MODEL Lead Showcase

Featuring Shuchi Anand

July 20, 2024

The MODEL (Mentorship, Opportunity, Development, Empowerment, Leadership) Program, initiated by the Department of Medicine (DoM), is a department-wide, cross-divisional, mentoring and development program designed to meet the unique needs of the CE and UML faculty lines. 

Launched in January 2024, MODEL is championing a dynamic new mentoring culture across the department.

This July, we are pleased to spotlight MODEL Lead Shuchi Anand, MD. In addition to her dedicated work as a MODEL Lead, she is an associate professor of nephrology at the Department of Medicine. 

Describe your mentoring style. What do you think are the most important attributes of a good mentor? 

I consider myself more of a partner than a traditional mentor. I learn alongside my colleagues, exploring various aspects of an academic career together, including subspecialty topics like research methodologies, work-life balance, and leadership skills. In my view, a good mentor doesn't pretend to know everything. Instead, they act as a sounding board and facilitator, being honest about their vulnerabilities and stresses, not just their strengths.

Who was your most influential mentor, and what was the most important lesson you took away from that relationship?  

I have had the privilege of interacting with many academic leaders, and I am constantly delighted by my senior colleagues' openness and willingness to share their time and guidance.

At Stanford, I receive guidance from Julie Parsonnet, Michele Barry, Andrew Fire, and Glenn Chertow. Dr. Chertow and I first met over ten years ago when I was struggling to integrate my interests in global health and nephrology. His unwavering belief in my ability to pursue my interests created a strong bond of trust. I strive to emulate his warm and confidence-building approach, starting with the fundamental assumption that every colleague has the absolute ability to reach their goals, and then working with them to support their path.

Why do you think it is important to establish and promote a culture of mentorship within the DoM? I.e. what might that look like when we are successful?

The DoM fosters a culture of excellence. It is one of the most academically diverse departments in the country, boasting leaders in scientific, clinical, and administrative fields. For younger members of our department, this high level of achievement can be intimidating, and with numerous demands on our time, creating your own footprint can feel overwhelming.

Through the MODEL program, we are successfully ensuring that every colleague is seen and valued for their talents and contributions. We aim to humanize our leaders and facilitate their availability as mentors and sponsors, empowering colleagues to seek mentorship from more established faculty. It's also important for established faculty to recognize the rich talent within our department and remember how fulfilling it is to support their colleagues' potential.

Share a moment or experience in the MODEL program that significantly impacted you/was memorable. 

The most memorable moments in the MODEL program for me have been when the national and international leaders we've invited to speak to our small group have shared their personal stories, especially their failures, and how they used those failures as springboard opportunities for other paths. 

For example, our Vice Chair of Education (Pedram Fatehi) recently shared that he was heartbroken after he was passed over for a teaching job early in his career. Abraham Verghese shared that he turned down more "traditionally attractive" leadership positions to pursue his interest in bedside medicine and writing. Their stories showcased two critical lessons that we need to hear again and again: that success is not linear, and that there is strength in honesty. 

Where do you find the most joy in your work with the MODEL program?

I am incredibly fulfilled by my participation in the MODEL program. I love the one-on-one conversations we have with each other, where I learn about the astonishingly diverse talents and interests that my colleagues have brought to medicine. Equally astonishing is their modesty despite their excellence in teaching, scholarship, and clinical medicine. It is such a joy to remind them how wonderfully accomplished they are!

Success is not linear, and there is strength in honesty. 

– Shuchi Anand, MD, on lessons learned from mentors


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MODEL Lead Showcase: Linda Nguyen, MD

Explore insights from the MODEL Lead Showcase, a monthly series featuring the key figures shaping mentorship in medicine at Stanford's DoM. Check out our June 2024 feature with Linda Nguyen, MD