284: How To Be A Great Mentor With Dr. Elise Ruckert, PT, DPT, EdD, NCS

Are you a mentor or expected to be one in your clinic? If you’re like most neuro clinicians you’re taking students and your colleagues are always picking your brain about their neuro patients. This episode was inspired by a Sparky question from Jackie who asked what do I need to do in order to become a good mentor? Hosts Erin Gallardo, PT, DPT, NCS and Claire McLean, PT, DPT, NCS brought on Dr. Elise Ruckert, PT, DPT, EdD, NCS to teach us how to be a great mentor. Elise, a self proclaimed “educational pedagogy nerd,” has trained mentors for many years to regional and national audiences. She illuminates the nuanced world of mentorship, emphasizing that it's far more than a one-way transfer of knowledge. Instead, mentorship is a dynamic, bi-directional relationship where both mentor and mentee contribute and learn from each other. She challenges the traditional view of mentoring as simply imparting information, instead framing it as a collaborative journey of professional growth.

The discussion explores critical frameworks for effective mentoring, including Bloom's Taxonomy and Donald Schön's reflection types. These approaches help mentors ask more meaningful questions, moving beyond surface-level content to deeper levels of critical thinking and professional development. The discussion also expanded into the topic of interdisciplinary mentorship, with insights into how mentors can effectively work across different healthcare disciplines. The podcast emphasizes that mentorship extends beyond clinical skills, encompassing communication, professional development, and broader contextual understanding. Get practical advice for getting your mentorship program started. 

Bloom’s taxonomy 

Donald Schon reflection in action vs on action

Mezirow’s Transformative Learning 

LinkedIn Website: www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-ruckert-43b470198

IG: Trellis Ed