Mentoring, Coaching and Role-Modeling in Surgical Education

Mentoring, coaching, role modeling, and teaching all represent strategies in which one or more individuals help develop another individual. Although there are some similarities among those providing the guidance to the recipient of the development efforts, important differences exist. This article defines and discusses the similarities and differences between these roles. It goes on to focus on how surgical residents can best be served by mentors, coaches, role models, and teachers in their journey to becoming practicing surgeons. Guidance on how to best serve in one of these roles is provided along with guidance on how a surgical resident can take advantage of this excellent form of career development.