University of Maryland School of Medicine

Faculty Mentoring

Overall Design

Effective in the 2000-2001 academic year, the University of Maryland School of Medicine (SOM) will implement a formal faculty mentoring program, which will be administered at the department level. Under this program junior faculty (Instructor and Assistant Professor) will be assigned mentors by their Department Mentoring Coordinator (see below).

The Mentoring relationship will exist formally from the time that the Mentor is assigned until the mentee secures R01 level funding or equivalent, as determined by the Mentoring Coordinator and Department Chairman. The SOM encourages Mentors and mentees to maintain an unofficial relationship past the point of the mentee’s funding success.

Prospective Mentors will be matched with mentees as a joint decision among the Department Chairman, the Division Chief (if applicable), the Department Mentoring Coordinator, and the mentee. Mentors will be assigned by the time of the faculty member’s official start date whenever possible. Either the Mentor or mentee may request termination of the formal relationship at any time. If this occurs, a new Mentor will be assigned.

The mission of the Mentor will be to assist in developing the mentee’s research career, specifically by facilitating the following areas:

1. Defining and achieving career goals.
2. Preparing grant proposals.
3. Developing fruitful research contacts.
4. Addressing other areas of need that are specific for the particular mentee, e.g., management of lab personnel or funds, balancing professional commitments, time management etc.

Part of the power of mentoring is its ability to tailor the interpersonal interaction in ways that are most suitable to the individuals involved. Mentor and mentee should determine the frequency and duration of contacts, the content of discussions, and other specific actions by the Mentor. However, the program will expect that Mentors and mentees interact informally at least every four weeks and formally [i.e. face-to-face] at least every 2 months. Mentors will be expected to report the status of the relationship to the Department Mentoring Coordinator at least every 6 months. In addition, mentors will be expected to make good faith efforts to follow the guidelines expounded in this guide.