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|a The Royal College of Surgeons of England describes mentoring as 'the process whereby an experienced, highly regarded, empathic person (the mentor), guides another individual (the mentee) in the development and re-examination of their own ideas, learning, and personal and professional development'. Effective mentoring is considered a crucial element in the professional development of a surgeon at all stages of their career (1). This is not surprising considering the various challenges faced by the modern surgeon; these include changing demographics and the pattern of disease, new technologies, changing health care delivery models, increasing consumerism and societal demands. The new generations of surgeons are expected to demonstrate competencies beyond medical knowledge and technical skills, research, communication skills, and team management (2). In order for trainees to achieve maximal potential in today's competitive work environment it is crucial that the surgical profession create a mentoring system that supports the personal growth and professional development of surgeons at various stages of their career (3).
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