Doctors already have established frameworks for assessment, appraisal, and revalidation. The emphasis in mentoring is to provide an opportunity for the mentee to reflect and develop their career aspirations and priorities.
The benefits of mentoring in medicine are increasingly recognised, and mentoring is now supported by many organisations including the General Medical Council (GMC), the Royal College of Physicians, and the British Medical Association (BMA).
Previous participants that have been mentored have greatly valued the scheme. When it was initially introduced by BASHH in 2009, with the aim of supporting new consultants during their transition from trainee to consultant, it received very positive feedback. Since then it has expanded to include a wider range of doctors in a wider range of fields, including those working mainly in HIV medicine, and SRH.
You can read more about how mentoring in Sexual Health and HIV Medicine began, and the benefits of being involved.