Resolving Mentorship Conflicts with Dr. Supriya Gupta Mohile

Supriya Gupta Mohile, MD, MS, is the Philip and Marilyn Wehrheim Professor in hematology/oncology and co-leader of the Cancer Prevention and Control research program at Wilmot Cancer Institute. She also serves as the Vice-Chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Medicine at the University of Rochester. She leads the Cancer Care Delivery Research (CCDR) efforts in the Research Base and sits on the CCDR Steering Committee at the NCI. Dr. Mohile is internationally renowned for advancing the field of geriatric oncology. To conduct a successful mentorship relationship, “We have to manage conflict and expectations,” says Dr. Supriya Gupta Mohile. She draws an intriguing contrast between mini-conflicts that are nothing more than minor peeves and major conflicts, which, if not addressed, can lead to irreparable rifts between us and our mentors. Tune in to another episode of The Medicine Mentors as we discuss the underpinnings of patient communication, managing conflicts within our mentorship relationships, and how to set clear expectations and follow up on our commitments. Pearls of Wisdom:   1. If we're not having thoughtful engagement with patients and families, and we're just kind of going from one thing to the next and we're not making those emotional connections, we as clinicians will burn out. 2. Mentorship is a partnership; it's being a teacher; and so, as a teacher, they have to understand what the mentee needs. And it's not for the mentee to be them, it's for them to understand what the mentee wants with their goals and to help them get to those goals. 3. Conflict in our mentorship relationships should be managed using open communication and setting clear expectations, and then following up on it.