SAMBA Mentorship Initiative for members

Click here to take the SAMBA Mentorship Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XDDGFBT  

         The concept of mentorship is not a new one. The term “mentor” has its root in Greek mythology. Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, was left by his father in the trusted care of his old friend, Mentor, while he himself went off to fight the Trojan Wars. According to the legend, Mentor was actually Athena, the goddess of Wisdom who took on the disguise to conceal herself from the suitors of Telemachus’ mother, Penelope who kept harassing her to get married following the long absence of Odysseus.  Athena encouraged Telemachus to stand up to the suitors and to journey to Pylos and Sparta to learn of his father. She helped Perseus to slay the Medusa by loaning him her magic shield and she also interceded on behalf of Odysseus and persuaded Zeus to help him to return home.
            Young anesthesiologists wishing to succeed today, face daunting challenges, whether in academic or private practice institutions young anesthesiologists seem to understand their roles relating to their department and the hospital. They understand that they are expected to educate residents, provide clinical care of patients, and provide leadership in operating room arena, and most lack the knowledge and skills to grow and flourish professionally and develop successful careers, since these areas receive little attention during residency training.

            Mentorship is recognized as a major determinant of successful professional growth and development (1, 2); but is challenged by the increase in clinical and administrative demands of the rapidly changing healthcare environment. In a survey of US medical school faculty, mentorship was associated with greater career satisfaction scores. Junior faculty members who had mentors had more publications, better career opportunities, felt more confident about themselves, and were more satisfied professionally (3). Younger faculties who have fewer professional opportunities may be less satisfied professionally (4). Dissatisfied physicians are not only less effective (5), but may also have a negative impact on the choice of the specialty by the medical students with whom they interact (6). Encouragement and support in personal and professional development associated with mentorship will ensure that our younger members are not only enthusiastic clinicians and educators who provide quality medical care to patients and resident education but also serve as role models who convey the attractiveness of our specialty to medical students.

            Currently, most training programs do not provide the trainee with an exposure to the professional skills necessary for successful career advancement whether it is in academic or private practice of anesthesiology, hence the need for mentorship. The SAMBA mentorship program was developed by the Education Committee of the society and is intended to establish a voluntary, dynamic and reciprocal relationship, between an advanced career member of SAMBA (mentor) and a younger member or a resident member (protégé) of the society, aimed at promoting career advancement, educational and personal development.  The relationship is based on self selection of mentor(s) by the protégé from the database of mentors on the SAMBA website.  A data base of mentors has been created and will appear on the SAMBA website in the near future. The initial mentors are officers of the society, but the mentorship survey will be posted on the website also and in view of the enthusiastic support expressed at the annual meeting in Miami, it is hoped that many members of the society will volunteer for this highly rewarding service.

            Mentorship is a professional interaction based on mutual respect, trust, understanding and empathy. Mentorship will facilitate professional development, career socialization and advancement of the protégé by development of professional relationships within SAMBA. Additionally rich mentoring relationships will benefit SAMBA by creating members with a genuine commitment to the organization, which will in turn ensure growth of SAMBA and cultivate future leaders in the subspecialty of ambulatory anesthesia and in SAMBA.  Mentorship may also result in growth of research in ambulatory anesthesia through collaboration among the society members

            Mentoring relationships are evolutionary in nature and go through several stages as the protégé acquires new knowledge, skills, and levels of professional competence. under the mentor's guidance and support.
Stage 1: The mentor and protégé become acquainted and clarify their common interests, shared values and professional goals.
Stage 2: The mentor and protégé communicate initial expectations and agree upon some common procedures and expectations as a starting point. The initial period may last a few months after which the relationship may be extended if mutually desirable
Stage 3: Needs are fulfilled and objectives are met. Professional growth occurs. New challenges will present and be tackled. This stage may last for months or years.
Stage 4: The mentor and protégé redefine their relationship as colleagues, peers, partners and/or friends.

Check back soon for more information on this new program.