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Effective Research Mentorship for Residents: Meeting the Needs of Early Career Physicians

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Abstract

Objective

Challenges in pursuing research during residency may contribute to the shortage of clinician-scientists. Although the importance of mentorship in facilitating academic research careers has been described, little is understood about early career research mentorship for residents. The aim of this study was to better understand the mentorship process in the context of psychiatry residency.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with experienced faculty mentors in a psychiatry department at a large academic medical center. Interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results from faculty interviews identified several key themes that were explored with an additional sample of resident mentees.

Results

Five themes emerged in our study: (1) being compatible: shared interests, methods, and working styles; (2) understanding level of development and research career goals in the context of residency training; (3) establishing a shared sense of expectations about time commitment, research skills, and autonomy; (4) residents’ identity as a researcher; and (5) the diverse needs of a resident mentee. There was considerable congruence between mentor and mentee responses.

Conclusions

There is an opportunity to improve research mentoring practice by providing guidance to both mentors and mentees that facilitates a more structured approach to the mentorship relationship.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA

    Gerrit I. van Schalkwyk, Rachel B. Katz & Robert M. Rohrbaugh

  2. New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA

    Joseph Resignato

  3. Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa

    Susan C. van Schalkwyk

Authors
  1. Gerrit I. van Schalkwyk
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  2. Rachel B. Katz
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  3. Joseph Resignato
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  4. Susan C. van Schalkwyk
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  5. Robert M. Rohrbaugh
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerrit I. van Schalkwyk.

Ethics declarations

This study was deemed exempt from full review by the Yale University Human Subjects Committee. Informed consent was obtained from participants, and strict privacy standards were enforced.

Disclosures

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

Internally funded through funds of Dr Robert Rohrbaugh and Dr Susan van Schalkwyk.

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van Schalkwyk, G.I., Katz, R.B., Resignato, J. et al. Effective Research Mentorship for Residents: Meeting the Needs of Early Career Physicians. Acad Psychiatry 41, 326–332 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-016-0625-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-016-0625-9

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