Support from one's mentor

[cardforlife]

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When it comes to cardiology felliowship application, we use every single possibility that would increase the chance of getting interview /or affecting the decision making process (I mean, legitimately). The endeavor might include the phone call from one's mentor.

I have been working as a research fellow at one of the top hospitals in the nation for the last 2 years. Two first-author and one co-author publications were done (and the third first-author's on its way). However, my mentor (PI) declined to make a phone call for me, to individual program that I applied. He actually read through my list, and told me that at least 2/3 of the chiefs of cardiology listed are personal friends of his (no wonder), but he did not want to make any phone calls.

I am wondering if this is same for everyone, or just unfortunately happened to me. Please provide any input for this.

Thanks!

 

[dragonfly99]

Your "mentor" sucks. Or he doesn't like you - just the indentured servitude you are providing for his lab. It's not really realistic to expect him to call every program, since most mentor types don't want to put themselves in a position of saying their trainee wants to go to 10 different places and then the person only ranked one of those first. However, it would be reasonable to expect this person to do some behind the scenes lobbying at 1 or 2 programs where you'd have a reasonable chance to match.

You haven't really said whether you have an interview(s) yet at any of these places.

My experience has been that it's very hard to change other people's behavior. The only person whose behavior you can control is yours. You should be proud that you got that many publications in a short period of time, and since you've already applied to cards, just press on with your application as best you can, and focus on your interviews for now. If there are one or two places where you felt like you got a good reception at your interview and that you liked, then try to find another doc (like from residency, etc.) to make a phone call on your behalf. It doesn't seem like your "mentor" is willing to back you, for whatever reason.

 

[cardforlife]

Dear Dragonfly

Thank you very much for your answer. The lack of mentorship became a serious problem in this interview season for me. He absolutely gave no call for me to any of those programs I applied, and the interviews I got were not up to my research potential. I don't know how a person only can think of himself being successful in his own career (I mean, he's full professor of medicine!). Very disappointed...

Anyways, thanks a lot!

 

[astropilot]

I had a similar situation when I applied for medical school and residency. My mentor wouldn't call except my home insitution. He wanted me to stay and continue working for him.

I didn't stay....

 

[dragonfly99]

Dear Dragonfly

I don't know how a person only can think of himself being successful in his own career (I mean, he's full professor of medicine!).

"thinking only of himself" (or at least mostly of himself) may be part of how he got where he is.

As far as your interviews not being "up to your potential" - a lot of people don't even get multiple interviews. This is especially true for IMG/FMG types and particularly if they did residency at a community program. Even for US grads, the vast majority are not getting the interviews at UCSF/Harvard/Duke. You have to bloom where you are planted.