Find a Mentor Step 2. Identify Your Mentor

Start here if you need to identify a mentor appropriate for your needs. You should have a definition of the expertise that you are seeking in a mentor. If not, go to Step 1: Define Your Needs to define your mentoring needs.

Once you have defined the characteristics of your desired mentor, using either the Mentoring Checklist or the Functional Mentoring Worksheet, there are several strategies to identify an individual who fits your needs.

Personal Networks

Ask colleagues in your personal circle whom they know. Talk to your Chair or Division Chief. Your department may have a Vice Chair for Academic Affairs who will be able to advise you.

Online Resources

Try the following to search for local expertise:

• Faculty Profiles: the searchable database of UMass Chan Medical School faculty expertise
• PubMed: search the bibliographic database for publications from UMMS faculty on a specific topic using the search term: “Worcester [AD] AND keyword”, where the keyword defines your topic. For example, Worcester[AD] AND diabetes

Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA)

The OFA can help you identify an appropriate mentor. Schedule an individual Mentoring Consultation with an OFA faculty member.

Tip:

Look for the best person for your needs—don’t be afraid to approach the most senior, experienced faculty. Most faculty are very willing to mentor and you may be pleasantly surprised by the result.

Example: Jane Brown, MD

Jane says: “I need a mentor with expertise in curriculum development, so I should perhaps consider course, clerkship or residency directors—I can get those lists from the Education Offices in the School of Medicine. I’ll check who’s presenting at ACOG or GEA on curriculum development in women’s health. I’ll ask my Chair and Vice Chair if they know someone.”