Medical Mentoring Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Medical Mentoring - Essay Example Since there is a rarity of women in several elite fields in medicine, which reduces their chances of getting mentorship or sponsorship in these sub-fields, women are rarely inducted into these fields. Most female medical students have wondered whether there are women in some fields of medicine for them to contact. In addition, there was also a feeling that female medical students could mentor undergraduate female students; especially the undergraduate students interested in science, but short on ideas and encouragement (DeLaat, 2007). However, the issue of what mentors would get out of mentoring female students came up, to which the contended that hospitals and institutions must recognize how important mentorship is, especially as the unequivocal support from senior management or organizational leaders for the concept of sponsorship and mentoring. This will encourage mentors to consider a serious mentorship, while allowing the professional time to support the programs (DeLaat, 2007). From this case study, it is clear that gender has a major role to play when it comes to the expectations of female students with regards to mentoring, while also having an influence on their career planning. Optimal relationships in sponsorship and mentoring are relational, while relational mentorship is more crucial compared to gender concordance (Humphrey, 2010). In addition, power dynamics, which are gender-based, have a greater influence on the thinking of students concerning mentoring. Stereotypes and assumptions based on gender also have a significant effect on sponsorship and mentoring relationships. Successful relationships in mentoring can only occur when the mentors in the faculty, whether female or male, attempt to take the time required to know the students on a personal level, as well as to know the students from a career point of view. From the case study, it seems that the female medical students and physicians have gender expectations that they will relate better to female mentors, who will also be more supportive compared to male mentors. This could be because male mentors are more content focused, direct, and less comfortable when discussing with female students on work-life balance (Humphrey, 2010). From the case study, it also seems that those attending the seminar believe that the gender of the mentee will affect the advice that they are given with regards to choices of career. The students may also wish to go beyond stereotypes of gender when interacting with the mentors (Humphrey, 2010). A perception exists where the gender of female students may potentially hinder their sponsorship opportunities and networking, as well as the perception that mentors of the female gender are not in a position to provide the access female students require to vital networks. However, while the case study does not provide enough evidence whether this is the case, it is clear that there is a need for more female mentors with experience, as well as for women holding powerful positions in medicine, particularly in fields that are dominated by women. While the case study was mainly focused on female students in medical school, the mentee and the