Why Surgical Mentoring is Important and Evidence That it Makes a Difference

Abstract

From the surgery clerkship, through residency, fellowship and clinical practice, surgeons learn from each other both formally and informally. Each generation follows in the footsteps of the last, while also blazing new trails in the hopes of improving patient care. Surgical Mentoring: Building Tomorrow\2019s Leaders provides practical guidance for all surgeons, in training and in practice, about the pedagogical, clinical, and personal benefits of having and being a mentor. The authors span the gamut of practice to provide a well-rounded perspective: a practicing and seasoned surgeon with more than 35 years of experience of being mentored and being a mentor; a practicing surgeon who is also an experienced surgical residency director, and a surgical resident in the \201Cclinical trenches\201D of daily learning and patient care. From the foreword: \201CDrs. Rombeau, Goldberg, and Loveland-Jones have written this book on surgical mentoring to fill an obvious need. It is up-to-date, comprehensive, readable, and evidence-based \2026 Surgery is a small world with many satisfying rewards behind each of the many doors. Good mentorship provides the right keys for the right doors for the young surgeon. Both the mentor and mentee should read this book to better understand the who, what, when, where, and how of surgical mentorship in the modern era. What you learn will likely make a difference in your career. \201C Daniel T. Dempsey, MD