Finding a Mentor in Outcomes Research

Abstract

Mentors play a key part in the learning process through their guidance and nurturing, thereby ensuring that the clinician-in-training will transition into an excellent, independent thinker and practitioner. Mentoring plays an important role in outcomes research. Unlike going from medical school, to residency, and subsequently to fellowship – which tends to be a linear well-defined, career path, success in outcomes research can depend more on identifying a mentor who can provide the mentee with a roadmap for success. In this way, success in outcomes research may rely more on an apprenticeship model of learning built on interactions between mentee and mentor. The ideal outcomes research mentor is someone who has a well-established research program, “technical” expertise in research methodology, an excellent track record of publications, independent research funding, and is well recognized in the field. Obviously, finding such a “perfect” mentor is challenging, if not impossible. It is therefore important to identify several different mentors who can fulfill each of these roles. Each aspect of this “ideal” mentor can substantially contribute to the mentee’s experience and their ability to become a future successful, independent outcomes researcher. Success in outcomes research often depends on a robust apprenticeship with an experienced clinician-outcomes researcher who can guide a mentees career.