THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM AT
NORTHWESTERN RADIOLOGY
While some radiology faculty have taken on residents as mentees in the past, until recently, the residency program had no formal faculty-resident mentorship program. The faculty-resident mentorship program was proposed and designed by a current resident, Francisco Maldonado (PGY-4), with the guidance of Drs. Mike Magnetta, Ankur Garg, and Jeanne Horowitz. he participated in while in medical school as a key to his previous success. This was the impetus for him to establish a similar program here at Northwtern for radiology residents. Maldonado mentorship credits an organized program that The mentorship program got off the ground in 2021 to start the academic year. Faculty meet with menteers in groups of 4-5 a few times a year. So far, the mentorship groups have been a big success. The regularity of the meetings varies, with some groups meeting monthly while others meet bi-monthly or quarterly.
. One of the program's biggest benefits up front has been for residents of all levels to interact. Normally, they may not get the chance to sit down with one another. The mentorship program offers them the opportunity to know one another better professionally. Additionally, as work became more remote due to the pandemic, attendings from different sections also had the chance to meet regularly. If you are not part of the mentorship program but would like to join next year, please reach out to the organizers for more information. You can also look out for a future sign-up opportunity before the beginning of the new academic year.
As individuals progress through medical training, one of the most significant steps comes between medical school and residency. Residents exist in a special middle ground of medicine – already doctors but not yet experienced enough to practice independently. After the acceptance into residency, new questions emerge. What subspecialty should I choose? Should I pursue a career in research? Is private practice suitable for me? Even these questions come with added stressors. This is where a mentoring program can be of great use. Mentoring allows early physicians an opportunity to peek behind the curtain of attending life to help determine what they might want out of their careers. Studies have shown that mentoring programs increase the research output (manuscripts, grants) and open career opportunities. Add to that reduced rates of burnout and improved rates of overall career satisfaction, and the case for mentorship becomes even more robust.
- Rishi Agrawal, MD
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