Mentor Tips

1. Listen patiently

• Give students time to get to issues they find important or sensitive.
• Attempt to pick up on mentee’s verbal and nonverbal cues.
• Listen for what is not said, as well as what is said.

2. Nurture self-sufficiency

• Your goal is to foster the development of the student’s growth in their selected specialty (even if it is not your own specialty).
• Encourage confidence and knowledge about the student’s skills and personal characteristics.

3. Make yourself accessible

• A reasonably prompt response to your mentee’s telephone call or email is important to the relationship.

4. Welcome the student

• Invite the student to shadow you at your office/practice.
• Share your own successes and failures.
• Partner with the student on primary care-focused activities.

5. Build a relationship

• Get to know the student and allow the student to know you, both personally and professionally.

6. Primary care vision

• Provide experiences and opportunities that challenge primary care stereotypes and promote reflection and attitudinal change.