The Mentorship Conversations That Changed Careers

The Two Conversations That Changed Careers

In academic medicine, it’s easy to feel pulled in a dozen directions at once. You take on projects, say yes to talks, and join committees hoping it will all add up to success. But without a clear through-line, your CV can look scattered, your talks unfocused, and your career story confusing.

The truth is, recognition comes when others can clearly see what you stand for. Program committees need to know when to ask you to speak. Promotion committees need to know how to evaluate your contributions. If your work doesn’t reflect your goals, they can’t support you in the ways that matter most.

The right conversation at the right time can change that.
It can take you from confusion to clarity — and from being overlooked to being recognized.

I’ve experienced this in two ways: once as the mentee, and once as the mentor.

1. The Mentor Who Changed My Career

Early in my career, I already had clarity about my academic niche. I was passionate about sleep medicine and wanted it to be the center of my professional identity. But when you looked at my CV, my presentations at meetings, or the projects I was working on, that focus wasn’t obvious.

My mentor pointed it out plainly:
“You know where you want to go, but no one else could tell by looking at your work.”

That feedback was a turning point. It wasn’t that I lacked direction — it was that my outputs didn’t reflect it. And in academic medicine, your CV, presentations, and publications are what speak for you when you’re not in the room.

So I pivoted. I began making sure that everything I produced — my talks, my papers, my workshops — consistently reflected my interest in sleep. That alignment accelerated my career in ways I didn’t expect. Very quickly, I was invited to serve on expert panels, lead workshops, and speak nationally about pediatric sleep medicine. My promotion narrative also became much clearer.

Why it mattered: When your work consistently reflects your niche, others know how to place you, support you, and invite you. Program committees know when to ask you to speak. Promotion committees know how to advance you. Clarity makes recognition possible.

2. The Mentee Who Built a Career Around His Passion

Years later, I was the mentor. I worked with a physician who had enormous enthusiasm and talent for coding and the business side of medicine. He enjoyed teaching, but he wasn’t excited about writing papers or doing traditional clinical research.

At first, he was worried that without publications in the usual mold, his academic path would stall. But we talked about leaning into what energized him instead of forcing himself into a box that didn’t fit.

He began focusing on scholarship in coding, insurance coverage, and policy — the broader “business of medicine.” He took on committee roles, worked on policy statements, and contributed to national conversations about code valuation.

The shift was transformative. Not only did he find his work far more interesting, but his expertise filled a gap that mattered deeply to institutions and national organizations. Before long, he was appointed to leadership roles at both the local and national level.

Why it mattered: Scholarship doesn’t have to mean traditional research. When your contributions align with your passion and meet institutional needs, committees recognize your value and doors open.

The Lesson: Alignment Creates Recognition

The first story changed my career. The second changed his. Both illustrate the same truth: academic success isn’t just about working hard. It’s about making sure your work, your CV, and your visible contributions align with your stated goals.

When that alignment happens:

• You stop having to push for opportunities — they start finding you.
  
• Committees know when and why to invite you.
  
• Your promotion story becomes clear and compelling.
  
• Most importantly, you get recognized for the value you already bring.
  

Action Step for You:
Ask yourself, “If someone reviewed my CV or heard my next talk, would they immediately know the story I want my career to tell?” If the answer is no, consider what needs to shift so your actions fully reflect your vision.

For departments: If you want to help your faculty make this alignment — and in doing so, increase engagement, retention, and promotion success — explore the Medical Mentor Coaching Faculty Excellence & Retention Initiative.

Learn more and schedule an initial conversation: www.medicalmentorcoaching.com