Shands James

Mentoring Activity
8/7/2016
Effective Mentoring
Medical dosimetrists are an integral part of a radiation oncology team and they bare large
amount of responsibility. There are many aspects to treatment planning that a dosimetrists has to
be proficient in to be an effective team member and to do what is best for the patient. In addition
to this technology and planning techniques are constantly changing and it is sometimes difficult
to keep up. Having mentor during the beginning stages of a career in medical dosimetry can have
a tremendous positive impact on the professional and personal development of a student.
Ideally, the aim of effective mentoring is the overall growth of an individual as it pertains
to their performance as a medical dosimetrist and the development of moral and ethical
standards. A mentor can help a student to better understand what their purpose is as a medical
dosimetrist and the avenues that exists to use their skills. Through a positive mentoring
relationship a student can develop a deeper appreciation and passion for their career. This can
lead to greater desire to seek out ways to excel as a dosimetrist and become more involved in
professional organizations.
An effective mentor is someone that a lot of experience in medical dosimetry that would
be willing to impart that knowledge to someone else. This impartation of knowledge takes time
and energy. The 20th century scientist Niels Bohr did not wall himself off and separate himself
from his students. Rather he lived among them so as to be a constant influence on them in the
context of the research, but also their personal lives.1 A mentoring relationship will require time
from both the mentor and the mentee so both must be willing to invest. It is important for the
mentor to care for their mentee as a person and not just as a student. A relationship must be
cultivated so that the effects of mentoring process will have long term effects into the future of
the student.
Joan Arazie, a senior medical dosimetrist at Augusta University, says Hopefully I will
make a difference in the way that you perceive your job and make you appreciate what you do

and the way that you do it. So a mentoring relationship can teach more than just technical skills.
For example, a senior dosimetrist may explain their reason for being a medical dosimetrist to the
student. Understanding why another person became a dosimetrist can inspire a student to
embrace the reason they are pursuing a career in dosimetry. Or a dosimetrist may share that they
always admit when they mistakes and strive to practice their career with integrity. The personal
aspect of a mentoring relationship helps to develop the ethical standards that a student will hold
themselves to in the future.
A student should not fear their mentor and should feel comfortable communicating about
their questions and concerns during their time in training. If a student does not feel comfortable
communicating with a mentor then many of their misunderstanding of treatment planning may
never be addressed correctly. Instead, effective mentoring involves open and honest
communication that provides positive reinforcement. Isra Rosales, a staff pharmacist, says I
think it is a really big deal for a mentor to be encouraging. If you become discouraged during
your training period that could affect the way you operate for the rest of your career. Students
are going to make mistakes during the course of their training. An effective mentor will take the
opportunity to redeem that mistake by helping the student learn from it instead of tearing them
down. I think that it would be helpful for a mentor to encourage a student by praising what was
right while still correcting what could have been better.
If done properly, a student will begin their career with a thorough understanding of
treatment planning as well as a well-developed work ethic. However, effective mentoring can a
very rewarding process for both the mentor and the student. The mentor can also reinforce their
treatment planning skills and their leadership skills.2 Furthermore, a mentor is investing in the
future of medical dosimetry by investing into the life of a dosimetrist who could be in the field
even after the mentor retires. Mentoring is a valuable resource for a student to learn and it is
highly recommended to take to advantage of the opportunity to be mentored.

References
1. Lenards, N. Mentoring. [SoftChalk]. La Crosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry Program;
2016.
2. Trad, Megan. Mentoring Radiation Therapy Students: A review and survey. Radiat Ther. 2009;
18(2): 101-108.

Appendix A
Shands James
Mentoring Interview with Joan Arazie (CMD at Augusta University)
August 4, 2016
Q: What is your occupation and what does that job entail? (Brief Description)
A: As you know I am a medical dosimetrist. I do the treatment planning for each patient who is
going to receive radiation therapy. I want to make sure the tumor gets enough dose while
protecting the surround tissue as much as possible.
Q: What does being a mentor mean to you?
A: Um, I think, Shands, there a couple things. Being there to answer questions and spending time
with a mentee. Teaching a student the foundations of treatment planning, helping them to
understand what they are doing. Hopefully I will make a difference in the way that you perceive
your job and make them appreciate what you do and the way that you do it.
Q: Have you ever been mentored in your profession?
A: Yes, not as a student but as a worker. I consider a mentor to be someone to help me improve
as a dosimetrist. So there have been a many people that have helped me improve from
physicians, physicists, and other dosimetrists. If you are willing to listen then many people can
help improve, guide you, mold you, and make you better.
Q: So, you were received OJT to become a dosimetrist? Who was the main person who helped
you? How did they help you? I did OJT but dont forget I had been radiation therapists for a long
time prior to that. Tony who is a physicist, Lori who was the chief dosimetrist at the time and
another dosimetrist named Mary. They helped me know the best way to arrange beams,
understand the optimizer concepts, normalization, and other planning aspects. They also taught
to be very precise in your practice and to double check my work.
Q: How have those mentors changed the way you practice your career?

A: I have high standards and expectations; I am upfront and honest, and work with integrity. I
consider the well-being of the patient; have respect for patients and peers in the workplace. Most
of my values were set before entering dosimetry because I was a therapist before, but these
mentors definitely reinforced these values.
Q: Who benefits the most from a mentoring relationship?
A: Both benefit a lot. I think that I always learn something when I mentor others and I hope they
learn from me as well. I think that you feed off each other. Even when I am teaching you about
dosimetry I think its possible to learn from your approach because it may be different from
mine. Dosimetry requires you to always be willing to learn from someone else.
Q: What if you have more than one mentor telling you opposing advice on the same issue?
A: I would consider both ways and then make my own decision. I have to think for myself, but I
have learned from both of these mentors so between the two I should be able to come up with
something.
Q: What makes a quality mentor in your opinion?
A: I think that you have patience, willing to share knowledge with others, and be willing to work
closely with someone. There may be personality differences and you have to be able to look past
that and impart to them what you can.
Q: What is your advice on finding a good mentor?
A: Look for someone who is knowledgeable, someone is also willing to learn and does not think
that they know everything. Observe people to see whether or not it would be beneficial to learn
from that person. If they do not seem confident in their work or do not have a good worth ethic
then choose someone else.
Q: Do you have any other on thought on mentoring that you would like to share?
A: I think that you have to enjoy mentoring and take what you can from the experience. You
cant absorb everything that someone teaches you, but you get as much as you can and make the
best of it.

Appendix B
Shands James
Mentoring Interview with Isra Rosales (pharmacist)
August 4, 2016
Q: What is your occupation and what does that job entail? (Brief Description)
A: I am a pharmacist. I look for appropriate drug therapy and verify that the patient is getting the
correct medication based on the physicians prescription. We also have to make clinical
decisions. For example, I may make a therapy intervention concerning the dose of a medication
or recommend a change in medication.
Q: What does effective mentoring mean to you?
A: An effective mentor is someone who can communicate effectively. I think they are someone
who allows you to think critically and challenges you. Someone that allows you to develop your
problem solving skills, but gives you enough direction when you need it. I think it is a really big
deal for a mentor to be encouraging. If you become discouraged during your training period that
could effect the way you operate for the rest of your career. They also should want to invest time
in you so that you can grow in the skills necessary to do your job well.
Q: Have you ever been mentored in your profession?
A: Yes. I was mentored in my clinical rotations in pharmacy school and as an intern outside of
school.
Q: What was your experience with mentoring during your clinical rotations?
A: I was taught how to apply school to real life situations. This is where all of the studying
became real and important. I learned what roles pharmacist can have outside of retail and deal
with problems that could arise. My mentor also taught me the value of being familiar with the
primary literature and research for myself and not depending on hearsay. Knowing the data well
can help save someones life so that was a really important lesson. They also taught me to stay up
to date on the current hot topics that were trending in the world of pharmacy so that you are

aware of the problems that could walk through the door and how to deal with them if necessary.
Technical skills such as accurately interpreting lab values was another valuable aspect of my
time with my mentors. Effectively communication with other team members was emphasized to
me because a lack of communication can lead to mistakes in patient therapy decisions.
Q; What is the most important aspect of being mentored to you?
A: Having someone to go to for advice and depend on to lead me in the right direction. I was
taught to think independently and think critically, but having someone to go to really helped to
calm my fears. This was also a person that I could confirm the decisions that I had already
developed.
Q: How did your mentors impact your confidence?:
A: Having a mentor increased my confidence. You see a mentor practice their career and the
respect they receive from their peers. So I knew that was being mentored well. They also let me
think for myself, but kept me from making huge mistakes. This gradually built my confidence
because I was able to make decisions and learn from the outcome.
Q: How has that mentor changed the way you practice your career?
A: My mentor really helped me to build a foundation of practicing my decisions and
interventions based on the evidence, but to always keep the patients well-being in mind. Many of
the decisions that I make could seriously effect another human being and should be given serious
consideration. They also helped to develop a sense of moral values that helps me to make
decisions on the job.
Q: What if you have more than one mentor telling you opposing advice on the same issue?
A: Thats a hard one. Fortunately, I havent had to deal with this much. First, I think I would take
a step back to consider both pieces of advice. I would use my own critical thinking skills and
determine what I would do by reviewing the research and recalling my experience. I also have to
remember that I am the one directly involved in the situation and have a clearer picture of what is
going on. I would have a discussion with both of them about the solution that I came to if
necessary or possible.

Q: Does your mentor experience inspire you to mentor others in the future?
A: Yes because I saw how it positively affected me and the way I practice pharmacy. I want to
pass on my experience and knowledge on to someone else. I think there is real value and reward
in mentoring others, both for the mentor and mentee.
Q: What is your advice on finding a good mentor?
A: You choose a pharmacist that has experience in the area you are interested in. Try to choose
someone is kind and has a lot of patience. Patience will be needed to teach a student. I think its
important that they have a good reputation and are respected in their field. If this is not the case
then that could be a red flag about their practice or personality. Find someone who seems to be
able to communicate well, but will be willing to share their knowledge.