Virtual Mentorship-The Search for a Mentor

 

Veterinary Virtual Mentorship

The Search for a Mentor....Why Me?

Donald H DeForge, VMD

Many new graduates can struggle going to work each day.  They question themselves and have trouble finding the strength to enter an examination room or perform a basic surgery.

  

In many situations, a friend beckons this graduate to find a mentor. The suggestion is not meaningful to many young doctors as negativity permeates their minds. 

The doctor questions how can a mentor help them when they are feeling alone and question themselves each day. They awaken each day saying to themselves do I really want to be a veterinarian?  This can be a turning point experience in the life of a new doctor.

Many reasons concerning the importance of mentorship for a new doctor has come to the forefront in the last decade.  A mentor can help a young graduate through the emotionally challenging effects of their new professional life. 

One such condition that a mentor can be of assistance with is termed the Imposter Syndrome

The Imposter Syndrome can be a major part of their struggle. The mentor can help the graduate understand the challenging  Imposter Syndrome and can provide insight into letting the new doctor know they are not alone!

Recently, the Imposter Syndrome [Phenomenon]  has been postulated as a possible root marker in burnout in the medical field. The mentor can show the doctor how not to be negative if they have been or are a hostage of the Imposter Syndrome! Identification of this connection can change their lives! 

If a young doctor lives with anxiety and self-doubt, they are at risk for developing the Imposter Syndrome. In fact, people who live with Imposter Syndrome may have had feelings of pervasive self-doubt going back as far as they can remember.  85-95%% of medical students and new graduates live with a fear of self doubt that continues throughout medical school; internships; and residency.  It usually continues into their careers in the medical field.  

As high achievers, Imposter Syndrome individuals are constantly doing more and more to hide their self doubt cultivated from a young age by this Imposter Syndrome.  Keeping busy seems to prevent the acknowledgment of their fear!  The mentor can remove the doubt once they acknowledge it has been a part of their life that they never realized.  The mentor is not a psychologist or a therapist.  The mentor is a peer and friend opening the door to freedom and happiness in a new vocation.

     

Dr. Kate Boatright writes that veterinarians aren’t practice-ready on graduation day. Even those with high confidence levels and extensive practical knowledge will face hurdles. 

In a profession where science and technology are constantly advancing, there is simply too much information to cover during a four-year training program. As a new graduate, I experienced a practical knowledge gap, and I have seen many other new graduates face the same struggle. 

Young veterinarians are well-trained and have a vast knowledge base. But, they don’t always know the best way to apply their knowledge, and they aren’t often exposed to more common conditions while training in a university hospital setting. 

Moving from an “ivory tower” training to working “in the trenches” at a veterinary hospital presents challenges that new graduates need guidance to navigate. Through mentorship, we can provide support and training for our young colleagues to ensure their success.

Amanda Carrozza in DVM360 comments:

Establishing a relationship with a potential mentor while still in veterinary school is ideal. Not sure where to start? The doctors interviewed suggested looking into three three avenues:

• Make connections with professors and clinicians. The experts available to you through your college or university can help you explore different areas of practice or research that pique your interest.
• Attend conferences. Whether in-person or virtual, conferences are an excellent platform for connecting with potential mentors. Network with fellow attendees, listen to what the speakers are most passionate about, and make an effort to connect after the conference ends.
• Join clubs and associations for students. The Veterinary Business Management Association and Student American Veterinary Medical Association are two great places to start. She advised using the associations’ connections to follow up with speakers who visit your school or people involved in wet labs. “Those people are taking extra time out from what is usually a very busy schedule, and that means they are invested in you as students,” she said.

Use Virtual Mentorship once you have selected the individual that will walk with you on your journey.  Your final mentor may not be the first one you contact.

You must search for a perfect match.  The mentor should want to listen to you and be your guide in handling the problems that have made your initial connection to your profession problem filled.

Don't pick a mentor who is super consumed in their own career and does not have the proper time allowance to hear about you and your struggle with your transition from student to doctor.

Characteristics of a GREAT MENTOR

Good Listener

Availability

Approachable

Non-Judgmental and Respectful

Enthusiastic with  Positivity

Eagerness to Invest in You

Willing to Stay Connected

Good listener

Networking skills to bring others into your mentor family

Relevant expertise in your area of veterinary care

Good Fit for the Mentee

Do not get discouraged as you seek your mentor.  Take time and communicate with your mentor about how they would approach your questions.  Is the mentor approachable?  Is the mentor listening to you?  Most importantly is the mentor enthusiastic and speaks with positivity?  The answers to these questions will allow you find out if the mentor is a good fit for me!

Searching out a mentor should not be considered a problem.

It should be an exciting time of exploration.  It is a very positive part of your journey as a new doctor.  Finding the correct mentor will change your life and allow you at a later time in your life to help others facing the struggle that you conquered.