Mentoring into productivity during fellowship: A working tripartite model

Clinical fellowship, a major gateway into academic medicine across medical specialties and subspecialties, is critical transition phase for fellows intending to pursue careers. However, many who intend academia are unable make this transition. For seek positions, productivity, as measured by publications successful grant applications, typically the most important criterion transitioning an position. The fellowship period arguably last opportunity demonstrate productivity before applying faculty positions. “There was no time conduct research...” statement clinical commonly offer reason their lack of during fellowship. This itself may reflect competing demands or preferences. in cases, it not that there research but rather project could fit limited have research. more be at making medicine, careful attention types projects fellow engages needed. Great mentorship, diligent menteeship, right all indispensable portions tripartite model would promote medicine. Excellent mentorship has long been recognized ingredient success,1Straus S.E. Sackett D.L. Clinician-trialist rounds: 7. Mentoring: why every clinician-trialist needs get mentored.Clin Trials. 2011; 8: 765-767Crossref PubMed Scopus (20) Google Scholar given guidance about what makes great mentor mentee. relatively less selection fellows’ projects. Engaging project(s) mentor-fellow relationship. We posit project, particularly within short frame fellowships, just as, if more, success any fellow-mentor failure mentor-mentee relationship secondary other flaws mentor, mentee, both parties.2Sambunjak D. Straus Marusić A. Mentoring medicine: systematic review.JAMA. 2006; 296: 1103-1115Crossref (869) Scholar,3Chopra V. Edelson D.P. Saint S. A PIECE OF MY MIND. Mentorship malpractice.JAMA. 2016; 315: 1453-1454Crossref (33) “wrong” even hands well-meaning duo can lead poor frustration on part mentee.4Saha Christakis D.A. Whooley M.A. Simon S.R. survival guide generalist physicians 1: getting started.J Gen Intern Med. 1999; 14: 745-749Crossref (10) fellow’s should feasible achievable able line inquiry trainee independently. results one least 1 “publishable unit” regardless findings. also work single longer-term while engaging multiple short-term projects, such writing review article case series, add armamentarium skills thereby improving productivity. complexity these balanced against background skills. Although learning new unrealistic expect full grasp complex method which had foundation. Tangible skill development needed secure need well-aligned. If aligned with risks include interest from mentee timeline. In will extend beyond period, example, discuss possibility breaking down smaller appropriate publishable units completed outside mentor’ s areas expertise. It possible agree best fit, area field. Thus, working includes features optimize (Fig 1). Importantly, potential evaluated larger framework availability possession resources leverage specific important. sufficient expertise related provide fellow. What lacks provided additional mentorship. Ultimately, careers do occur vacuum. Considering life (and mentor) give clues might better fit. size fits all, conceivable out home, laboratory-based challenging parent. each judge how daily life. Learning generate ideas scholarship.5Vandenbroucke J.P. Pearce N. From studies: sharpen them questions.Clin Epidemiol. 2018; 10: 253-264Crossref (11) fellow, initial idea spin-off mentor’s ideas, knowledge. New stem experiences subject-matter literature. Fellows guided thinking next logical experiment published identifying gaps knowledge articles conference summaries. methods approaches embraced fields. keep 1000-ft view There however substitute reading widely deeply, keeping log revisited time. embrace evolution Being identify when feasible, career goals, change over time, importance field so know pivot. switch giving up too early still despite challenges. sometimes realization misfit mentee-mentor pointer actual between mentor. When appear stalled failed, use appraise they well support finding appropriate. Doing requires tact avoid “burning bridges.” fellows. directly influence whether falls through cracks juncture.