Mentoring Overview

The Faculty Mentoring Program (Pilot Project) was launched in the Department of Pediatrics on March 26th by Michael Rapoff, PhD, Chair of the Mentoring Initiative Project for his department. Dr. Rapoff and his committee worked for several months with members of the Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs Advisory Panel in the School of Medicine to develop their program. The Department of Pediatrics volunteered to be the first department and pilot program for the School of Medicine's Mentoring Initiative. Other departments wishing to volunteer may contact Dr. Robert Klein, Associate Dean, Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs with questions.

About the Mentoring Program

THE MENTORING PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED WITH MANY NEW IMPROVEMENTS. 

The content of our Mentoring website right now covers just the basics of Mentoring and will be updated and expanded soon to include the plans, guidelines and information developed by the Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs Advisory Panel (established May, 2006).  The clinical needs were addressed in the pilot program developed in partnership with the Department of Pediatrics. If you have suggestions for revisions to our website or would like to serve on the committees currently being recruited to establish guidelines specifically targeting the basic sciences Mentoring program or the one specifically targeting the Women in Medicine and Science (WIMS) Mentoring Program, please contact Robert Klein, PhD, Associate Dean for the Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs. rklein@kumc.edu

Mission Statement

The University of Kansas School of Medicine Mentoring Initiative is dedicated to enhance and support the environment which has created a place where everyone wants to come to learn, to teach, to conduct research and to receive his or her health care by strengthening the members of the faculty through the leadership of strong mentoring program which focuses on three critical skills:

1. Managing a productive academic career in medicine:
1. In support of your own academic career needs and desires, while
2. In support of the institutions missions and goals.
2. Understanding the formal (and informal/implicit) values, rules and operating procedures in academic medicine.
1. Understanding criteria for advancement in your track, and
2. Understanding how the merit and promotion system works
3. Developing and sustaining a network of professional colleagues.
1. Know where to go for advice, help and training.

Types of Mentors

For the purpose of our program, we define two types of Mentors:

1. Mentor:
   Senior member of the faculty are paired with junior members in the same departments, for the purpose of Mentoring the junior faculty member through their career development in the early years, usually the first five years in an academic appointment.  These Mentors have proven to be a successful senior members of the KU School of Medicine faculty from all departments.
2. Project Mentor:
   One who is asked by the Career Mentor to assist the Mentee on a specific project, perhaps with skills beyond those of the Career Mentor in the area of the project.  This Mentor may or may not be a member of the your own department, but will have been invited to apply by the and to serve in this mentoring capacity.  Project Mentors may be used when the Career Mentor feels additional expertise beyond their own is needed for their Mentee’s project.

PURPOSE & TARGET AUDIENCE

The primary purpose of this program is to provide a mechanism to assist and propel junior faculty (i.e., tenure earning or wishing to move to tenure track) through a smooth transition period from early in their career, promoting the advancement and retention of new faculty into our next generation of academic physician and research leaders.

Links to Useful Forms

In an effort to assist Mentoring Teams with organizational tools and forms to assist with their recordkeeping, each title below is linked to the document created to help faculty.  These forms and documents are yours to use, download and customize to fit your needs.  If you need help, please contact Marty Gunion mgunion@kumc.edu in the Office of Professional Development and Faculty Affairs.

• Mentee Application Form
• Mentor Application Form
• Mentee’s Planning for Mentoring Tool
• Mentor’s Planning for Mentoring Tool
• 1st Meeting Agenda
• Individual Development Plan IDP Form
• Meeting Agenda
• Meeting Worksheet
• 90-Day Trial Tool
• Quarterly or Semi-Annual Evaluation Form
• Annual Mentoring Evaluation Form – Evaluates Mentee
• Annual Mentoring Evaluation Form – Evaluates Mentor
• Final Mentoring Review Form
• Mentee Ending the Formal Mentorship Checklist Tool
• Mentor Ending the Formal Mentorship Checklist Tool
• Mentoring Program Evaluation Form
• Mentor Bibliography with links for the SOM web

Mentoring Activities

• Orientation (New Faculty Orientation breakfast will feature a speaker disucssing the benefits of Mentoring)
• Research and publication collaboration
• Teaching enhancement
• Clinical duties
• SoM Executive Dean’s Distinguished Mentoring Awards, Nomination Deadline: August 18, 2008
• Faculty Pilot Mentoring Program - Department of Pediatrics
• Tips from Award Winning Faculty
• Workshops on Mentoring

Methods of Mentoring

1. Self-directed: initiation of relationship by either the mentor or mentee
2. Department/Division-directed: Formal mentoring program with assigned mentor/mentee pairs; usually determined by Chair.
3. Institution-directed: Formal mentoring program with assigned or self-selected metor/mentee pairs chosen across departmental boundaries.
4. Layered mentors: Mentees chose a number of mentors in different areas of professional development, ie, one mentor for a specific research project, another for a teaching project, etc.
5. Rolling mentors: Mentees start with one mentor and "roll" over to several others as their careers advance.

Request a Mentor or Volunteer to Serve as a Mentor on the KUMC Campus

• To seek assistance with finding a Mentor on the Kansas City campus complete this form Application Form to be a Mentee
• To volunteer to serve as a Mentor to a junior member of the Kansas City faculty complete this form Application Form to be a Mentor

Request Information or Assistance

Contact Robert Klein, PhD., Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs, rklein@kumc.edu or call ext 8-5017.

1. For additional information or questions regarding the Mentoring program
2. If you have concerns or need help with your current Mentoring relationship ALL COMMUNICATION WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL
3. To volunteer to help revise or develop Mentoring guidelines in the School of Medicine