June is always a bittersweet month, at least in academic medicine. We get to look forward to a new fresh set of faces coming into our training programs, but we also have to say goodbye to those once-fresh faces that have progressed through their medical education journeys. These transitions are never easy, neither for the…
Don’t Let a Good Mentor Get Away
“When you get a good mentor, don’t let ’em be the one that got away.” Richard Brasington Jr., MD, FACP, MACR, told me this about a decade ago when I was a rheumatology fellowship applicant and first met him. It was clear the statement was influenced by his love of fishing. Dr. Brasington’s office was…
An Introduction to Mentoring
High-quality mentoring is perhaps the most recognized ingredient to a successful career, one that remains little understood. Here, we present a brief overview of the elements of successful mentor-mentee relationships for clinicians and scientists in rheumatology. We discuss the importance of mentorship and characteristics of good mentoring, and offer our personal reflections as both mentees…
10 Characteristics of Good Mentoring: Tips for What Mentees Need from Their Mentors
Antony Rosen, MBChB, describes the 10 essential characteristics of good mentorship…
How to Cultivate Stronger Mentor–Mentee Relationships
An experienced mentor shares his tips for how to support rheumatology professionals who are learning the art of rheumatologic care early in their careers…
Mentoring May Help Address Workforce Shortage
Like other areas of medicine, rheumatology is facing a significant workforce shortage. As documented in a recently published study by the ACR, the demand for rheumatology clinical services is expected to exceed the supply of rheumatology providers by 2030.1 Without a concerted effort to explore ways to retain rheumatology providers in the workforce, this imbalance…
All in the Rheumatology Family
Children can inherit many traits from their parents, including an interest in medicine and rheumatology. Here are a few stories of rheumatologists whose children followed in their footsteps…
Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Educator?
Two rheumatologists share why they became educators, the challenges they face and what keeps them teaching young physicians…
Rheumatologists Reflect: What Drew Them to the Profession & How They Can Attract Others
Each rheumatologist’s path to the specialty is unique. Here, three practicing rheumatologists share what inspired them to become rheumatologists, what brings them fulfillment and how to bring others into the specialty…
The REF: A Facilitator of Mentoring
The ACR Research and Education Foundation (REF) has made a substantial commitment to supporting career development through its many grant programs, such as the preceptorships for medical and graduate students and residents, the Rheumatology Scientist Development Award, the Rheumatology Investigator Award, and the Career Development Bridge Funding Award, provided in collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation.