Published in:
01-03-2020 | Host Parasite Interactions in Periodontal Disease (C Genco and D Kinane, Section Editors)
On the Role of Mentorship in Team Science
Published in: Current Oral Health Reports | Issue 1/2020
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Purpose of Review
This paper highlights the value of mentorship based on lessons learned working with Dr. Robert (‘Bob’) Genco before he passed away in March 2019. Bob was a terrific mentor to researchers working in diverse environments, including academia, clinical settings, and industry.
Recent Findings
Five key dimensions of mentorship are discussed in this review: resources, opportunities, advice, protection, and interpersonal connection. Bob demonstrated that mentorship can and should be cross-disciplinary. Though we had very different areas of expertise, our joint involvement on a multidisciplinary research team provided ample opportunities for learning and knowledge translation.
Summary
Mentorship is particularly valuable for early and mid-career researchers seeking to develop a productive and well-funded program of research. My experience working with Bob taught me about the value of mentorship that encompasses both professional and interpersonal dimensions. Bob was a terrific mentor and will be missed by all who had the chance to work with him.