1. Mentors, Mentees & Mentoring
“helping our faculty and trainees reach their full potential” Charles J. Gomer Professor of Pediatrics & Radiation Oncology Vice Chair of Pediatrics for Faculty Affairs

2. Why does USC promote mentoring?
“Behind every successful person, there is one elementary truth: somewhere, somehow, someone cared about their growth and development . This person was their mentor”
(Beverley Kaye, Up is Not the Only Way, 1997)
Many times there will be multiple mentors!

3. Mentors share experiences and advice in a variety of areas
Career advancement, guidance on resources, promotion
Professional practice skills
Grantsmanship, scientific oversight
Publishing, scientific writing skills
Teaching skills, curriculum development
Enhancing professional visibility (networking)
Overcoming barriers to success, time management
Meshing a career with a personal life

4. Characteristics of a Good Mentor
Approachable and welcoming
Shares information and experiences openly
Good communication skills
Trustworthy
Provides accurate and appropriate feedback
Technical expertise
Motivating, encouraging, positive and empowering
Allocates appropriate time to mentoring
An effective intermediary

5. Characteristics of a Good Mentee
Asks questions
Willing to be mentored
Strives to give his/her best at all times
Accepts criticism graciously
Learns from mistakes
Has courage to try new things
Accepts responsibilities
Open and honest
Respectful and grateful
Listens, watches, learns, grows

6. Mentoring Skills: Listening
“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” Steven Covey
“Never miss a good opportunity to shut up and listen.” Will Rogers

7. Empathy
One of the most important skills you will ever acquire. It is listening so intently and identifying so closely that you experience the other person’s situation, thoughts and emotions.

8. Building Trust Follow policies and guidelines Make expectations clear
Provide feedback that is useful
Maintain a positive tone
Demonstrate concern for the mentee

9. Postdoctoral Goals Expand research expertise
Perform public presentations
Publish, publish, publish
Acquire grantsmanship & teaching skills
Develop professional relationships
Develop mentoring skills

10. Postdoctoral Expectations
Favorable work environment
-facilities, resources, and funding
-research focus
-advisor presence and input
Enhanced learning potential
Professional development opportunities

11. Advisor Expectations Laboratory Skills -bring in expertise
-learn and teach new skills
-Contribute positively to the advisor’s research program
Design, perform, supervise, present, publish

12. Student Goals to be able to do real science
to be able to understand research problems
to determine the data needed and how to collect it
to develop abilities to think independently and creatively
to acquire attitudes & skills of scientists
to become adept in the lab

13. Student Expectations
A positive relationship with their faculty mentor and research team
Respect
Real work, not busy work
New friends & social interactions
Succeeding in a new organization, setting, laboratory

14. Mentoring students Make sure students know they matter
Explain the “why” when you ask them to do something
Look for opportunities to reward them
Provide feedback
Make work enjoyable
Model the behavior you want
Molidor, JB. Here comes Gen Why! Interacting with the next generation of learners. APPD meeting, April 2006

15. USC Mentoring Resources
Primary Link
Resources (Depts., Faculty, Students)
School/Unit Mentoring Activities
Mellon Mentoring (culture of mentoring)