The Role of Mentoring in the Professional Identity Formation of Medical Students

Abstract

Professional identity formation (PIF) of medical students encompasses how students learn to think, do, and act as physicians. A key component of PIF is socialization, which includes mentoring. Mentoring influences students' career specialty choice, while providing a safe and nurturing environment to form their own professional identities. Mentoring of medical students by orthopedic surgeons may increase interest in the specialty. Suggestions for utilizing mentoring for the PIF of medical students and to increase diversity in orthopedics are discussed.

Keywords: Medical students; Mentoring; Orthopedics; Professional identity formation.