title: Mentorship programs for gastroenterology program directors: is there an unmet need?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine whether a need exists for mentorship programs among gastroenterology (GI) fellowship program directors (PDs), to investigate specific areas where mentoring would be helpful, and to assess the willingness to establish mentoring relationships.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is no research regarding mentorship for GI fellowship PDs or associate/assistant program directors (APDs). Although some mentoring resources currently exist, it is not clear whether they fulfill the needs of PDs and APDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mentorship needs were assessed using an electronic survey sent to GI PDs and APDs who subscribe to the American Gastroenterological Association PDs' list server.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine GI PDs (47.6% completion rate) and 18 APDs returned the survey. Seventy-five percent of PDs and 78% of APDs thought a formal mentorship program would be beneficial to those starting their role. Content areas were identified where a mentor would be most helpful included Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education competencies, accreditation requirements, curriculum development, and site visit preparation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current GI PDs and APDs felt a mentoring program would be beneficial, despite the availability of several resources including web sites and meetings. Our results suggest that there remains an unmet need for mentorship resources among GI PDs and APDs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Erin W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Thackeray
authors.forename: Darrell S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Pardi
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Norby
authors.forename: Amy S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Oxentenko
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003479:Curriculum; D003625:Data Collection; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005762:Gastroenterology / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D016730:Program Development