"If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." (proverb originated in Burkina Faso).
Like many other physicians, so much of my success has been tied to those around me and those guiding me. My relationship with mentorship began during my high school premedical studies at the University of Buffalo's School of Medicine. The physicians who let me shadow them and mentored me helped inspire my practice today.
Here are 3 reasons why mentorship is priceless:
Practicing medicine is hard. Good mentors can help you weather the inevitable storms. They often have experienced similar hardships and have found ways to navigate them and can help guide you.
Mentors provide an invaluable sounding board. How many times are you making decisions that cause you to agonize for minutes and even hours? Sometimes stating the challenges out loud and being asked questions can help you identify what is important and what is not. I have often found that 30 minutes spent talking to a mentor can save me hours of independent reflection. The decisions I make after consulting a mentor are often much more thought out and speaking to a mentor often helps me reflect on aspects I had not thought of.
Mentors benefit from mentorship too! As a solo direct primary care physician, the days can get lonely. When eager and energetic students or aspiring direct primary care physicians reach out, I get a chance to talk about this little practice that I love, about the amazing work my team is doing in our community, and it helps me reflect on how much I have done and how far I have come. My mentors have also shared with me how much joy they get from seeing my growth and their lives are enhanced by having me as a mentee.
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