Associate professor Maryam Amin (centre) received the 2015 Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Clinical Mentoring Award. Celebrating her award with her were associate chair of research Patrick Flood (left), and School of Dentistry chair Paul Major.
Approachable. Dedicated. Engaged.
These are just a few of the many words associate professor and head of pediatric dentistry Maryam Amin's students and colleagues use to describe her. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that she's this year's recipient of the 2015 Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry Clinical Mentoring Award.
Amin's nomination was spearheaded by her graduate student Maryam Elyasi, who says her professor's sincerity and dedication is admired by both the dental and non-dental community.
"Dr. Amin is an exceptional mentor and true inspiration for me. She has been a constant source of support, encouragement, and knowledge for her students not only as a mentor but also as a friend," says Elyasi in her nomination letter. "She has provided me the best possible learning environment, while building a stress-free and friendly relationship that encourages me to become a critical life-long learner."
The Award for Excellence in Mentoring recognizes the outstanding performance in the mentoring of students in the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry. It specifically recognizes those who support, encourage, challenge and assist in goal-setting and self-evaluation.
Humbled by the award, Amin admits when the students first told her they had nominated her, she thought the chances of getting it were slim.
"Nominations come from every department in the Faculty, so it was a tight competition," says Amin, adding it's her student's accomplishments and achievements that indicate her level of mentorship. 'I am proud of my students.'"
Amin says she was fortunate enough to have a great mentor during her own graduate work. Now, in a sense, she's just paying it forward.
And her advice to other mentors is simple. "Learn about your students and tailor your mentoring plan based on their needs," she said. "Go beyond being a teacher and share your experiences with them."