How to Build Your Mentoring Tree—Insight Gained From a 36-Year Career in Biomedical Engineering

Abstract

Mentoring is often viewed as a unidirectional relationship, with the senior, more seasoned individual imparting knowledge, guidance, and experience to more junior individuals. But this structure limits our ability to recognize that the mentoring relationship can bring benefits and opportunities for growth to the mentor as well. On the occasion of receiving the 2022 Robert M. Nerem Education and Mentorship Medal, I have had the opportunity to reflect on the mentoring that I have been lucky enough to participate in—both as mentor and mentee—during my academic career. This paper discusses some of those insights and presents the concept of a mentoring tree—through which we can identify multiple mentors and mentees, each of whom can provide mutual support and insight as we progress through our careers. Each individual who is part of our mentoring tree can play a role at different times and with different challenges within our professional path. This everchanging and growing structure provides continuous mentoring without overtaxing any single relationship.