94 th Annual Conference May 31-June 3, 2017 Vancouver, BC MENTORSHIP GUIDE
Introduction The Canadian Paediatric Society would like to thank you for participating in the Mentor- Mentee program for Fellows, residents and students. The addition of this program to the annual conference is an excellent way to foster and enhance networking opportunities. Residents and students can gain valuable skills from interacting with fellows who have previously attended a CPS conference. Fellows can also gain valuable and unique perspectives from residents and students, making the Mentor-Mentee program a mutually beneficial networking opportunity for both fellows, residents and students. The following program will help provide a structured format and direction for bringing fellows, residents and students together before, during and after the conference. Overview What is the purpose of the program? Residents and medical students (Mentees) have an opportunity to: Gain valuable insight on residency life by interacting with experienced fellows. Receive support in identifying networking opportunities. Building relationships that continue after the conference. Fellows (Mentors) have an opportunity to: Provide valuable information, support, and encouragement to residents and students. Community experiences and knowledge. Gain valuable and unique perspective from residents and students. What is required as a participant? Successful mentoring requires a commitment of time from both the Mentor and Mentee. Before the conference, each will need to communicate with the other, and do some homework before the event. This communication can include exchanging needs and/or goals, realistic expectations and responsibilities. Both need to be committed to spending some time together at the conference as well. Without these mutual commitments, the experience may not be as fulfilling to one or both parties. How can Mentors and Mentees interact? Via email or telephone before, during and after the conference. Face-to-face through the CPS 94 th Annual Conference. Welcome reception at the CPS 94 th Annual Conference. Where do I go from here? If you are a mentee, please refer to the Mentee Guide. If you are a mentor, please refer to the Mentor Guide. 2
MENTEE GUIDE Thank you for choosing to participate as a Mentee for the CPS 94 th Annual Conference. Your Mentor is someone who can provide you with guidance and knowledge on specific issues and experiences that cannot be found in textbooks. This guide will give you ideas, suggestions, and tips to help you make the most of your learning experience. Matching Mentees with Mentors The Canadian Paediatric Society has taken steps to partner you with an experienced Fellow that has volunteered their time to mentor you, to help make this a memorable and worthwhile investment in your professional growth and development. While every effort is made to match you with a Mentor with similar interests, please remember this is not always possible. Therefore it is important to be flexible and keep the door open to all that can be learned from a variety of backgrounds. Based on the information you provided at registration, we have done our best to match you according to your subspecialty interest and location/institution. Tips for interacting with your Mentor The quality of interaction between a Mentor and Mentee can greatly enhance your relationship. Here are a few things to keep in mind. Be proactive get to know your Mentor before you make contact. Ensure your Mentor knows about your own experiences, background, goals and expectations. Listen, take notes and consider how to apply tips and resources that your Mentor suggestions. Interact personally over meals, breaks, and other events and be open to networking with others. Essential steps to prepare for meeting your Mentor Being prepared will go a long way towards making your experience productive. Interaction pre-, during and postconference will ensure success. The following checklist will help you stay organized. A Mentee s homework: 1. Read the Mentee Guide. 2. Review the conference program. 3. Contact your Mentor before the conference and establish a plan to meet. 4. Get to know your Mentor, their organization and his/her role before the conference. 5. Identify and communicate with your Mentor clear, realistic goals for the relationship. 6. Prepare and share a list of questions, challenges, or areas of focus you d like to review. 7. At the conference, take notes, ask questions, and learn. 8. Post event, follow up with your Mentor to ask additional questions or to obtain resources. 3
Six benefits of being a Mentee 1. Mentors become colleagues. 2. Mentors expand your professional network. 3. Mentees can eventually become Mentors. 4. Mentors can challenge you to become more familiar with hot topics and current issues in paediatrics. 5. Mentors offer their Mentees encouragement, confidence and direction in their professional careers. 6. Mentors bring new perspectives to Mentees. Mentee best practices Being a mentee is not a passive process take initiative and get comfortable with your Mentor. Learn your Mentor s strengths, challenges and resources. Ask your Mentor what he/she wants to get out of this conference to gain a new perspective. Ask questions, interact and collaborate! Ask for suggested formal and informal training opportunities. Ask your Mentor if there are particular problems or common issues you should be aware of. Engage with your Mentor in the hallways, make sure to check in throughout the conference to let them know how things are going. Be flexible in your approach with your Mentor to ensure it is a mutually beneficial experience. What did you learn? Reflecting upon your experience is a great way to help focus your new knowledge and concepts on those topics you wish to further explore. We encourage you to take a moment to consider the most important, interesting, or surprising things you learned at the conference or as part of a successful Mentor-Mentee experience. Where do I go from here? Planning for the future and following up on suggested resources or information provided from your Mentor will ensure that you stay on track with your professional growth and development in paediatrics. We encourage you to write down the top 3 items you wish to follow up with, post-conference, or any additional formal learning opportunities that will further your knowledge. 4
MENTOR GUIDE Thank you for volunteering to participate as a Mentor during the CPS 94 th Annual Conference. As an experienced Fellow you will be able to share encouragement, information, and resources with your Mentee, thus enabling them to navigate the conference more effectively. As a mentor, there is tremendous value to be gained by guiding your Mentee towards new learning opportunities and networking experiences. As such, we encourage any Fellow who has attended the conference at least once to mentor. Matching Mentors with Mentees The Canadian Paediatric Society has taken steps to partner you with a Mentee from a subspecialty and location/institution that is complimentary to your own. While every effort is made to match you according to similar interests, please remember this is not always possible. Therefore it is important to be flexible and keep the door open to all that can be learned from a variety of backgrounds. Based on the information you provided at registration, we have done our best to match you according to your subspecialty interest and location/institution. Commitment Being a Mentor does require a certain level of commitment to your Mentee. Making time and being available to work with your Mentee throughout the conference is important. Here is a brief summary to help you assess the recommended commitment you will be making as a Mentor. Time before the conference (if required/requested) to meet and get to know your Mentee. At least one to two face-to-face meetings during the conference. Time after the conference (as required) to follow up on any offers to share resources or review materials and other service you may have offered to your Mentee. Please ensure to follow through. Essential steps to prepare for meeting your Mentee Being prepared will go a long way towards making your experience successful. The following checklist will help you stay organized. A Mentor s homework: 1. Read the Mentor Guide. 2. Contact your assigned Mentee either via phone or email. Discuss and plan for interaction. 3. Prepare to share/offer a list of experiences, skills, resources and networking opportunities. 4. Prepare to invest time talking with your Mentee. Share your background and expertise. 5. Discuss their goals and expectations. 6. Aid your Mentee in the networking process. Introduce them to key people of relevance. 7. Take time to explain hot topics, common paediatric issues, acronyms, etc. 8. Give useful feedback, assist in problem-solving, and be accessible during the conference. 5
Five benefits of being a Mentor 1. Mentees become colleagues. 2. Mentees expand your professional network. 3. Mentees challenge Mentors, enabling both to stay on top of new developments in paediatrics. 4. Mentees offer the opportunity to encourage and inspire them in their professional careers. 5. Mentees bring fresh, new perspectives to Mentors. Mentee best practices Mentoring is not a passive process take the initiative! Learn your Mentee s needs and be a source of information and resources for your Mentee. Ask your Mentee what they want to get out of the conference and help them develop a strategy. Interact personally over meals, breaks, and other events and introduce your Mentee to other colleagues at the conference. Encourage formal and informal training opportunities. Ask your Mentee if there are particular problems or issues they are trying to address. Engage with your Mentee in the hallways, make sure to check in throughout the conference to field any questions and see how their experience is going. Provide advice when applicable, and challenge your Mentee professionally. Be flexible in your mentoring style and generous with who you are and what you know. What did you learn? Reflecting upon your experience is a great way to help focus any new concepts or considerations you may have as a result of your successful mentoring venture. We encourage you to take a moment to consider the most important, interesting, or surprising things you may have learned from or about your Mentor-Mentee relationship. Where do I go from here? Ensuring that you follow up with your Mentee on resources and information you may have promised is a very important role of a Mentor. We encourage you to write down those items you have offered to share and ensure you follow up within 1-2 weeks post-conference. 6