The millennials entering the medical field today grew up during a boom in information technology and global communication. They’re used to instant feedback, which may irritate senior faculty members who are more accustomed to planned, hierarchical communication, three physicians from Michigan Medicine noted in an article published April 17 in JAMA.
Understanding these different perspectives is crucial to effectively mentoring millennial clinicians and to avoid overgeneralizing them as “impatient or needy,” the authors wrote.
They suggested more frequent, but shorter, interactions with students and residents could facilitate a more efficient mentor-mentee relationship and appease both parties.
In addition, they said reverse mentoring—where the understudy is given the reins and encouraged to provide perspective and guidance to a more experienced colleague—“can fuel a sense of leadership and broader collaboration.” Younger doctors may be more well-versed in social media, for example, allowing them to show their mentors how best to share research and connect with other healthcare stakeholders.
“Generational differences must be recognized and embraced to achieve productive mentoring relationships,” wrote Jennifer F. Waljee, MD, MPH, MS; Vineet Chopra, MD, MSc; and Sanjay Saint, MD, MPH. “Given the value of a vibrant and diverse faculty, it is essential to understand the factors that motivate or deter the next generation. … We hope that some of the modest changes suggested may help engage the next generation of physicians.”
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Daniel joined TriMed’s Chicago editorial team in 2017 as a Cardiovascular Business writer. He previously worked as a writer for daily newspapers in North Dakota and Indiana.