Mentors without Borders: Bridging global gaps in medical and radiological education

Abstract

Pursuing medical careers like radiology is challenging even for those with high levels of commitment, discipline, and resilience. Many rely on the guidance and support from mentors whose experiences serve as the roadmap for new generations. Unfortunately, finding a mentor can be difficult in certain parts of the world or when physicians decide to live and practice medicine outside their country of origin. Within the United States, medical education in the United States is very competitive given the high demand of highly qualified aspirants and the lack of enough training positions to accept them all. Having good mentorship not only can help students enhance the skills required to succeed within their fields of interest during the residency and fellowship application processes, but it can also provide counseling as they navigate training and, ultimately, transition to the workplace. “Mentors without Borders” is a program founded by a radiologist to provide free mentorship to those interested in pursuing medical education and training to pursue radiology and other medical careers in and out of the United States. Its primary focus is on strengthening skills needed for academic writing and publication of scientific articles in radiology. This initiative has already benefited several students and physicians from all over the world and is aiming to become a fully structured program with a larger outreach.