In each of our journeys to becoming a physician or medical physicist, many of us have had the good fortune to know someone who has positively influenced our professional lives. These individuals were more than just our teachers; they were often our role models and mentors, and they helped to shape how we envisioned our careers. Such relationships do not happen magically. They are very personal and involve significant trust, mutual respect and an investment of time. The chemistry between the two individuals is critical, and honoring confidentiality is paramount. Listening, learning and being responsive and respectful are also requisites if both the mentor and mentee are to have a positive experience.

When it comes to the two roles, mentees cannot be passive and expect to simply receive guidance, strategic advice and constant reaffirmation. They must be willing to openly and actively explore different perspectives, show their own vulnerabilities, be personally accountable for growing their capabilities, and drive the relationship by setting an agenda and expressing clear goals and reasonable expectations. Mentees should also realize that they will benefit most from the relationship if they are willing to be challenged and receptive to sincere, constructive feedback about their blind spots and opportunities for improvement — at the same time being self-reflective and honest with themselves.

Mentors, meanwhile, should not take advantage of the power gradient inherent in the relationship and need to be mindful that a significant part of their responsibility is to cultivate mutual trust. Mentees often look up to their mentors and consider them role models. Those sentiments deserve respect and should not be taken lightly. Therefore, it is critically important that the mentor not violate the trust and confidence of the mentee. A good mentor must have a desire to develop the mentee, a willingness to share their experiences and make themselves available, and the self-confidence and humility to convey their own failures and missteps. In doing so, the mentor adds depth to the relationship by modeling values that serve both participants.

Listening, learning and being responsive and respectful are also requisites if both the mentor and mentee are to have a positive experience.

Additionally, it is important for the mentor to understand the personal and professional goals of the mentee. Asking questions that lead to generative discussions is a valuable skill that will not only help the mentor to better understand the mentee’s professional circumstances, but also make it easier for the mentor to reframe a situation when necessary, so that the mentee can contribute to solving their own problems or answering their own questions. In doing so, the mentor improves their own listening, communication, critical thinking and conflict management skills — leadership skills that also benefit the mentor while modeling mutual growth and openness to the mentee. The most effective mentors empower their mentees to take a more active role in the relationship and grow their own professional and leadership skills in the process. As author/speaker Simon Sinek points out, “A mentor is not someone who walks ahead of you to show you how they did it. A mentor walks alongside you to show you what you can do.”

So you might be wondering, why are mentoring relationships so important for you and the ACR?

Mentoring relationships are crucial to the future of organizations like the American College of Radiology. Mentor-mentee relationships inform leadership succession planning — which can help to ensure long-term organizational success and sustainability for radiology as a whole. When done well, mentoring relationships cultivate values, enhance leadership and communication skills for both participants, foster a connection to professional purpose for both the mentor and mentee, and provide a sense of caring and support for junior colleagues who will ensure the future of our field — a win-win. In addition, when knowledge and experiences are shared across generations and creative discussions occur, innovative ideas can lead to advancements in science that can significantly benefit the College and its membership.

I encourage ACR members to seek out and develop meaningful mentor-mentee relationships when those opportunities present themselves. The experience will serve you, the mentees and the College well at a time when the healthcare landscape feels chaotic — and engaged leadership with thoughtful succession planning are needed more than ever. In closing, please allow me to share this quote from Lao Tzu, a philosopher and teacher of Confucius. “When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the student is truly ready, the teacher disappears.”