Fostering a culture of support
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s focus on mentorship helps faculty and learners succeed
By Pat Morden, BA’77
When Kelly Anderson began looking for an academic appointment, she interviewed at a number of universities. One of the things that attracted her to Schulich Medicine & Dentistry was its strong faculty mentorship program. “I’ve been fortunate to have great mentors throughout my training, so I recognize the importance of mentorship,” said Anderson, now an Assistant Professor in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. “I really liked the idea that I would have that support in place when I started my first academic position.”
As soon as Anderson was hired, she and her department chair put together a mentorship committee. She meets formally with the committee a few times a year, and also on an impromptu basis. She’s received advice on everything from navigating department politics and recruiting graduate students to being an effective teacher and supervisor. “It’s nice to have a group of people to turn to with those dumb questions everyone has when they’re new,” she said with a smile.
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry stands apart from most medical schools in having a formal mentorship policy and program that must be offered to all faculty members. Dr. Mithu Sen is Assistant Dean, Faculty, Equity & Wellness, and Chair of the Mentorship Oversight Committee. “The offer of a mentorship committee is unconditional,” she said. “The committee is not set up to judge you, nor to evaluate your performance. It’s there to offer you advice—and support you no matter what.”
There’s a growing understanding of the importance of mentorship in academic medicine. “We know that without mentorship, faculty members are less likely to succeed,” said Dr. Sen. “Whether you are early, mid or late career, you can accomplish more when you have a team who will support you.”
Doug Jones, PhD, vice dean, Basic Medical Sciences, is a member of the Faculty Mentorship Oversight Committee. He conducts mentorship workshops and researches best practices. He says the research is clear: “People who have a strong support system are happier, more productive, and more creative.”
The School’s faculty mentorship program is unique in a number of ways. Jones says that the committee approach, rather than one-on-one mentorship, reflects best practice. “We feel, after studying the literature, that a mentorship committee offers a wider perspective and broader context,” he said. He underlines the flexibility of the program, which encourages people to seek out informal mentorship as well.
Jones and Dr. Sen both emphasize Schulich Medicine & Dentistry’s scholarly approach to mentorship. Their team is also conducting a four-year survey, which will be completed next year. “The program is dynamic, not static,” said Dr. Sen. “It will continue to grow and evolve.”
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry also has a strong reputation for mentoring medical students. This long tradition became entrenched in the School by Drs. Fraser Fellows and James Silcox, MD’67, who wanted to create something outside the classroom to help students understand how their careers related.
Dr. Robert Hammond, MD’87, associate dean, Admissions and director of Student Wellness, oversees the mentorship program for undergraduate medical students. Dr. Hammond believes that medical education has a very rich apprenticeship component. This includes learning from each other, as much as learning from books. “Our mentorship program recognizes the empathetic, caring nature of our profession, and also the importance of team,” he said.
The student program in medicine involves some 50 or so mentors and 350 students across all four years. A hallmark of the program is flexibility. Dr. Hammond usually meets with his group at his home about three times a year. Not surprisingly, many students find medical school quite overwhelming. “Sometimes they just need simple advice and reassurance, to help build their confidence and make them feel grounded,” he said. “Gradually, as they move into years three and four, they make the transition from being mentored to providing mentorship. It’s amazing to watch them grow before your eyes.”
Dr. Jim Jean, DDS’73, is an Assistant Professor at Schulich Dentistry, which has a mandatory mentorship program for students in third and fourth year. This is the time when dentistry students begin their training in clinical practice. In addition to helping students organize, maintain and balance their patient portfolios, Dr. Jean and his team of mentors also ‘lend an ear’ to help students with whatever challenges they may face. When problems are personal, they are often referred to the appropriate experts. “Our doors are always open,” said Dr. Jean.
Almost one-third of the graduating students are international. This is a critical time for them, as they learn to adjust to life in Canada and become familiar with the dynamics of a Canadian dental office.
Dr. Jean says mentorship is part of Dentistry’s overall strategy to become one of the top 10 dental schools in North America. “I believe our student mentorship program greatly enhances our ability to succeed,” he said.
Schulich Medicine & Dentistry has become wellknown for its friendly and supportive culture, which attracts both students and faculty. Anderson, now going into her third year of research and teaching, feels that this culture of support has been a big help in her transition to assistant professor. “In addition to my mentorship committee, I receive informal mentorship from people within my department, as well as peer mentorship,” she said. “I’m also trying to foster this in the graduate students I supervise.”
This is exactly what Dr. Sen loves to hear. “I feel it’s impossible to miss the culture of support that exists at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry,” she said. “Mentorship creates openness, and an opportunity for growth for everyone.”
