Love Letters: An Anthology of Constructive Relationship Advice Shared Between Junior Mentees and Their Mentors

Abstract

Mentorship is critical to the professional success of physicians, physicians-in-training, and junior faculty in academic practice. There are challenges to being a thoughtful and effective mentor and to being an engaged mentee. Many physicians and physicians-in-training cite difficulty finding professional time to dedicate to building their mentoring relationships, particularly given demanding clinical workloads and competing time commitments. Therefore, making the most out of the time in mentoring relationships is key to success. We present a collection of frustrations and good advice that have been passed between mentees and mentors on improving the mentor-mentee relationship. The information was compiled from actual interactions between mentors and mentees, and these “love letters” draw on complex associations, which like any “committed” relationship require constant reevaluation and discussion to bring them to their full potential.