Get A Mentor
Advising young professionals is the responsibility of those who are senior, more experienced in the field, those who have the advantage of experience in what questions to ask and how goals are best attained. They have a more mature perspective and a more sophisticated understanding of the field than a novice has. In other words, they can be mentors.
Mentor was the old and trusted friend that Ulysses left in charge of his household when he set out for the Trojan War. Mentor's form was taken by Athena, goddess of wisdom and skill, to guide Ulysses' young son Telemachus. From this combination of trust, wisdom, and skill comes our concept of a mentor -- a trusted counselor or guide.
In academia as in business, mentorship has traditionally functioned as a mechanism for promoting favored individuals at the expense of others. While producing a certain continuity and stability, it has also resulted in predominantly white male systems and homogenous groups, as people generally feel most comfortable helping and associating with those who are most like themselves. Although accomplished in an atmosphere of assistance, the overall result was discrimination against people unlike those who were already established in their fields. Nonetheless, there are many men who do not have a formalized mentor or advocate.
Mentorship can also function as a key strategy for helping under-represented groups. Providing informed counsel on career strategies could facilitate advancement for anyone. Public dissemination of information levels the playing field. The end goal is a culture in which success depends not on demographics but on merit and motivation.
Mentoring and Networking Programs are supported by the AWS Foundation to provide forums for young women surgeons to meet with peers, attend educational programs, and enhance their professional and personal lives. A searchable mentor database has been developed for members and AWS supports networking breakfasts throughout the year.
Click here for a more in-depth discussion of mentoring.
Click here for a copy of the recent article: "Mentorship program designed to advance women in academic surgery" (Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons - October 2009; Vol 94, Num 10)