The MICCAI Mentorship Program started in 2018 with the goal of connecting early-career researchers in medical image computing and computer assisted interventions with peers and experts in their field of work. Mentors will share their experience in academia, industry or entrepreneurship to help develop the next generation of MICCAI leaders and innovators. Mentorship and networking nurture a supportive scientific community and give mentees the opportunity for career growth.

If you are a student/early career researcher, this program is for you! It can help you grow professionally with the guidance of expert mentors from the MICCAI community. A special focus of the program is on supporting underrepresented collectives in MICCAI to advance their scientific career and recognize and address career challenges.

Tentative Program Structure

Registration. MICCAI members interested in participating in the Mentorship program as mentors or mentees can register through the MICCAI Society website. More information will be available in Summer 2023.

Matching. The Mentorship Program will match mentors and mentees with the help of our MICCAI working group based on their area of expertise and the mentorship preferences indicated during registration.

Mentorship structure. To participate in the Program, mentors and mentees will commit to a minimum of three hours in total as indicated below:

• In the first month after matching, the mentor-mentee team will coordinate via teleconference or in-person meeting to discuss the goals that they wish to achieve through the Mentorship Program, the duration of their relationship, and the frequency of their meetings.
• During the duration of the relationship, the mentor-mentee team will meet by teleconference or in-person and will allocate at least one hour for each meeting to work towards their goals.
• At the end of the mentorship period, the mentor-mentee team will determine if they are interested in further extending it. When the relationship ends, the team will notify the Mentorship Program.

There is no maximum cap for the number of meetings and the continued mentorship program encourages regular communication between the mentors and mentees.

Terms of the mentorship relationship

A mentorship relationship is established between a person seeking career development advice - i.e., the mentee - and a person who can provide valuable guidance- i.e., the mentor. Unlike a coach, the role of a mentor is not to establish action plans for a mentee. Instead, it is the mentee who is responsible for establishing a set of goals for this relationship. The role of the mentor is to actively listen, provide information, suggestions and help to the mentee.

It is recommended for mentees to create a list of goals that they wish to achieve through this program, which they will discuss in the first meeting with their mentor. Examples of goals include career growth in academia or industry, writing a grant or fellowship application, raising funds for research and development, setting up a successful company or addressing specific career challenges. Mentors will provide honest and constructive feedback and advice to support mentees achieving their goals.

All conversations must remain confidential between mentors and mentees unless agreed otherwise by both parties. The MICCAI Society is not responsible for the information that is exchanged between mentors and mentees within the context of their mentorship relationship.