Could application of leader-member exchange theory have saved a residency mentorship program?

ABSTRACT: Mentorship may offer protégés numerous benefits including improved self-esteem, increased interest in research, and/or enhanced productivity. Without proper planning, reflection, and evaluation, however, mentorship programs may result in undesirable consequences. In this paper we describe a mentorship program designed to improve psychosocial support and professional development for residents, that while initially successful, was terminated due to perceptions of inequity that led to strife among residents and ultimately created a toxic learning climate. Leader-member exchange theory provides a lens through which to view our program's failure and to offer some potential solutions to mitigate such challenges for other programs. Leader-member exchange theory focuses on the importance of relati

SUBMITTER: Bunin JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7459021 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature