*Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the benefits of mentorship to increase early exposure to radiology among medical students and explore key qualities of a mentor-mentee relationship.
2. Introduce remote mentoring and its usefulness in radiology.
3. Provide examples of specific strategies and opportunities for medical students to remotely engage with mentors.

*Content Description:
Mentorship plays a vital role in increasing exposure and interest in radiology among medical students. Identifying a mentor in radiology can lead to opportunities for students to engage in innovative research, learn about various career paths, and receive invaluable advice from an experienced radiologist. Additionally, there are many benefits to being a mentor, such as gaining exposure to different perspectives, learning to provide effective feedback, and fostering self-awareness and confidence. A strong mentor-mentee relationship has several key characteristics such as well-defined/shared goals, consistent communication, and mutual collaboration. Despite the known benefits of mentorship, many students, especially those identifying as underrepresented in medicine, report a lack of access to mentors with similar career goals. Students at institutions without radiology programs or specific subspecialties in radiology may also experience difficulty finding mentors. Remote or virtual mentorship is a useful mechanism to combat this issue and is beneficial for students seeking additional opportunities in radiology. Some advantages of remote mentorship include increased meeting flexibility, the potential for collaboration across institutions, and improved time management/efficiency. Remote mentorship may also diversify the workforce as students find role models with similar cultural/educational backgrounds. In this presentation, we share tips for medical students and their mentors to maximize the benefits of remote mentorship. Additionally, we will examine various virtual outlets that can be explored through remote mentorship (social media, national meetings, and webinars).

Pooja Agrawal B.S.

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)

Appearances