Arturo Casadevall, M.D., Ph.D. Leo and Julia Chair in Microbiology and Immunology

1. SUCCESSFUL MENTORING Arturo Casadevall, M.D., Ph.D. Leo and Julia Chair in Microbiology and Immunology Professor, Depts. of Microbiology and Immunology and Medicine

2. FIRST SENTENCE OF ANNA KARENINA BY TOLSTOY "All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." ‘All successful people are alike: Each unsuccessful person is unsuccessful in its own way’

3. SOME DEFINITIONS MENTOR • a wise and trusted counselor or teacher • an influential senior sponsor or supporter. Origin - Greek In Homer’s Odyssey Telemachus, son of Odysseus was left under the charge of Mentor. However, it is noteworthy that Athena disguised herself as Mentor to encourage Telemachus to resist her mother’s suitors Hence even in the classical roots of the word there is some ambiguity as to what the role of Mentor is

4. MORE DEFINITIONS • SUCCESS The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted The gaining of fame or prosperity. • MENTORSHIP developmental relationship between a more experienced mentor and a less experienced partner referred to as a protégé—a person guided and protected by a more prominent person (WIKIPEDIA)

5. MENTOR RULE 1 TREAT EVERYONE THE SAME AND DIFFERENTLY AT THE SAME TIME • NO FAVORITISM • EVERYONE HAS STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES • ALL INDIVIDUALS ARE DIFFERENT • WHAT WORKS FOR ONE PERSON WON’T WORK FOR ANOTHER EVEN THOUGH BOTH HAVE SAME POTENTIAL • PEOPLE GROW AT DIFFERENT TIMES (SOME NEED LONGER, OTHERS JUST NEED TIME) • GIVE PEOPLE A BREAK

6. MENTOR RULE 2 CELEBRATE ALL ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MENTEES • SUCCESS IS SUCCESS • DON’T MAKE COMPARISONS BETWEEN MENTEES • SUCCESS BEGETS SUCCESS (A SMALL SUCCESS TODAY EQUALS GREATER SUCCESS TOMORROW)

7. MENTOR RULE 3 MENTEE SUCCESS = MENTOR SUCCESS • DON’T COMPETE WITH MENTEE • INVEST IN MENTEE SUCCESS • BE GENEROUS WITH PRAISE

8. MENTOR RULE 4 BE GENEROUS: BECOME RICH BY GIVING THINGS AWAY • THE MORE YOU PROTECT THE LESS YOU HAVE • IN SCIENCE YOU DON’T OWN ANYTHING • BE GENEROUS WITH PROJECTS, REAGENTS, MATERIALS, MONEY

9. MENTOR RULE 5 YOUR STRUGGLES ARE NOT THE STRUGGLES OF YOUR MENTEES • YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES ARE PROBLABLY IRRELEVANT TO THE MENTEE (THINK OF YOUR OWN TRAINING AS ANCIENT HISTORY) • TIMES HAVE CHANGED!!!- GET OVER IT • DON’T BURDEN OTHERS WITH YOUR BURDENS • LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE OUTSIDE THE LAB • JUST BECAUSE YOU WORKED A 96 HOUR WEEK DOES NOT MEAN THAT OTHERS NEED TO – MAYBE YOU WERE JUST INEFFICIENT

10. MENTOR RULE 6 ALWAYS MAKE YOUR MENTEES A PRIORITY -- NO MATTER WHAT -THEIR LETTERS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR GRANTS - ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT YOUR MENTEE IS A PERSON – SOMEBODY’S KID, BROTHER, OR SISTER

11. MENTOR RULE 7 THE RELATIONSHIP IS PROFESSIONAL, NOT PERSONAL • WORK WITH MENTEES IN A FRIENDLY AND SUPPORTIVE MANNER • YOU ARE A MENTOR NOW – YOU MAY BE A COLLEAGUE LATER

12. MENTOR RULE 8 IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG – TAKE THE BLAME • THE LAW OF REVERSE GRAVITY: IN A LINE OF COMMAND BIG TIME ‘STOOL’ ALWAYS FLOATS UPWARD • PROTECT YOUR PEOPLE • ACCEPT BLAME (YOU WILL BE BLAMED ANYWAY)

13. MENTOR RULE 9 ALWAYS GIVE THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT TO OTHERS, INCLUDING • MENTEES • COLLABORATORS • COMPETITORS • ADMINISTRATORS • REVIEWERS

14. MENTOR RULE 10 BECOME A STUDENT AND ADMIRER OF HUMAN NATURE "The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly." – Walden by Thoreau