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Kevin Dwyer
Mentoring Assignment
August 3rd 2016
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Kevin Dwyer
Mentoring Assignment
August 3rd 2016
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Kevin Dwyer
Mentoring Assignment
August 3rd 2016
having multiple mentors. However, after experiencing it, I wouldnt have it any other way. As Al,
one of our dosimetrist said the more voices you hear trying to direct you, the more confused
youll be. I believe this to be true because its very hard to decipher which path to choose, but I
try to take all advice with a grain of salt. I enjoy hearing explanations in multiple ways because it
sheds new light on the subject and usual offers another way (sometimes more efficient) of doing
things.
As I progress through my career I plan on always being a mentee. My favorite thing that
Al said to me was that youll never stop being a menteeif youre wise especially in a field
where technology is constantly changing. This is the same approach I took with education. As
teachers we are constantly learning. In some ways I have already took on a mentor/teaching
position. I have been training Al on how to use our Eclipse/Aria software as he came from a
Pinnacle/MOSAIQ background. This has been exceptionally beneficial to me. I believe the best
way to solidify/test what you know is to teach someone else. As Terry said there are no losses
from mentoring only gains . gain respect of the people you teach, gain your own level of
understanding, respect from the people you teach, confidence in what you do. Its all gains, just
like the stock market baby. As we progress into our careers it is very important to stay up to
date with our colleagues. The field becomes less about mentor and mentee and more about
collaboration for the greater cause. At the AAMD conference I was so fortunate to talk to Tom
Constantino who gave a presentation on SBRT lung planning. Even though I was only a student
he was willing to take time out of his non-stop schedule to give me some advice on screenshots I
had of my plans. I will never forget that kindness and will always be quick to help others in need.
We are all in this field to help patients and work with great people. We need to stay active as
collaborators and have fun with it. I believe mentoring is the first step of a life-long collaborative
learning relationship.
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Kevin Dwyer
Mentoring Assignment
August 3rd 2016
References
1. Lenards N. Mentoring. [SoftChalk]. LaCrosse, WI: UW-L Medical Dosimetry
Program; 2015.
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Kevin Dwyer
Mentoring Assignment
August 3rd 2016
Appendix A
Kevin Dwyer
Interview with Terry Dillon, Senior Physicist at McLaren
August 1st, 2016
Q: How would you define mentoring in your own words?
A: I guess making sure that you learn the practical aspects of doing your job with
the whole team. You know, making sure youre watching all the different aspects of
what you got to do for the benefit of the patient with respect to the doctor, the
physics and the therapists and tie it all together. So mentoring would be making
sure that you get the whole picture. Not that youre getting just one little part.
Thats my aspect of mentoring; make sure you see the whole picture.
Q: What characteristics do you think a good mentor possess in your opinion?
A: A rounded out level of experience with respect from your job and because. If I
was just like coming in from nuclear reactor physics, maybe I would know what was
going on with the machine or what was going on with the medical aspects for the
patient. I think you just need to have a good level of experience; dont pick
somebody who is just 2 years into the program. It takes a long time to learn all of
the things that you do in the department. Its tough for me to explain to any
outsider just what I do; even some of the insiders.
Q: Do you think its good to have multiple mentors?
A: Yeah, absolutely. Perspective changes from individual to individual. VK (physicist)
sees things different than I do and Art (physicist) got a whole different perspective
too. The way different peoples brains work. Its really good to tap into seeing what
you can gather from them.
Q: So what should I do when I have two different mentors telling me opposite
things?
A: What would you do? Ok. I guess, if you were the Mentee haha (laughs). Alright I
think you just have to take the explanations with a grain of salt and say O thats a
different perspective I guess, I havent thought of that. Take it in stride, make up
your own mind later. Take what you can from each one. Dont forget to be humble
and kind like Tim McGraw Says (chuckles).
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Kevin Dwyer
Mentoring Assignment
August 3rd 2016
Q: Have you had any mentors in life/career that helped shape you to who you are?
A: I did. When I was in the radiation therapy program I had a physics teacher. My
first physics class in RT program he gave me the background and perspective and
presentation that oh I can do this. He gave me the enthusiasm to pursue the
medical physics program. If the guy had a different personality, then maybe I
wouldnt have pursued it. If he hadnt shown his enthusiasm in the field and the line
of work he was in, I mean definitely it was his personality. Mentor..? I dont know
how much of a mentor he was, but he did give me that incentive to push forward.
Q: What about what he said motivated you?
A: Well his practical, logical approach to the physics dilemma for treating patients
and just his enthusiasm for what he did. I think is what fired me up and light the fire
inside me. It had me looking around Hey I think I can do this I think I wanted to do
this. I think he was the one guy that pushed me forward. People in my class saw
what I was doing and they said hey I want to do this too. Two of us and another
guy followed and another guy from the class below us. Four of us went into physics.
Q: What do you gain from being a mentor?
A: you gain insight into your own line of work because you may have to explain the
same situation in several different ways to get through to someone who may not
understand. Come up with different explanations that are more meaningful to this
person one way or the other. It makes you think about your line of work in different
ways. It rounds it out in a big way; you ultimately gain experience from the
explanations you deliver. You think about what you do. Its all about gaining, there
is no loss. No loss of time, its all about gaining. Gain respect of the people you
teach, gain your own level of understanding, respect from the people you teach,
confidence in what you do. Its all gains, just like the stock market baby(laughs)
Q: Do you play the stock market?
A: I dont, I dont want to give my money away. Ive learned in terms of that stuff,
you can play a little bit but save your money, big time save your money. Whenever
you get a matching flushery put the maximum down and even more as time goes
by. It takes a long time to save money, but as time goes on, I did, its worth it. You
will accrue wealth and preserve it too. Not just throwing it around. Youre not used
to spending money now so dont get started.
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Kevin Dwyer
Mentoring Assignment
August 3rd 2016
Appendix B
Kevin Dwyer
Interview with Al Karmos, Dosimetrist at McLaren
Q: How would you define mentoring in your own words?
A: Giving an example to someone whether its verbal or by action. Advice of
something that they requested.
Q: What do you think are some good characteristics a mentor should have?
A: Well they need to be educated in the process the mentee needs to be
mentored in. Educated and experienced in the field.
Q: Do you think its good to have multiple mentors?
A: I think its a good idea to have multiple examples of other things, but I
think the more voices you hear trying to direct you, the more confused youll
be. But I do believe its a good idea to be exposed to other things, but really
just select one or two people to give you the direction youre asking for?
Q: So what should I do when I have two different mentors telling me opposite
things?
A: Experience on, past experience youve had between the two. Youve
probably had enough past experience to be able to tell what to choose. Or
consult a 3rd party.
Q: Have you had any mentors in life/career that helped shape you to who
you are?
A: Yeah in my personal life Id probably say my father. Professionally Ive had
several, depending on where I was or what work I was doing. I can work out a
couple different people at different places where I would bounce things off of
them and you know look for advice.
Q: Do you recall a time when you transitioned from mentee to mentor?
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Kevin Dwyer
Mentoring Assignment
August 3rd 2016
A: I think that its a you know youre always going to be a mentee I think. If
youre wise that is. Because youre always going to be able to pick up from
someplace. I think its a transition due to age/experience where you become
a mentor for more than half the time I guess because there are very few
above you who can help you in the direction youd like to go.