K Awardees are in an exciting and pivotal period in their careers, building technical, communication, and mentoring skills to lead their own research teams. This period is also one of great vulnerability, with competing demands in their lives as scientists, clinicians, and teachers, as well as in their personal lives. The support of departmental leaders and faculty mentors is absolutely critical in helping K awardees navigate these potential barriers to develop their own creative and high-impact research program.