Onboarding is kind of like the career equivalent of navigating a foreign city: thrilling, stressful, and always easier with the guidance of a trusted local. That's the motivation behind Yale Surgery Faculty Guides — an initiative led by Director of Faculty Wellness, Dr. Lucy Ruangvoravat, in collaboration with Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs, Dr. Alan Dardik. The program partners new faculty with peers who have already assimilated to Yale Surgery culture and encourages the exchange of valuable perspective that can help new faculty feel a little less like a tourist, and more like a neighbor.
"Learning the ropes in a new department or a new health system is challenging for everyone, no matter what career stage you're in. The purpose of this program is to partner new faculty with a 'friendly neighbor' -- someone who can provide just-in-time information, advice, and serve as a liaison to the community ... the unwritten roadmap that makes Yale Surgery feel like home," said Dr. Ruangvoravat.
Guides benefit too. Because partnerships are often made across disciplines and across sites, there's an opportunity for faculty to pick up best practices and experience different practices.
"We found during the pilot that partnering a new faculty with someone outside of their immediate division really supports the informal, organic nature of the relationship — whether that's someone to check in with during your first month or two, or a long-term friendship," said Dr. Ruangvoravat.
Unlike a mentee-mentor relationship, the faculty guide program isn't formally structured; there are no formal meeting times or participation requirements. Dr. Ruangvoravat describes the responsibilities of both parties as "low stakes, light lift," and encourages all current faculty to participate. Pre-qualifications for guides are flexible; assistant professors or those with at least five years of experience at Yale are preferred.