Mentor and Advisor Program

The Mentor and Advisor Program (MAP) is an AGA member benefit designed to offer career advice and networking opportunities to gastroenterologists at any career stage—particularly GI fellows who are beginning to explore their career options. MAP is intended to supplement traditional institutional mentoring, which is critical to effective training. 

MAP’s free online advice service consists of more than 20 senior AGA members who have offered to provide informal mentoring to younger colleagues or those who may be contemplating a career change. Through this forum, AGA members may confidentially submit questions to a specific mentor, who may be an expert in a desired subject matter or even a director of a GI training program. 

Meet  the Mentors

You can meet the MAP mentors at a networking event, which will be held at DDW® on Saturday, May 19, 5:45–7:15 p.m. The reception is part of AGA’s Trainee Track.

Benefits of MAP

  • Guaranteed answers to your career questions. Your message will be routed through AGA staff, who monitor the MAP program to ensure that mentors respond to all messages.
  • Confidentiality. You can choose whether or not to disclose your e-mail address and personal information to your mentor. Feel free to ask your MAP mentor about issues that you are not comfortable discussing with your training program director or supervisor.
  • Choose your own mentor. Your training program may have assigned you a mentor, but MAP lets you choose a mentor based on your personal interests and concerns.
  • Flexibility. You can contact a mentor once, or you can choose to pursue a more long-term mentor-mentee relationship.
  • Access. You can get direct access to the leaders in the field of GI and hepatology, who will answer any and all questions — but only through this forum. 

How to Use MAP

To find a mentor, click on one of the links under Browse the Advisors below to search by name or category of expertise. When you find a mentor with whom you would like to connect, click on his or her name. Once the mentor’s profile page opens, click on the “Contact Me” button towards the bottom of the page, and begin composing your e-mail.

E-mails will be routed through AGA staff, who will ensure that your message reaches the intended recipient, and that you receive a reply.

Topics Covered

Mentors are available to discuss matters including, but not limited, to:

  • Career support and encouragement.
  • Enhanced professional visibility.
  • Expanded professional contacts and networking.
  • Contract negotiations.
  • Career counseling (e.g., choosing private practice, academics, or research positions).
  • Grant writing.
  • NIH process.
  • Maintaining work/life balance.
  • Issues unique to women and minorities.

Browse the Advisors

Become a Mentor

If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please send an e-mail to map@gastro.org.

Online Resources

Access presentations and articles on a variety of career development topics, such as getting published, grant writing, research funding, funding your academic career, managing work-life balance, as well as resources outside the AGA.

Developing a GI Fellowship Mentoring Program and Sample Mentoring Agreement (PDF)

View Additional Career Resources