Background
Research suggests mentoring is related to career satisfaction and success. Most studies have focused on junior faculty.
Objective
To explore multiple aspects of mentoring at an academic medical center in relation to faculty rank, track, and gender.
Design
Cross-sectional mail survey in mid-2003.
Participants
Faculty members, 1,432, at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Measurements
Self-administered survey developed from existing instruments and stakeholders.
Results
Response rate was 73% (n = 1,046). Most (92%) assistant and half (48%) of associate professors had a mentor. Assistant professors in the tenure track were most likely to have a mentor (98%). At both ranks, the faculty was given more types of advice than types of opportunities. Satisfaction with mentoring was correlated with the number of types of mentoring received (r = .48 and .53, P < .0001), job satisfaction (r = .44 and .31, P < .0001), meeting frequency (r = .53 and .61, P < .0001), and expectation of leaving the University within 5 years (Spearman r = −.19 and −.18, P < .0001), at the assistant and associate rank, respectively. Significant predictors of higher overall job satisfaction were associate rank [Odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, CI = 1.29–3.21], the 10-point mentoring satisfaction rating (OR = 1.27, CI = 1.17–1.35), and number of mentors (OR = 1.60, CI = 1.20–2.07).
Conclusions
Having a mentor, or preferably, multiple mentors is strongly related to satisfaction with mentoring and overall job satisfaction. Surprisingly, few differences were related to gender. Mentoring of clinician–educators, research track faculty, and senior faculty, and the use of multiple mentors require specific attention of academic leadership and further study.
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Acknowledgements
The survey was funded by the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development and the Office of Academic Programs of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. We gratefully acknowledge the contributions of Victoria Mulhern, Mary Field, and the staff of the Office of Faculty Affairs and Professional Development in its design and execution.
Potential Financial Conflicts of Interest
None disclosed.
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Wasserstein, A.G., Quistberg, D.A. & Shea, J.A. Mentoring at the University of Pennsylvania: Results of a Faculty Survey. J GEN INTERN MED 22, 210–214 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-006-0051-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-006-0051-x