Mentorship Program
Mentorship is the cornerstone of academic career development and in notoriously short supply among female physicians. We often find academic or subspecialty mentors, but what about someone to help navigate career-family balance? We are pairing expectant trainees in the intervention arm with a faculty mother in their department to discuss work-life challenges, to offer experience-based advice, and to offer a shoulder to cry on when the going gets tough. In the past, this has been an incredibly rewarding experience that has fostered many long-term relationships that often extend far past completion of training.
Watch the short video below to learn how you can make the most of your time together
Participants
Your program director will provide a list of faculty mentors in your department who are also mothers who want to be there to support you. Choose one, email or text her to set up a first meeting, and plan to meet with her at least three times, including at least once after delivery (when you will have a new set of concerns to discuss). Remember you will get the most out of this new relationship if you make the time for it, so come prepared with questions!
Faculty Mentors
Thank you for taking the time to be here and support a new physician mom. You have been through this journey before and there is nothing like having someone who has insight into the challenges, might be able to offer some hard-won wisdom, or is just there to lend a supportive ear.
Conversations should be confidential but do not have to be formal. Feel free to meet over coffee and please plan to meet at least three times, including after she delivers. Trainees are exhausted and so busy, so if she does not contact you in a few days, feel free to reach out to schedule a time to chat while the idea is fresh in your mind.