Success in Academic Spine Surgery: The Role of Mentoring

Since the 1980s, multiple sources have suggested that the number of clinician scientists in academic medicine has declined substantially.1–5 More recently, Corrice et al identified that 2.9 to 10% of American, full-time clinical MD faculty planned to leave academia and 13 to 27.8% were unsure of staying or leaving.6 Although no data regarding the size or productivity of the academic spine surgeon workforce has ever been published, there is reason to believe that a similar phenomenon is occurring within our specialty. Furthermore, as the demand for spine surgery continues to grow7–10 in the face of intensifying competition for health-care resources, the call for high-quality studies to guide spine surgeons, payers, and policy-makers is stronger than ever. With the resulting scenario, in which fewer academic spine surgeons are being asked to produce more evidence upon which decision making in spine surgery can be based, the need for recruitment and retention of academic spine surgeons has never been greater. A career in academic medicine provides young spine surgeons with the opportunity to practice in an environment where they can educate the next generation of surgeons, contribute meaningfully to the spine literature and provide outstanding clinical care. Unfortunately, multiple barriers to the pursuit of an academic surgical career exist.11 In particular, a lack of motivated and experienced mentors has been consistently identified as a barrier to successful completion of research and a reason for not choosing a career in academic medicine.5,12–14 Because early and sustained mentorship significantly predicts future dedication of time to research efforts,15 it is imperative that practicing spine surgeons understand the role of mentoring in the development of future spine clinician scientists. The purpose of this article is to review the definition of a mentor as well as to outline the specific functions of a mentor in the context of establishment of career in academic medicine. The essential characteristics of outstandingmentorswill then be discussed, as will the qualities and actions of successful mentees. Finally, the proposed benefits of participating in a mentoring relationship for both the senior and junior academic spine surgeon will be outlined.