In this episode of BackTable ENT, Dr. Walter Kutz and Dr. David Haynes, program director of the Neurotology Fellowship at Vanderbilt University, discuss the importance of mentoring for both ENT trainees and faculty.

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SHOW NOTES

First, Dr. Haynes explores the concept of mastering a skill, the importance of coaching, and deliberate practice. He also talks about the importance of having mentors with adequate standards and expectations, and how having this type of relationship between mentor and mentee requires commitment on both sides. Additionally, he notes that the knowledge passed down from mentors is generational and cumulative. The doctors also discuss the importance of having a growth mindset, which they believe is just as important as having surgical skills. They compare the role of a mentor to that of a coach and explain that even the best athletes have coaches to help them improve. For medical trainees to be coachable, they have to have a positive attitude and willingness to learn. Finally, Dr. Haynes emphasizes the importance of taking classes to learn professionalism.

Then, Dr. Haynes shares stories about his own mentors and discusses how they have had a profound influence on my career. The doctors explain the benefit of having mentors both within and outside their organizations, as well as the difficulty of having a formal mentorship program due to the demands of the medical profession. Finally, they agree that the quality, not the quantity of time, spent with mentors counts.