Mentorship Program

Overview

We know that mentoring can make a significant difference to individuals as they navigate their academic surgical careers. Through the Mentorship Program, the Department of Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital aims to help faculty and trainees achieve their goals through a structured mentorship team model as a way to provide support and guidance as they progress along their academic journey. The programs provide dedicated time in a supportive setting for all participants to share goals and challenges as well as access support from colleagues with diverse perspectives and experiences.

Our Teams

To make the mentoring experience meaningful and productive for both the mentee and the mentors, the Department of Surgery has established a mentoring team model:

The major goals include:

• Developing a focused plan of action
• Identifying and executing valuable research projects
• Aligning professional goals with personal ones for well-being
• Providing ideas for course correction (when needed)
• Offering guidance to improve efficiency, time management, and job satisfaction
• Helping mentees understand the culture of the institution and listen to areas for improvement
• Helping mentees navigate academic life and understand the promotion criteria
• Fostering advocacy, locally and beyond
• Enabling opportunities for networking

Junior Faculty: “Empower” Mentoring Program

Program Lead

John Mullen, MD

Overview

As part of the Empower Mentoring Program, junior faculty members are matched with a team of mentors who are chosen based on the mentee’s needs and interests. Each team has a lead as well as a member of the mentoring leadership. The team meets as often as needed, but a minimum of three times a year is expected. In addition to the formal meetings, mentors connect regularly with their mentees to ensure there is active, consistent discussion.

The second meeting generally includes a member of our wellness committee, which is led by Beth Frates, MD, the director of Lifestyle Medicine and Wellness at the Mass General Department of Surgery, to provide advice for how to incorporate personal well-being into mentorship and to identify faculty who might benefit from individual resources, such as executive coaching .

Researchers: “Reanalyze” Mentoring Program

Program Lead

Genevieve Boland, MD, PhD

As part of the Reanalyze Mentoring Program, junior research faculty are actively engaged in education and community building efforts. They have the opportunity to receive mentorship from a team of individuals in regard to areas such as research pursuits, challenges and barriers in research, integration with clinical faculty, and professional development and promotion goals. This program aims to help researchers identify and execute valuable research projects including developing the methodology, finding collaborators, drafting manuscripts, writing grants, and more. Mentees are also invited to join thematic seminars facilitated by guest speakers to help drive thoughtful peer discussion and receive recommendations and answers to their questions.

The programmatic content and social events are ongoing to engage the non-clinical research community, build collaborations across research groups and clinicians, and empower research within the Department of Surgery.

 

Residents: “Establish” Mentoring Program

Program Lead

Carrie Cunningham (Lubitz), MD, MPH

Overview

As part of the Establish Mentoring Program, trainees in the Mass General Surgical Residency Program receive mentorship from one peer mentor and two to four faculty mentors. Prior to arrival, they are paired with their mentors and join their mentoring teams during their dedicated academic block time. This program fosters both academic and personal growth for residents by matching them with mentors who have experience in a variety of areas, serving as both an advocate and a source of support for the resident. This structured approach enables their development as a mentee and mentor. The mentor/mentee relationship enhances the natural day-to-day guidance that residents receive as they navigate their academic, surgical, and personal interests.

The mentor/mentee team will meet as often as needed, but a minimum of three times a year is expected. In addition to ongoing meetings, mentors connect regularly with their mentees to ensure there is active, consistent, structured discussion during the residency experience.

Mid-Career Faculty: “Refresh” Mentoring Program

Program Lead

Sunita Srivastava, MD

Overview

The Refresh Mentoring Program was created for mid-career faculty who may benefit from undergoing a fresh review with and receiving perspective from a mentoring team of two to three senior faculty. The mentors help the faculty member accelerate their progress, achieve excellence with their innovative clinical and academic pursuits, and find other collaborative mediums, all with the goal to create opportunities for mentees to become modern leaders.

Mentoring Culture Program

Program Lead

Roy Phitayakorn, MD

Overview

The Mentoring Culture Program aims to foster and promote a positive, uplifting, and equitable mentoring culture for all mentees and mentors. We adhere to the principle that “we are all mentors” and therefore want to ensure that all faculty and residents have an opportunity to enhance their mentoring skills and experience. Community- and culture-building activities hosted through the Mentoring Culture Program include:

• Diverse lectures and talks with outside speakers
• Mentoring training sessions
• Leadership courses
• Data management/research courses

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The mentorship that I receive has helped me navigate the early stages of my career. Finding someone who shares your interests, understands your goals, and is willing to put the time into helping you is key.

Dr. Eleanor Tomczyk
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, Mass General

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Faculty Mentorship Award

The Mass General Department of Surgery’s Faculty Mentorship Award was established as a way to recognize mentors who have significantly impacted the professional and personal lives of junior faculty through outstanding mentorship. The award winners are announced annually and selected by the mentees themselves.

2024 Winner

Motaz Qadan, MD, PhD

Comments from mentees:

• “During training, Motaz’s mastery of the operation at hand, the required exposure, and the display of tissue planes helped us each advance as surgeons. He was always willing to teach, whether that be regarding the technical aspects of an anastomosis or about the optimal peri-operative management of a hepatectomy patient. He was kind and inclusive of medical students, while setting a high standard for performance and professionalism. His example made a lasting impression on all of us and has informed our own approach to the education and training of our medical students and residents.”
• “Motaz’s office has an open door to review scans, discuss cases, and not only celebrate technical successes but also commiserate tough outcomes. He is our advocate. He speaks highly of us 'behind our backs', both to surgeons with our department and to referring providers across other departments.”
• “He refers us patients. He recommends us for career-advancing opportunities that establish our expertise as surgeons and leaders.”

Research Mentorship Award

The Mass General Department of Surgery’s Research Mentorship Award was established as a way to recognize mentors who have significantly impacted the professional and personal lives of peers and junior trainees through outstanding mentorship. The award winners are announced annually and selected by their peers.

2024 Winner

Kristen Jogerst, MD, MPH

Comments from peers:

• "Kristen is the consummate educator. She is consistently thinking about how we can improve the learning for the entire residency and the development of her own team members. I continue to learn from her every day."
• "Specifically circles back to make sure residents know the outcome of a surgery or of a patient that a resident was involved with."

2022 Winner

Doug Cassidy, MD

Comments from peers:

• "Doug is the most thoughtful, kind-hearted, and patient person I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. These wonderful, innate qualities are paired with a continual desire to elevate and support everyone around him. It is both contagious and inspiring”
• “He is my first call for any clinical issue, intra-program advice, and personal dilemma”