Mentors Mentoring Mentors: Tips and Encouragement for Those Interested in Becoming Mentors in Anesthesiology Research

January 8, 2026

FAER is excited to celebrate the return of National Mentoring Month this January. Established in 2002, this annual celebration offers a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance thoughtful, skilled mentorship represents to future generations and to celebrate the mentors offering their time and experience in guiding others.

Mentorship is interwoven throughout FAER’s grants and programs and is at the very heart of its mission to develop the next generation of physician-investigators. The impact an experienced anesthesiology scientist’s insights and encouragement can have on an aspiring researcher’s success in the field is tremendous. Proud as FAER is of its role in facilitating the mentor-mentee relationship for so many, this pride is dwarfed by the gratitude we feel for the exceptional scientists volunteering their time in mentoring future researchers.

Among the incredible mentors supporting FAER’s work and the specialty at large are the members of the Academy of Research Mentors in Anesthesiology (ARMA). First established in 2004, the Academy’s members are a font of mentoring expertise, collectively representing over 3,000 years of research mentoring experience. These talented mentors serve not only as a resource for hopeful mentees seeking mentors of their own, but also offer guidance to aspiring mentors in the field. We encourage you to learn more about ARMA and its members here.

In celebration of National Mentoring Month, FAER asked three members of ARMA for their insights on the value of mentoring and tips for success as a mentor. We are pleased to share their responses below.

Why would you encourage others to consider becoming a mentor themselves?

“While we all have our personal families, the ‘mentorship families’ we build can be just as meaningful. These relationships form a continuum of support, where each of us becomes a link in a long chain of mentors and mentees who shape and sustain one another. Being part of that lineage – both giving guidance and learning from others – provides a deep sense of satisfaction and connection to medicine and leads to wonderful life-long friendships.
 
“I’ve personally had the pleasure to count myself among such a ‘mentorship family’ as well, as seen in this photo taken at the Critical Care Canada Forum (2025) in Toronto Canada. Daniel Brodie was the critical care fellow when I was an intern in the MICU at Columbia; he taught me many things, including how to put in a subclavian central line. Hayley Gershengorn was my first research mentee during her fellowship in pulmonary critical care medicine. Emily Vail was a trainee in anesthesia and critical care medicine, a Virginia Apgar Scholar, and my mentee, who also received mentorship from Dr. Gershengorn. All of us still collaborate on research projects!”
- Hannah Wunsch, MD, MSc, ARMA Member (2025)

What traits or techniques would you say are most important to succeeding as a mentor?

"Mentoring is most effective when the mentor takes the time to understand the mentee not only as a scientist, but also as an individual. Building a comprehensive understanding allows the mentor to provide guidance that aligns with the mentee’s unique skills and aspirations. By considering both professional and personal attributes, mentors can help mentees identify and pursue areas where they are most likely to excel.

“Throughout my career, I have worked with many early-stage trainees, sharing my expertise and knowledge within my field. Recognizing that each mentee has distinct strengths, I have referred some to colleagues who possess skills better suited to their talents and interests. This collaborative approach ensures that mentees receive the support and instruction most beneficial for their development.

“I take great pride in the diverse pathways that my mentees have chosen and the achievements they have realized. Their success reflects the value of personalized guidance and the importance of recognizing individual strengths within the mentoring relationship.”
- Pamela Flood, MD, MA, Immediate Past President of ARMA, ARMA Member (2017)

What would you consider the greatest benefit of the mentor mentee relationship?

“Every fruitful mentor-mentee relationship should follow the mantra ‘the needs of the mentee come first.’ That is the engine for initiating and driving a successful dynamic working relationship towards mutual satisfaction and professional development of both.

“Educating the mentee about the right research paths, right approaches to the right questions/problems, leading to the right funding at the right time with self-sufficiency and independence at the right time is paramount. That requires the mentor to consistently reflect upon how best to be a servant to the mentee, ensuring the mentor’s own professional needs (or even personal emotional needs) never drive any advice, advocacy or advancement in the name of the mentee. A successful mentee who has exceeded the mentor professionally and personally, to make the mentor want to learn from that mentee, then becomes the mark of having accomplished the greatest benefit!”
- Y.S. Prakash, MD, PhD, FASA, ARMA Member (2013)

Thank you to Drs. Wunsch, Flood, and Prakash for sharing these insights on mentoring, and to all those who have generously offered their time and knowledge in mentoring future generations!

THE FOUNDATION FOR ANESTHESIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (FAER)
FAER is a related foundation of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). For nearly 40 years, FAER has been dedicated to developing the next generation of physician-investigators in anesthesiology. Charitable contributions and support to FAER help fuel the future of anesthesiology through scientific discovery. Funding priorities include: Research, Education, and Training. At the time of this article's publication, FAER has awarded more than $61 million in research grants and programs since 1986. To donate to FAER, visit FAER.org/donate.