Making the Most of Your Mentorship: Viewpoints from a Mentor and Mentee

The document from 2020 emphasized the importance of mentorship in dermatology, using the successful mentor-mentee relationship between Dr. Maria Hordinsky, an expert in hair diseases, and Dr. Ronda Farah, who developed a strong interest in alopecia under her guidance, as an example. It highlighted that mentorship is a two-way street, with both parties learning and growing from the relationship, and suggested that mentees should seek multiple mentors in different areas of interest for comprehensive growth. The document also stressed the importance of "managing up", where the mentee takes an active role in driving the mentorship, setting clear expectations, and being accountable for scheduling and objective setting. The authors concluded that a mentor-mentee relationship can provide strong academic and professional support and can potentially lead to interpersonal relationships that extend beyond the clinical and academic environment.