“Mentorship plays a crucial role in ophthalmology by facilitating the transfer of specialized knowledge, honing surgical skills, and nurturing professional growth among practitioners,” Cathleen M. McCabe, MD, told the audience during her “Magic of Mentoring” presentation at the 2025 meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.
Dr. McCabe, chief medical officer of Eye Health America and a member of the ASCRS executive board, stated that her objectives were to highlight the transformative power of mentorship in ophthalmology for the benefit of both mentors and mentees, and to discuss strategies for establishing effective mentor-mentee relationships.
Establishing Effective Mentoring Relationships
According to Dr. McCabe, to be effective, mentors should be empathetic, ensuring that mentees feel heard and understood, yet provide actionable and supportive critiques to foster growth. Goals should be established collaboratively and expectations clearly defined, with frank discussions of successes and failures, she said. Dr. McCabe also recommended that mentors and mentees maintain a regular meeting schedule; uphold professionalism and personal limits within the relationship; and do a periodic evaluation of the relationship’s effectiveness, making adjustments as needed.
Benefits of Mentorship for Mentees
For mentees, the benefits of mentorship include accelerated professional development through hands-on experience and insights. These, together with regular guidance from their mentor, boost the younger doctor’s self-assurance in surgical and diagnostic decision-making, said Dr. McCabe.
“Dee Stephenson [of Stephenson Eye Associates in Sarasota, Florida] was the first real, true mentor in ophthalmology that I ever had,” Matthew Brink, MD, shared in a video testimonial featured in Dr. McCabe’s presentation. “That means she was someone who believed that I would be able to do better than I thought I could. So, I’m always grateful to Dee for that.”
Dr. McCabe pointed out that having the support of a mentor contributes to a better work-life balance for the mentee.
Mentorship also widens a mentee’s professional circle, opening doors to career opportunities and exposing them to diverse perspectives and various subspecialties, thus enriching understanding and informing their approach to treatment, said Dr. McCabe.
Benefits of Mentoring for Mentors
In her presentation, Dr. McCabe also enumerated the benefits that mentors receive from relationships with new doctors, such as the opportunities to enhance their own leadership and teaching skills and to stay informed about emerging trends and fresh perspectives. While effective mentorship provides intrinsic satisfaction and personal fulfillment, it can also garner professional recognition and career advancement, said Dr. McCabe, adding that mentors leave a lasting impact through the success and achievements of their mentees.
“It makes me love ophthalmology even more to be a mentor, and to share the things that I think a young ophthalmologist could do,” Dr. Stephenson commented in another video clip in the presentation. “That makes my heart full…to be able to share my knowledge and experience with someone who is interested.”