Mentorship

Mentorship

The WiSA Mentorship Programme facilitate engagement between senior surgeons with experience in the field and junior surgeons/surgical trainees. The WiSA Mentorship Programme is a career development initiative that provides an opportunity for surgeons to learn from one another, influence their work environments, develop their skills and seek/offer guidance as required.

How it works

This Programme creates a WiSA mentor/mentee match. Mentors will be partnered with Mentees for a minimum of one year and requires a time commitment of 1.5 hours per month. WiSA will provide a short induction training on the mentor/mentee process at the start of the Programme.

The mentee needs to contact the mentor to set up a phone or Skype conversation in January 2016. Contact information will be provided by WiSA. We will contact you to ensure that this has occurred.

We expect that each mentor/mentee pair will generate a goal for the year. This goal may include participation in WiSA or a local WiSA chapter, attendance at the COSECSA AGM, participation/attendance in country surgical meetings, or simply monthly discussions on relevant predetermined topics. Some topics that you may wish to discuss include the following:

  • Being a Woman in Surgery
  • Balancing Work and Life/Family
  • Specialty/sub-specialty Training
  • Advancing in a Surgical Career
  • Networking, Research and Academic collaborations

Each mentor/mentee pair will define, at their discretion, the structure of their interactions- timing, method (email, phone, in person, etc). We will be contacting mentor/mentee pairs to encourage continued interaction.

An online exit survey will be available for mentor/mentee pairs to complete at the end of their year-long experience. This survey will be administered towards the end of November 2016.

After the one year period has expired, participants may wish to continue their mentor/mentee interactions in an informal manner, re-enroll in the mentoring program as part of a new mentor/mentee pairing, or decline any further participation.

benefits of wisa mentorship

Benefits to Mentors

  • An opportunity to share your passion with the next generation of female surgeons.
  • Provide guidance and support to future female surgeons.
  • Serve as resource person/advisor for career development.
  • Gain a fresh perspective on surgery.
  • Ongoing exposure to latest developments in the world of surgery.

Benefits to Mentees

  • Opportunities to create relationships with leading professionals in surgery.
  • Chance to discuss to discuss career aspirations.
  • Opportunity to obtain personal guidance.
  • Discuss challenges with an experienced professional.
  • Network within your field to advance your career.
  • Discuss and gain insight into career options and paths in surgery.

Apply now for WISA Mentorship