Mentoring

In 1998, BUSM researchers published data showing that junior faculty with mentors express greater job satisfaction and rate their research skills higher than faculty without mentors. Two case studies that have included control groups dramatize the difference mentorship makes in improving faculty retention.

1. In one report of Obstetrics and Gynecology faculty members, 38% of junior faculty without a mentor left their organizations during the survey period while only 15% of those with mentors left.
2. Similarly, new assistant professors participating in a mentoring program at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine were 67% more likely to remain at the university by the end of their probationary period than peers who had opted not to participate.

To promote mentoring in the Department of Medicine, the Faculty Development and Diversity Committee offers links to key resources.

Opportunities to find mentoring

• Association of Women in Science, Massachusetts Chapter
• Boston University Cross-Disciplinary Training Program in Nanotechnology for Cancer
• Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health
• Clinical Research Training (CREST)
• Early Career Faculty Development Program
• MedEdMentoring for research in mental health
• Mentor Net

Resources

• Associate Provost for Faculty Development
• BU Women in Networks
• Scholarly literature

Advice

• Charting a Course for a Successful Research Career by Alan M. Johnson
• Getting the Most out of Your Mentor (Elaine Hylek)
• Giving and Getting Career Advice (University of Michigan)
• How to Choose a Mentor (Deb Cotton)
• How to mentor trainees
• Seminars on Mentoring