Striving for Meaning and Purpose in Mentoring

BACKGROUND: Mentorship is essential to neurosurgical training and career development, shaping technical ability, professional identity, and leadership capacity. Three pediatric neurosurgeons at different stages in their careers share their reflections on how mentoring gives them meaning and purpose. SUMMARY: In early career, effective mentorship involves proactively seeking guidance, identifying multiple mentors for varied goals, and engaging actively in the relationship. Mid-career marks a shift toward providing mentorship, with emphasis on aligning roles with personal strengths, helping mentees define achievable goals, prioritizing quality interactions, and modeling resilience by sharing both successes and failures. Late career perspectives highlight mentorship as reciprocal and sustaining, offering enduring meaning and contributing to legacy through the growth of future neurosurgeons. KEY MESSAGES: Mentorship is a dynamic, lifelong process that evolves with each career stage. It benefits both mentors and mentees, strengthens the neurosurgical community, and represents one of the most lasting contributions to the profession.