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Panel Presentations

Professional and Personal Development

Who’s in Your Corner? Exploring the Roles of Coaches, Mentors, and Sponsors

Monday, October 13, 2025
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EDT
Location: 235-236
Disclosure(s):
Brennan M. McMichael, MD MBA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Melissa A. Pynnonen, MD, MSc, MOD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Many physicians remain unclear on how coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship differ, yet each plays a critical role in career advancement. Women and URiM individuals are especially impacted by a lack of sponsors—advocates who open doors. This panel will clarify these roles and provide actionable strategies to help attendees build vital professional relationships.
Coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship each offer unique benefits for professional growth and success. Coaching has been shown to improve emotional intelligence, communication, teamwork, and resilience while mitigating burnout and enhancing performance. Mentorship fosters skill development and long-term career guidance, while sponsorship provides direct advocacy, creating opportunities that may otherwise remain inaccessible. Together, these strategies create a powerful framework for career advancement and satisfaction.
We propose a panel discussion featuring real case scenarios to explore (1) the distinctions between coaching, mentorship, and sponsorship, (2) effective use of each throughout an otolaryngologist’s career, (3) departmental approaches to fostering these relationships, and (4) their collective impact on patient care. Attendees will gain practical tools to leverage these relationships for their personal and professional development, with insights tailored to diverse career stages.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Participants will learn the distinct roles of coaches, mentors, and sponsors: coaches guide skill development, mentors provide long-term insights, and sponsors advocate to create opportunities. Understanding these roles helps align support with career goals.
  2. Participants will explore how mentors inspire with wisdom and expertise, sponsors open doors to opportunities and networks, and coaches build skills, enhance performance, and drive measurable results, highlighting each role’s unique value.
  3. Participants will create an action plan to identify and build relationships with mentors, sponsors, and coaches. By assessing their network and addressing gaps, attendees will leave with a personalized roadmap for career growth and success in otolaryngology.

    Moderator(s)

  • Brennan M. McMichael, MD MBA

    Resident
    Johns Hopkins
    Baltimore, MD, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  • Melissa A. Pynnonen, MD, MSc, MOD

    Professor Otolaryngology
    Univ of Michigan
    Ann Arbor, MI, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

    • Panelist(s)

  • KK

    Karen M. Kost, MD

    Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Director of the Voice and Dysphagia Laboratory, McGill University
    McGill University
    Westmount, Quebec, Canada

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • KY

    Kathleen L. Yaremchuk, MD

    Chair Emeritus, Henry Ford Health
    Henry Ford Health
    Beverly Hills, MI, United States

    Disclosure(s):

    faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.