Advisee Role Description

What does it mean to be an advisee?

Advisees are current ISMMS Students (medical or graduate school) who are looking for guidance as they navigate their career options, consider specialties, or explore other educational endeavors. Advisees are passionate about growing professionally, learning new skills, developing clear career goals, and expanding their professional networks to give them a competitive advantage in the workplace.

Benefits and Rewards

• Gain invaluable insights from a seasoned industry professional 
• Accelerate your professional development and growth 
• Expand your personal and professional network 
• Cultivate interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills 
• Receive assistance as you transition into the workforce or a new career path 
• Discover different perspectives from your Advisor 
• Receive constructive feedback about personal and/or professional development issues you are facing 
• Gain resources and tools to solve workplace issues/conflicts 
• Achieve critical goals that you set 
• Connect with the ISMMS community

Do’s

• Drive the relationship. Be the first to make contact with your Advisor, respond to all communications in a timely manner, and take the initiative to set up consistent in-person meetings. One tip is to always end each meeting “when should we meet next?” so that you can get a date on the calendar after comparing both of your schedules. 
• Set your relationship expectations right away about when and how you will connect with your Advisor.  
• Agree and commit to the expectations and goals you set with your Advisor. 
• Be receptive to suggestions and feedback from your Advisor. Criticisms will only be offered in an effort to help you grow professionally. 
• Approach your advising relationship with respect, professionalism and an open mind. 
• Be mindful of when the relationship has reached its natural end; if all of the goals you set have been achieved then it may be time to find another Advisor to tackle another set of goals. If you both would like to, you can continue to meet, or you can simply thank them and move on to start another advising relationship.  
• Send your feedback and suggestions for improvement periodically to us at alumni@mssm.edu. As this is a new and developing program, we’d greatly appreciate your candid feedback. 
• Tell your classmates about your experiences! As a growing program, we rely on word of mouth referrals to promote the program.

Don’ts

• DON’T arrive late to meetings or conference calls. 
• DON’T arrive underdressed to meetings (business casual is suggested). 
• DON’T violate confidence. Discussions should stay between you and your Advisor. Preserving an environment of confidentiality and trust should be your top priority. 
• DON’T ask your Advisor to be a reference for you before you have gotten to know them. Asking your Advisor (or anyone for that matter) for a reference is a request that should be reserved for people who know you well in a professional capacity. To ask your Advisor before developing a rapport or relationship could make them uncomfortable or put them in a difficult position. It is best to wait until a relationship has developed and they have gotten to know you before making such a request. 
• DON’T ask your Advisor for a job within their organization. If your Advisor knows of an opportunity for which they think you may be a good fit, they will mention it to you. Asking them for a job could make