A mentor is a wise, loyal advisor or coach.

A protege is a person guided and helped, especially in furtherance of a career by another more influential person.

Objectives

1. Facilitate honest communication between residents and attending faculty.
2. Help with goal setting and career planning.
3. Aid in problem identification and resolution for department and individuals.
4. Facilitate and improve the on-going resident education and evaluation process.

Selection

1. The Protege selects a Mentor around the time of his/her first evaluation, but not as part of the evaluation process.
2. The Protege will notify the selected Mentor. It is up to the Mentor's discretion to limit the number of Proteges accepted, if any, and notify each would-be Protege of his/her decision to accept or not.
3. The Mentor then notifies the Resident Evaluation and Clinical Competence (RECCC) Chairperson that he/she has accepted selection.
4. The Protege may change Mentors any time using the above process, but should be aware that the program is most effective when the Mentor/Protege relationship is long-term.

Mentor/Protege Program

1. The RECCC will be responsible for monitoring the program and motivating the Mentor and Protege to maximize its utilization.
2. The Mentor/Protege relationship will be confidential. The selection of Mentors will not be distributed or publicized.
3. Neither the Mentor nor the Protege need report any details of conversations to anyone, including the RECCC.
4. The Protege may "release" the Mentor to discuss information with other individuals, especially as part of the evaluation process.
5. The Mentor should advise the Protege to talk directly to the appropriate individuals to resolve problems.
6. The Mentor and the Protege will have equal responsibility for comunication and using the program, but the Mentor should be the primary initiator of the relationship.
7. The Mentor is encouraged to review his/her Protege's evaluations.
8. The Mentor is encouraged to sit in with his/her Protege during the Protege's six-month evaluation.
9. The Mentor should create an atmosphere that facilitates communication.
10. Mentor and Protege should meet at least four times per year at the initiation of the Mentor. There are no restrictions or obligations in the relationship beyond a committment to use the program when it is felt to be appropriate.
11. The Mentor should create an interaction that will meet the objectives of the program and take a personal interest in the success of the Protege.