Mentoring

Abstract

Chapter 6 explores tensions surrounding the mentoring of trainee physicians. Victory odes articulate an ideal of mentoring as an enduring, influential, and even transformational relationship focused on building character and moral judgment rather than technical skill. At the same time, the odes expose concerns that actual mentoring can fail to achieve this ideal, and instead prove to be elitist or more focused on obtaining immediate results than fostering independent agents. Mentorship has re-emerged as a key factor in the development of modern physicians as increased attention is paid to measuring the outcomes of medical education and humanistic competencies within medicine are revalued. Mentorship should certainly be fostered, but care must be taken to design mentorship programs that are inclusive and that develop independent agents.