Ethical implications of mentor influence on career choices in dermatology

Abstract

Mentorship is a critical aspect of personal and professional development throughout anyone's life. Unlike careers in many other fields, a medical career is a long, multistep process that can begin in high school and continue throughout a physician's career. When considering competitive specialties such as dermatology, mentors are increasingly crucial in helping students successfully match to programs of their choice, but the variability and extent of mentorship can raise ethical concerns. We discuss the evolution of mentorship in dermatology and the potential ethical issues involved. We propose possible solutions to the ethical conflict between mentor and mentee.