Becoming a Mentor of Mentors with Dr. Robert Centor

Robert Centor, MD, is a Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Chair-Emeritus of the ACP Board of Regents. He has served as Dean of Huntsville Regional Medical Campus as well as Chief of the Division of General Internal Medicine at UAB. Dr. Centor has held many prestigious positions in national organizations and has been the president for The Society for Medical Decision Making, The Association of Chiefs of General Internal Medicine and The Society of General Internal Medicine. He has over 100 publications including his widely read publication from which the “Centor Score” was developed to identify the likelihood of a bacterial infection in an adult with sore throat. There’s a Yiddish word called Kvell. It refers to the special pride you get when your offspring achieves something great. Dr. Robert Centor—referred to by many as the Ultimate Mentor—shares what it means to be a good mentor, and a good mentee. He firmly believes the mark of a good mentor is not one that seeks more fame and recognition. Today, we are urged to focus on our strengths rather than aim to fix all of our weaknesses first. And that we never truly know something until we’re able to explain it to others. And, to pay it forward whenever possible. Dr. Centor leaves us with this advice: When you are looking for a good mentor (or mentors), look for the people that encourage you, support you, and sincerely want you to succeed. A good mentor knows that when a mentee is successful, it makes the whole team stronger. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Build on your strengths and work with others in areas of weakness. 2. Pass on what you have received to others. Seek to pay it forward wherever and whenever you can. 3. Good mentors have KVELL (A Yiddish word for special pride in success of your mentee). They are not looking for more fame or recognition, only that you succeed.