How to Become a Mentor and Be Good at It.

Mentoring skills are key assets for academic medicine and allied health faculty. Mentors can influence and help to shape the careers of the next generation of health-care providers. Mentors are not only role models but they can also teach the intricacies of professionalism, ethics, values, and the art of medicine. A mentor can be a teacher, a counselor, or an advocate. Mentors can enhance their own leadership skills, improve self-awareness, and increase professional credibility. This article will review the types of mentoring models, the benefits of mentoring, and the core and critical skills of mentoring.