What is Expected of Mentees?

  • Drive the relationship. Be the first to contact your Mentor, respond to all communications in a timely manner, and take the initiative to set up consistent meetings. One tip is to always end each meeting “when should we meet next?” so that you can get a date on the calendar after comparing both of your schedules.

  • Set your relationship expectations right away about when and how you will connect with your mentor (see the Mentorship Agreement Form to help guide that conversation).
  • Agree and commit to the expectations and goals you set with your mentor. 
  • Be receptive to suggestions and feedback from your Mentor. Critiques will only be offered to help you grow professionally. 
  • Approach your mentorship relationship with respect, professionalism, and an open mind.
  •  Keep your goals and those of your Mentor in mind during every interaction. Remind yourself, what goals did we set out to accomplish? This will help you keep track of your progress and help lead toward a successful mentorship relationship. 
  • Be mindful of when the relationship has reached its natural end. If all of the goals you set have been achieved then it may be time to find another Mentor to tackle another set of goals. If you both agree, you can continue to meet (though likely with less frequency) or you can simply thank them and move on to start another mentoring relationship. We strongly encourage you to stay in touch with your Mentors and keep them updated on your progress as you move through your career. Some mentorship matches can be lifelong! 
  • Send your feedback and suggestions for improvement periodically to milanok@upenn.edu. We’d greatly appreciate your candid feedback. 
  • Tell your classmates and members of your Penn Medicine network about your experiences! As a growing program, we rely on word-of-mouth referrals to promote the program. 


Those seeking hosts for residency or fellowship interviews, second looks, or conferences should adhere to the following guidelines:  

  • Be clear and concise about the details of your travel 
  • Reason for travel 
  •  Dates of travel 
  •  Will your spouse/partner be accompanying you? 
  •  Share any pet allergies 
  • Other information you find necessary
Please reach out to your Mentor about hosting 2-3 weeks before your travel dates to allow Mentors enough time to check their schedules and prepare for your stay.  Should you need to cancel a visit, please contact your Mentor immediately! Mentees are expected to send their hosts a personal note of thanks after each visit.