Building a Team of Mentors with Dr. Carla Spagnoletti

Carla Spagnoletti, MD is a Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. She is the Director of the Academic Clinician-Educators Scholars Fellowship in General Medicine and the Director of the Masters & Certificate Programs in Medical Education at the Institute for Clinical Research Education. Her research focuses on patient-doctor communication, the patient experience, and professional development. She has received national awards from the Society of General Internal Medicine for her scholarship and mentorship in medical education and for her leadership accomplishments. You wouldn’t get on a bike without training wheels on your first go—so why get into medicine without mentors supporting you for the journey? Reaching out to mentors can feel uncomfortable. We don’t want to burden anyone, and we sometimes feel intimidated. However, Dr. Carla Spagnoletti explains that building a strong team of mentors is an essential building block to a successful career in medicine. Today, we learn why it’s so important to admit when we need help—and why it can be detrimental when we don’t. We learn how to keep our career path moving in a forward direction. It’s a constant pursuit of embracing vulnerability, taking risks, getting feedback, and growth—but the journey will be most fruitful when we are supported by those around us.  Most importantly, Dr. Spagnoletti recommends evaluating where you are now. Figure out the gaps you need to fill. And remember: It’s never too early to start. Pearls of Wisdom: 1. Build a team of mentors, whether they be peers or seniors. Networking may be uncomfortable and you may face rejection, but it is key to developing yourself. 2. Set goals proactively at the beginning of each rotation, but be even more proactive about eliciting feedback from those you are learning from and working with. 3. As physicians we need to not only elicit medical history but also help our patients process the emotions that come with the illness.