title: Ensuring excellence and competence in surgery: the imperative of mentorship from historical and philosophical perspectives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  How can the surgical disciplines (1) attract and recruit students of the highest capabilities and ideals; (2) ensure professional competency; and (3) maximize efficacy and safety of biotechnology translated to patient care?
  
  
  METHODS
  Critique of the occidental humanistic literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The imperative of mentorship is grounded in the philosophical traditions of occidental society dating from antiquity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This essay affirms that imperative in relationship to the surgical disciplines from an historical perspective.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Medical Center, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA.
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.forename: Todd B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Edmiston
authors.forename: Charles B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Rodning