Find a Vascular Mentor
It is helpful to have mentors at multiple levels of training, including senior medical students, residents, and faculty, as each provide a unique prospective and advice. One way to find a faculty mentor is talking with other medical students at your institution or reaching out to vascular surgery faculty who are involved in surgery clerkships or VSIG. To connect with faculty around the country, many of the national and regional vascular meetings will pair you with a mentor. In addition, away rotations provide another opportunity to connect with mentors.
Connecting with your mentors throughout medical school is helpful so they can get to know you personally and connect you to resources and opportunities. It is also helpful to approach mentors with specific questions that are relevant at each stage of training (e.g., shadowing, away rotations, research, national/regional meetings).
Mentorship: Building your professional community
Mentorship is one of the most essential tools for professional development and has been linked to greater productivity, career advancement, and professional satisfaction. Therefore, a mentorship program promotes career and leadership development for early career vascular surgeons.
The Benefits of a Vascular Mentor
Who better to help you navigate career challenges than a seasoned professional with your best interests in mind? They can give you the experienced, trusted advice you need when exploring career options, setting goals, and pointing you to resources.
Benefits to Interns and Early-Career Surgeons
Young surgeons will gain a trusted advisor and learn methods to enhance career advancement. Through a partnership with their respective mentor, the young surgeon will learn to:
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Develop short-term and long-term growth goals and strategies to achieve those goals
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Identify leadership opportunities
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Expand current networks within the specialty
The Mentor’s Role
Mentors will act as a guide to help develop the young surgeon’s career, as well as enhance their personal growth and productivity. The mentor will:
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Provide honest and constructive feedback
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Assist students and interns on issues such as establishing short- and long-term goals, navigating the advancement/partnership process, guidance on research and/or teaching activities, etc.
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Offer advice on overall clinical and practice management concerns.