Mentorship in academic musculoskeletal radiology: perspectives from a junior faculty member

The first years of an academic musculoskeletal (MSK) faculty position are a time of transition for the junior faculty member, who must rapidly adjust to new clinical, academic, operational, and professional responsibilities. Mentoring has a critical role in helping the faculty member to thrive in these early years. Establishing clear communication, trust, and expectations can set the foundation for an effective mentoring relationship. Junior faculty members ideally would have multiple mentors with different areas of expertise, including mentors of all roles in MSK radiology but also in other radiology divisions and other departments. Private practice MSK radiologists can also benefit from mentorship. Barriers to mentoring in MSK radiology include overall smaller division sizes, a newer and smaller field on a national level, and the increase in clinical volume and remote work that results in less face-to-face interaction. Despite the challenges, both junior MSK faculty members and their mentors can benefit greatly from strong mentoring connections.