Testimony
Some Days I stand on the ledge of life, uncertain about tomorrow, unsure about my destiny. You reach out to me…I see security in your hand. I gladly give mine to you. -Maya Angelou
When I reflect on what it means to be a mentor, I am reminded of those who have mentored me. I remember the Christian physicians, many within CMDA, who invested in me while in medical school.
They supported our campus student ministry, took us on mission trips and to conferences, invited us into their homes where we shared meals, prayer, and rich fellowship. They shared their lives and encouraged us professionally, personally, and spiritually. They were real, live Christian physicians who demonstrated to me what it meant to be a Christian doctor. They showed me that my faith could be integrated into the practice of medicine and that I could do medicine differently. It was then that I decided I was going to be that type of doctor.
I think of Dr. Ev Bruckner at Loma Linda University Medical Center. Dr. Bruckner designed a more formal mentoring program, intending a “one-to-one relationship between a Christian physician and a Christian medical student, with the purpose of enabling/empowering the student for ongoing integration of his/her personal faith relationship with Jesus Christ with their study and practice of medicine.” I was a resident at the time and when the call came for needed mentors, I was in. Truth be told, I had no idea what exactly I was doing as a fledgling first-time mentor for a medical student. But I showed up. The idea of intentional spiritual mentoring was indelibly written into me.
I continue to mentor students, both formally and informally. Our Sacramento Area CMDA is committed to mentoring students, and we have a formal program to pair student mentees with local Christian doctors for the purpose of spiritual mentoring. These relationships are strengthened further by mission trips, fellowship gatherings, meals together, and other opportunities. We now have practicing physicians, once mentored as students, serving as mentors.
Why mentor and encourage others to mentor? Because it is good for you. Seriously. Medicine is experiencing a burnout pandemic. A literature search reveals articles on how mentoring reduces burnout and that the benefit is most likely bidirectional. Meaningful connections, like those made in a mentoring relationship, mitigate the effects of burnout. We were created for relationship. Mentoring is a mutually beneficial relationship that results in development and blessing for both the mentor and the mentee.
Spiritual and life mentoring is greatly needed. As a mentor you can speak truth about life balance and spiritual matters and help a mentee sort through what matters most. Mentoring is not just about doctoring.
A mentee student can challenge my thinking, test my flexibility, force a unique accountability that checks my integrity and consistency, and remind me of my inspired ideals. I find that being with a student refreshes my soul, energizes me, and reminds me of why I became a physician.
Bio: Dr. Darilyn Campbell Falck is the Director of Mentoring for the CMDA Center for Well-being. She is board-certified emergency medicine physician who currently practices telemedicine. She is passionate about mentoring medical students and encouraging others to mentor. Dr. Falck is married to Troy, also an EM physician, they have one daughter, and they live near Sacramento in Northern California.