ASBN Archives - Neurosurgery Blog

The Transformative Power of Mentorship: Establishing a Personal Board of Directors

By David A. Paul, MD, MSCareer, MentoringNo Comments

Stepping into the inaugural American Society of Black Neurosurgeons (ASBN) dinner in 2022, surrounded by almost 30 Black neurosurgeons, residents and medical students, was an indescribable experience. In that room, I encountered past program neurosurgery department chairs and senior attendings, who welcomed me into the fold with open arms. The presence of such accomplished individuals who shared my background and experiences left an indelible impact on me.

Joining the ASBN shed light on a critical flaw in my approach to mentorship. To truly flourish and reach my full potential, I recognized the need to cultivate a diverse team of mentors around me. Effective mentorship entails a combination of peer mentors, career mentors, life mentors and sponsors. I had been burdening my primary mentor unfairly, expecting him to fulfill all these roles single-handedly. Yet, he had somehow managed to keep me afloat throughout my journey — a testament to his unwavering dedication to my success. It is somewhat humbling to admit that I failed to grasp this crucial aspect of mentorship earlier in life. My experience is not unique, particularly for individuals from underrepresented groups who may face similar challenges in finding the right support network.

With this revised approach to mentorship, I have begun to forge my own path in the field of neurosurgery. With that, I present a structured approach to finding mentors, assembling a personal board of advisors, each playing a unique role but sharing a common dedication to one’s success.

Peer Mentors: These are individuals in a similar or adjacent career stage, such as co-residents, fellows, or junior faculty members. This group is the one you can reach out to bounce ideas, seek advice on resident politics, prepare for cases, avoid common residency pitfalls and become involved in research.
Career Mentor: A career mentor is a seasoned faculty member who can guide and refine your professional trajectory. This mentor may be from within or outside your home institution. They assist in networking, identifying fellowship opportunities and setting and achieving mid- to long-term career goals through regular check-ins.
Sponsor: A sponsor is someone who knows you well and works behind the scenes to advocate for your success. This person may not be someone you communicate with regularly, but they are individuals you meet along your journey, such as at conferences or sub-internships. Sponsors are familiar with your research work and career path. They are pivotal in advocating for you when you apply for awards, grants and advancements within neurosurgery.
Life Mentor: Your life mentor ideally exists outside the confines of your direct medical community. This can be a spiritual advisor, life coach or an older family member. Their role is to help you navigate the challenges of residency and beyond while staying true to yourself. Having a life mentor reminds us that we are multifaceted human beings and to maintain balance and nurture our well-being beyond just being neurosurgeons.

By assembling a mentor team, you will have a comprehensive support system that empowers you to navigate the complexities of a career in neurosurgery while fostering personal growth and resilience. This also provides a rubric for you to engage in mentoring others, paying it forward to the next generation of neurosurgeons. Recognizing the importance of mentorship, it is crucial that, as neurosurgeons, we actively incorporate teachings on mentorship in our training programs and support mentorship organizations like the ASBN and Women in Neurosurgery so we can ensure the future success of a diverse cohort of resident trainees.

Editor’s Note: We hope you will share what you learn from our posts in the Making and Maintaining a Neurosurgeon series. We invite you to join the conversation on Twitter by following @Neurosurgery and using the hashtag #Neurosurgery.

David A. Paul, MD, MS
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Penn.

December 15, 2023

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How (Not) to Approach Mentorship: A Neurosurgeon’s Perspective

By David A. Paul, MD, MSCareer, MentoringNo Comments

“I’m happy to write a letter of recommendation for you, but you should know that I will only mentor you if you decide to stay here for the summer…”

This was my introduction to mentorship as a first-year medical student. The offer was straightforward, and as a first-generation student without any external mentors, I took the opportunity and applied for a summer American Association of Neurological Surgeons Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation grant to work with a neurosurgeon-scientist at my home institution. He denies having said that to this day, though I stand by my account. It marks the beginning of a long-standing mentorship and friendship that continues to shape my journey today.

This neurosurgeon challenged me to explore why some patients with pituitary tumors regain their vision after surgery while others do not. What began as a summer project evolved into an intensive two-year research endeavor. During this time, I became a part of the Academic Research Track program, pursued a Masters in Neurobiology and Anatomy and eventually achieved the remarkable milestone of being the first author of a paper published in Science Translational Medicine.

Despite the multidisciplinary nature of our project, much of the work was undertaken in relative isolation, without significant external guidance. At the outset, my scientific approach mirrored the nature of my mentoring relationships — I placed all my efforts into a single basket. Looking back, it seems almost unbelievable that our efforts culminated in such success — and that I matched into neurosurgery with a single prominent publication to my name.

This mentorship influenced my trajectory. Despite an emerging interest in spine surgery, I held onto the familiar mentorship I had come to rely on, applying for an enfolded external fellowship in endoscopic skull base surgery with my mentor’s encouragement. When I failed to match into that fellowship, I felt relief knowing that it was not my true passion but fear of starting over. It was a stark reminder that, once again, I had put all my efforts into one basket.

Faced with the challenge of finding new opportunities for my research year, I pursued an enfolded Society of Neurological Surgeons Committee on Advanced Sub-specialty Training accredited neurocritical care fellowship to strengthen my clinical acumen in my perceived weak clinical area. It was the first time during residency that I chose something solely for my own personal development rather than simply following the expectations of others. During the fellowship, I realized my passion for neurosurgery and neuroscience held the power to address the societal brokenness I witnessed. It became clear that my calling extended beyond the operating room; it intertwined with my commitment to advocate for social justice and equity. Neurotrauma, critical care, and spine bridge the gap between how I envision using my skill set and what I see as unmet needs in communities like mine.

As I delved deeper into my newfound passion for bringing neurosurgery to underserved communities, I connected with other neurosurgeons who shared similar experiences and challenges. These connections expanded my network beyond the boundaries of my institution, nurturing a sense of camaraderie and unwavering support. At the same time, the nation grappled with a renewed focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. In response, African-American neurosurgeons from across the country united, founding the American Society of Black Neurosurgeons (ASBN). The ASBN is a powerful platform, amplifying our voices, advocating for transformative change and fostering a nurturing community within our field.

David A. Paul, MD, MS
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Penn.

December 8, 2023

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