
The USCAP Mentoring Academy
Mentoring is a fundamental human relationship in which one person invests time, energy, and expertise to nurture the growth of another. Mentors vary considerably in style, yet each contributes significantly to the professional and personal growth of a junior colleague through his/her wisdom, knowledge, and expertise.
Mentoring has been an intuitive core value of USCAP for years, but the process had not previously been formalized as structured relationships between mentors and mentees. This changed with the inauguration of the USCAP Mentoring Academy at the 2018 Annual Meeting. The immeasurable mutual benefits of a mentoring relationship culminate in creating a better pathologist. The USCAP Mentoring Academy is the vehicle by which to partner with someone who will make a difference in your life.
Mentor/Mentee dyads define their relationships by profile matching, goal setting and behavioral guidelines, managed through a web-based program designed to facilitate success. Participants have the option of opting out if the relationship doesn’t work or continuing it if it does.
At the conclusion of the pilot year, the program was evaluated to determine the efficacy of the web platform and its facilitation of the mentoring relationships of the initial dyads.
Mentor survey results indicated that 73.33% of mentors agreed they were satisfied with program experience; 86.67% of mentors agreed they helped their mentee achieve their goals; 86.67% of mentors were very satisfied or satisfied with the quality of their match. From the mentees’ perspective, their survey results reflected that 100% of mentees strongly agreed their mentor helped them achieve their goals; 100% agreed they were satisfied with the program experience and 100% were very satisfied with the quality of their match.
In 2019 and 2020 Mentoring Academy Receptions for the dyads at the USCAP Annual Meetings encouraged connectivity and exchange of ideas about the efficacy of the program, how it could be improved, and why mentoring itself is invaluable.
The next cycle of the Mentoring Academy is planned for Fall 2022 and will continue for twelve months, welcoming new dyads. You may complete an application in advance of the cycle. Click “Join the MA” button to begin! If you are not a USCAP member, you must register first to participate in this program.
Some mentor/mentee relationships have changed the world. Dr. Stuart J. Schnitt and Dr. Laura C. Collins have had an enduring relationship that refined breast cancer diagnosis, education and research with global benefit.

How to Join the Mentoring Academy (MA)
You must be an active member of USCAP and live in the United States in order to qualify for the academy. If you meet these qualifications and would like to join, please click on the “Join the MA” button to get started.
If you live in the US and are not a member, but would like to join, please click on the “Get USCAP Membership” button.

As coordinator of the USCAP Mentoring Academy, it’s been my pleasure and responsibility to facilitate the identification and matching of inspired mentors with mentees whose personal and professional lives benefit from the influence of a mentor. Our experience over the past few years in formally structuring these relationships has guided me to a better understanding of this invaluable dynamic and how best to collaborate with information technology in enhancing the web platform to support these relationships.
We have redefined and continue to work towards the goal of making mentoring a culture change and not a “program”. You can depend on me to help you through questions and glitches, soothe your anxieties, resolve complaints and inspire your relationship with the other person in your dyad.
– Deborah Waterhouse, Coordinator, USCAP Mentoring Academy
Why Become a Mentor?
A mentor is a guide. A resource who helps pave the way for others to succeed. It’s not about having all the right answers. Your role as a mentor is to inspire, encourage, and support your mentee, contributing to their development through thoughtful conversation and consultation. At its core, being a Mentor is being a trusted advisor.
Why Become a Mentee?
With the help of a mentor, you can gain new knowledge and skillsets that can broaden your career opportunities and personal networks for advancement. As a mentee, gain the confidence necessary to tackle short and long-term goals, navigate challenges, and accelerate your growth.
Mentoring is a profoundly and uniquely human attribute-
No other living creature has the capacity to build knowledge and pass it on as an enduring legacy.
– Sharon W. Weiss, MD
Testimonials from Pilot Program
The mentoring academy has been an extraordinary and positive impact on my career development in the past year. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and those that have followed.