A Calling Beyond the Clinic
Medicine is a demanding profession. From the first day of medical school to the last day of residency—and far beyond—physicians are expected to absorb immense amounts of knowledge, work long hours, and make critical decisions that impact lives. We are trained to heal. But rarely are we formally trained to teach the next generation of healers.
As a hospitalist who has worked at Frankford Hospital, Main Line Health, and now Penn Medicine, I’ve seen firsthand how vital mentorship is to the development of great physicians. I’ve also seen how often it’s overlooked. Amid the buzz of medical advancements and the pressure of patient outcomes, mentorship tends to fall to the bottom of the priority list. That’s a mistake.
In my experience, mentorship is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. It’s one of the most powerful tools we have to shape future doctors, improve patient care, and keep the spirit of medicine alive.
More Than Just Teaching Facts
When people think about mentorship in medicine, they often picture lectures or rounds where senior doctors share their knowledge. While that’s a part of it, true mentorship goes far deeper. It’s not just about teaching facts; it’s about modeling behavior, offering guidance during tough moments, and helping young doctors develop their own identity in medicine.
Mentorship is about asking the right questions:
- What kind of doctor do you want to be?
- How do you stay grounded during emotional cases?
- How do you find balance in a career that often demands everything?
These are the questions that don’t always come up in textbooks or board exams, but they’re the ones that shape a career—and a life.
Learning Through Human Connection
When I reflect on my own path, I think about the mentors who made a difference in my life. Not just the ones who taught me clinical pearls, but the ones who truly listened to me. The ones who noticed when I looked overwhelmed. The ones who reminded me that it was okay to admit I didn’t have all the answers. That kind of mentorship builds confidence. It creates doctors who are not only competent but compassionate.
It’s also what keeps people in medicine. Burnout is real. Young physicians today are facing enormous pressure, and too often, they feel alone. A strong mentor can make the difference between someone pushing through a difficult year or walking away from medicine entirely.
Mentorship in the Real World
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring many students and residents. Some have thanked me in quiet hallway conversations. Others have honored me with teaching awards, like the D. Stratton Woodruff Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Medicine, or the 2022 Faculty Award for Resident Teaching. But honestly, it’s not about recognition.
For me, mentorship is a way to give back. I was lucky to be raised in a home where service was a core value. My father, who worked to eradicate smallpox in Africa, taught me that medicine isn’t just about curing disease—it’s about lifting people up. That mindset didn’t stop with patients. It extended to colleagues and future doctors.
In my current role, I take time during rounds to ask residents how they’re really doing. I challenge them to think not just about the diagnosis but about the person in the hospital bed. I share my own missteps so they know it’s okay to fail—and to grow.
Why We Need to Value Mentorship More
Despite all this, mentorship is still underappreciated in many healthcare settings. Institutions reward research, clinical volume, and efficiency. Those things are important—but so is guiding the people who will carry this profession forward.
We need to start valuing mentorship the way we value other pillars of medicine. That means creating time and space for it in our schedules. It means training senior doctors not just in clinical updates, but in how to teach and connect. It means recognizing and rewarding those who invest in developing others—not just with plaques, but with meaningful career support.
The Ripple Effect of Great Mentorship
One of the most powerful things about mentorship is that it creates a ripple effect. When you mentor someone well, they’re more likely to turn around and do the same for others. That’s how you build a culture of excellence and empathy.
I’ve seen former students of mine go on to lead departments, teach medical students, and care for thousands of patients. They often tell me that something I said or did stuck with them—not because it was brilliant, but because it was human. Sometimes it’s just about showing up, being consistent, and treating others with respect.
Finding Balance as a Mentor
It’s important to acknowledge that being a mentor doesn’t mean being perfect or having all the answers. You don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. You just have to be willing to share what you know, admit what you don’t, and walk alongside someone who’s still finding their way.
In my own life, I find balance in nature, meditation, and the quiet focus of chess. These hobbies remind me that growth takes time. That listening is often more powerful than speaking. And that teaching, like healing, begins with presence.
Final Thoughts
Mentorship may not grab headlines or appear on a hospital’s balance sheet, but it’s the heartbeat of medicine. It’s what transforms a student into a physician, and a physician into a leader. It’s what keeps the human side of medicine alive in a world that can feel increasingly technical and impersonal.
If you’re an experienced doctor, make time to mentor. If you’re early in your career, seek out those who want to guide you—not just in medicine, but in life. Because in the end, we’re not just treating patients. We’re shaping the future of care itself.
And that’s a responsibility—and a privilege—we should never take lightly.