Clinical academics face a unique set of challenges during their careers to balance the required clinical and academic demands. They are more likely to flourish if they have a sustained relationship with a mentor who can support them in finding solutions to the issues they face.
Benefits of mentorships
Benefits to mentees
- Improved performance and better career planning
- Increased confidence, motivation and self esteem
- Broader network of contacts
- Support through difficult times, dealing with conflict
- Access to meaningful role models
- Access to sounding board for testing new ideas
Benefits to mentors
- Skill development – coaching, nurturing
- Broader network of contacts
- Chance to give something back
- Further opportunities for reflection
- A new challenge
Benefits to the organisation
- Capturing and transferring new skills and knowledge
- Visible and high profile role models
- Increased recruitment, retention and productivity
- Expanded networks
- Creation of a developing, nurturing culture
Sources of mentors include, but are not confined to: your local Research Design Service; professional networks, e.g. CAHPR; NMAHPs consultant practitioners; and doctors who have an interest in and enthusiasm for building research capacity across the health professions.
There are several established national mentorship schemes; some are only available to those who have particular types of award:
The ICA Mentorship Scheme
Individuals in receipt of an HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic (ICA) fellowship at doctoral level and above will be offered a designated mentoring programme through the NIHR. The Mentorship Programme is open to doctoral and postdoctoral ICA award holders and provides the opportunity for free one-to-one clinical academic career mentorship by an appropriate mentor. More information and contact details are available on the HEE/NIHR ICA Programme website.
Academy of Medical Sciences Mentoring Programme
The Academy of Medical Sciences one-to-one Mentoring programme provides post-doctoral and independent biomedical and health researchers with career development support by pairing them with an Academy Fellow or senior academic. The Academy has a 900 strong Fellowship, located across the UK, allowing trainees to have access to independent research leaders and role models able to inspire and guide those embarking on an academic career.
Useful resources