Mentorship Matters November 2023: Frientorship in Medicine - The Power of Peer Mentorship

By Dr. Manav Vyas

I text Dr. Jeff Wang: “Do you have a minute? I want to run something by you.” Jeff texts back, “Yes, but I am about to start clinic. Can you call me NOW?” Dr. Wang is a stroke neurologist at St. Michael’s Hospital and started a little over a year before I got my academic appointment.

I call him and ask him what to make of an email from someone in our division. I am not sure if I'm misinterpreting the email or if I'm reading it just right. Jeff hears me out and tells me how to approach the situation. I feel better. I have a plan and my reply to the colleague is well-received. Crisis averted!

Last month, I met with Dr. Jennifer Watt, a geriatrician-scientist at St. Michael’s Hospital, to discuss how to plan for CFAR and commiserate about the frustrations of grant writing. She provides great insight into CFAR and post-CFAR life, especially on how to juggle work-life balance.

These are just a few instances to highlight the role of peer mentorship, or as I like to call it, “frientorship.” I have known Jeff Wang from the days of residency and Jenn Watt from when we were doing our PhDs together. They both also have a young family as I do and live in a city with high-cost of living. While I think we are friends first and colleagues second, our relationships have evolved since we joined academic medicine.

It allows us to provide insightful and balanced career and personal advice: be it running a complex case by each other or getting them to read an email to a colleague before clicking send. Peer mentors are an excellent support and resource for faculty in our department. They are often down the hall from your office and willing to speak to you about anything and everything, all the while providing some much-needed support and guidance. This month, I encourage you to go down that hall and celebrate frientorship with your friend/mentor!