Eyeworld

24 | EYEWORLD | DECEMBER 2021 ASCRS NEWS Contact Greenwood: michael.greenwood@ vancethompsonvision.com Nikpoor: drneda@alohalaser.com Shah: manjool@med.umich.edu That is rewarding as a mentor and keeps the relationship strong. Manjool Shah, MD EyeWorld: Who have been your mentor(s) in ophthalmology? Dr. Shah: I have been fortunate to have several mentors along my training. As a medical stu- dent, I was mentored by Morton Smith, MD, at Washington University. He introduced me to the field of ophthalmology and inspired me to be where I am today. As a resident, I was surround- ed by great people at the Casey Eye Institute and had the benefit of learning from phenom- enal individuals. Daniel Tu, MD, and Andreas Lauer, MD, stand out as key mentors during that time. Fellowship introduced me to mentorship by my preceptors, Ike Ahmed, MD, Devesh Var- ma, MD, Diamond Tam, MD, and Thomas Klein, MD. I also was mentored by previous fellows, namely Arsham Sheybani, MD. In practice at Kellogg Eye Center, Sy Moroi, MD, and Shahzad Mian, MD, have been incredibly helpful. EyeWorld: Why is mentorship important for young eye surgeons? Dr. Shah: There are so many aspects to be- coming a physician that one does not learn in medical school. Navigating interpersonal chal- lenges, difficult patients, acquiring new skills when you're no longer protected by the training environment, understanding logistics, and mak- ing wise financial decisions are all topics that mentors can help with. EyeWorld: What makes a good mentor? Dr. Shah: A good mentor has walked the walk and is able to communicate their experience. A good mentor demonstrates humility and open mindedness and is comfortable demonstrating and discussing missteps that may have been made in order to help the mentee avoid them. Open communication is key, and I think there is value in reducing hierarchical constructs that may be present. EyeWorld: What can/should both parties do to ensure the relationship is beneficial to the mentor and the mentee? Dr. Shah: Be willing and open to discussion and put in the extra time—this goes both ways. Honesty and humility—again, this goes both ways. offer advice. I have found it so valuable attend- ing meetings and connecting with incredible mentors like George and Bill. My most recent mentor is my partner, Alan Faulkner, MD. When we met, I quickly gleaned that he practices medicine in the way I want to practice. I knew what I wanted in a practice partner and mentor, which made it easier to rec- ognize it when I saw it. I could tell that he was a successful early adopter refractive surgeon and practice leader, but most importantly, he is an ethical person who puts patients first. Finding someone who is doing what you want to do and who values what you value is so important. This starts with first knowing what you want. EyeWorld: Why is a mentorship relationship important for young eye surgeons? Dr. Nikpoor: I think the transition from training to practice can be abrupt and unexpected for some people. I can imagine it would be isolating if you don't have someone you are comfortable reaching out to about the dilemmas you face early in practice. It's especially important in the first year to establish good practice patterns and have a good benchmark to serve as a reminder for how you should be doing things. EyeWorld: What's your advice on selecting a mentor? Dr. Nikpoor: Instead of simply picking someone you admire, figure out what you want to do and find someone who does that well. Start with self-reflection and figure out what you want your ideal life and career to look like. Then if a mentor comes along who embodies char- acteristics you admire or has a similar career trajectory to what you are seeking, you are able to recognize that and approach them. It is also important to allow these relationships to form organically. One potential pitfall to avoid is trying to model your life/career after someone you admire if you are unsure what exactly you admire about them. Early on it was difficult for me to recognize that I may have admired some- one's clinical skill but did not necessarily want to follow them in choosing a specialty. EyeWorld: What do you appreciate as a mentor? Dr. Nikpoor: One thing that a mentee of mine does is give positive feedback when things I share or do are helpful for her. That makes me feel like I'm helping and making a difference. continued from page 23 Tune in to the YES Connect webinar on this topic in December. Go to www.ascrs.org/ membership/young- eye-surgeons for more information.

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