking opportunities with other professionals that will benefit the mentee in reaching their goals.

Changing Mentorship Needs by Year

Each phase of medical school education and practice requires tackling different challenges. Here are some suggestions of topics to discuss based on your year of medical school:

First Year

  • Personal Lora' and fears about entering medicine
  • Performance and preparation for licensing exams (COMLEX 1 or USMLE Step 1)
  • What should I do over the summer?

Second Year

  • Professional aspirations — What is life like for an OBGYN?
  • How do I decide what I want to go into?
  • What are key features that certain specialties look for?
  • How to write an abstract, paper, or poster

Third Year

  • What are residency programs looking for?
  • Importance of community service, research experience, and academic accomplishments
  • Feelings about working with patients
  • Where should I do an audition rotation or elective?
  • Where can I present a poster or abstract?

Fourth Year

  • How do I prepare to enter residency?
  • How many rotations should I do?
  • Can the mentor practice a mock interview?
  • Will the mentor review my personal statement?
  • Does the mentor have any contacts?

How to Change or End a Mentorship Relationship

Just as your concerns change, your mentorship needs may change as well. If you are hoping to change the format of your relationship or by ending regular communication with a mentor, it is best for you to take charge and contact your mentor. This is OK and it ensures productive mentorship relationships for both parties.

We encourage you to write a letter of thanks to your mentor, expressing gratitude for their time spent with you. This also keeps the door open for future communication since this mentor is now part of your professional network.

Questions or Comments?

For more information or to get involved in the ACOOG mentorship program, please contact us.

info@acoog.org