Orthopedic Mentorship Series: Framework for Mentorship

Video Runtime: 36 Minutes; Learning Assessment Time: 31 Minutes

This course establishes a standardized, high-quality framework for clinical mentorship within orthopedic practice, transitioning from traditional time-based models to objective, competency-based progression. Many clinical mentorships lack the structure needed to ensure measurable growth, often leaving both mentor and mentee without clear benchmarks for success. By integrating the American Physical Therapy Association’s core competencies and developmental milestones, this curriculum gives clinicians the tools to identify specific performance gaps and support advanced clinical reasoning. Participants will explore the distinct responsibilities of both roles, from the mentee’s focus on specialty knowledge to the mentor’s expertise in adaptive communication and facilitative teaching. The course provides a blueprint for structured mentoring sessions—including briefing, interaction, and debriefing phases—to ensure every clinical encounter maximizes learning. Ultimately, this framework empowers practitioners to foster a culture of excellence and lifelong learning through intentional, evidence-based guidance.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify alignment points between the five domains of mentor competence and the seven domains of resident competence
• Match mentoring interactions to their corresponding stages within milestone-based progression models
• Outline the components of a structured mentoring framework that includes adult learning theory and feedback systems
• Recognize the essential elements of a mentorship implementation plan, including session structure and assessment strategies