Mentorship in General Surgery Residency: A Qualitative Study

BackgroundMentorship is widely recognized as a critical element of surgical residency training and careers. As more general surgery residency programs look to implement program-wide mentorship interventions, best practices for fostering effective, enduring mentoring relationships remain poorly described.MethodsCurrent general surgery residents at an academic medical center participated in individual semi-structured interviews exploring perspectives on mentorship. Interviews were transcribed and de-identified prior to thematic coding using Dedoose.ResultsThere were 20 participants (8 interns, 7 mid-level residents, and 5 chief residents; representing 36% of the residency program), with a median age of 30 years and 50% of the cohort identifying as women. Four major themes emerged: (1) mentorship needs evolve throughout training, with an early emphasis on identifying research projects and later shifting toward career development; (2) mentorship needs are often met through multiple mentors including near peers and faculty who fulfill diverse roles; (3) informal relationships are perceived to be more meaningful than formal assignments but require residents to actively seek mentorship; and (4) responsiveness and investment are considered essential qualities of effective mentors.DiscussionGeneral surgery residents may benefit from programs which help facilitate the formation of mentorship teams comprised of both formal and informal relationships to meet the dynamic needs of residency. Near peer mentors may be particularly valuable in the composition of mentorship teams. Future work is needed to identify effective strategies for supporting residents through major transitions and cultivating behaviors that empower trainees to form the informal mentor-mentee relationships that best meet their needs.