Strategies for Mentoring Success: A Qualitative Study of Award-Winning Research Mentors
Authors:
Alexandra Highet
(
University of California, San Francisco)
,
Daniel E Kendrick
(
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health)
,
Hoda Bandeh-Ahmadi
(
Center for Surgical Training and Research, Michigan Medicine)
,
Ann Vitous
(
Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine)
,
Katherine Yang
(
Center for Surgical Training and Research, Michigan Medicine)
,
Caleb Ernst
(
Center for Surgical Training and Research, Michigan Medicine)
,
Brian C George
(
Center for Surgical Training and Research, Michigan Medicine & Center for Health Outcomes and Policy, Michigan Medicine)
Abstract
This is an accepted article with a DOI pre-assigned that is not yet published.
Purpose: The value of research mentorship in academic medicine is well-recognized, yet there is little practical advice for how to develop and sustain effective mentoring partnerships. This study explored the strategies that award-winning faculty mentors utilize in collaborating with their medical student mentees in research. Methods: For this qualitative study, the authors invited physician recipients of an institution-wide mentorship award to participate in individual, semi-structured interviews during July and August 2018. Following interview transcription, the authors independently coded the text and collaboratively identified common mentoring strategies and practices via a process of thematic analysis. Results: Nine physician mentors, representing a mix of genders, medical specialties and types of research (basic science, clinical, translational, and health services), participated in interviews. The authors identified 12 strategies and practices from the interview transcripts that fell into 5 categories: Initiating the partnership; Determining the research focus; Providing project oversight; Developing mentee research competence; and Supporting mentee self-efficacy. Conclusion: Award-winning mentors employ a number of shared strategies when mentoring medical trainees in research. These strategies may serve as a guide for others who wish to improve their research mentoring skills.Downloads are not available until this article is published
Identifiers
Publication details
- Article Number: 4
Competing Interests
- The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.