Mentoring: dentistry's fountain of youth

A mentor's principal purpose is to help develop the qualities that another individual (protégé or mentee) needs to attain his or her professional goals. Mentors provide their protégés with knowledge, advice, counsel, support, and the opportunity to better position themselves to attain success in the dental profession. They help their mentees "learn the ropes" and attain the wisdom only a seasoned veteran can pass along about the fundamental assumptions and values of a profession's culture. Mentoring is not a science, but an art--it is often important not merely knowing what to say, but how and when to say it. The mentor and the mentee have different professional goals and, to compound the relationship, both present with varied life experiences and, in many cases, from diverse cultures. Wise mentors must be sensitive to the individuality of their protégés and offer wisdom, judgment, resilience, and independence in a custom-tailored manner. Lastly, mentoring is not professional therapy and counseling. Mentors are different from role models. However, despite the many opportunities and potential setbacks, if done properly, the benefits of the mentoring relationship can last a lifetime for both the mentor and the mentee.