Research

AOSpine Mentorship –

Research

 

Samuel Cho, who was a mentee in the AOSpine Mentorship 2014-Research program, tells us why it's an opportunity not to be missed.

 

Please give a brief explanation of what your mentorship program involved.

My mentorship involved structured development of a research idea, planning and execution of study that resulted in four peer reviewed publications so far. We were invited to the AOSpine international meetings in addition to dedicated mentorship sessions. In addition, we were encouraged to communicate with the assigned mentor (Tom Mroz in my case) and the rest of the AOSpine Research Commission via email.

 

What were your expectations when you applied?

I wanted to learn the general direction AOSpine was going in terms of encouraging research activities from its younger members and to get to know the members of the Research Commission.

 

What did you hope to get from the program?

I was hoping to carry out the proposed study through tangible conclusion (publications) and in the process of doing so, learn the inner workings of AOSpine's research endeavors.

 

What were the main highlights of your time as a mentee?

Definitely having the opportunity to meet some of the world renowned researchers in our field.

 

Why was the opportunity to learn directly from a mentor too good to miss?

After formal clinical training, there is very little guidance as a young physician, including in the research arena. I thought this was a great opportunity for learning.

 

How have you improved as a researcher through the mentorship?

I learnt to stay focused on the proposed project while developing potential ideas that expanded on the project all at the same time.

 

In which ways has your participation in the mentorship benefited you in your daily work?

It allowed me to dedicate a part of my daily work for research. I believe research takes a lot of dedication and discipline. The mentorship definitely reinforced that.

 

In which ways has your participation in the mentorship benefited your career?

Definitely the people, both mentors and mentees, who I had an opportunity to meet and get to know.

 

What advice would you give to anyone who isn't sure whether they should apply for the 2015 mentorship program?

All I can say is that the mentorship will only benefit them in their careers in many different ways!