Leadership

The Time Is Now: Find Support and Guidance in the NAMSS Mentorship Program

By Young Caldwell, MBA, CPCS, CPMSM; and Ashley Carter, RHIT, CPCS

Although we are past the National Mentoring Month of January, it is always a good time to celebrate the power of mentorship and encourage individuals to invest in guiding the next generation.

Established in 2002, MENTOR and the Harvard T.H. School of Public Health created National Mentoring Month to “amplify, encourage, and strengthen mentorship for young people.” (National Mentoring Month | MENTOR, 2025) This is an opportunity to start the new year with a resolution to build connections, grow, and develop. Mentorship is important in healthcare, with the evolution of technology and increased regulations that demand continuous learning and adaptation. For MSPs and Provider Enrollment Professionals, mentorship provides a foundation for developing our skills, knowledge base, and confidence we need to excel.

A 2024 Winstanely report shared some interesting facts on mentoring:

• 76% of people think mentors are important, but only 37% have one.
• The vast majority (97%) of individuals with a mentor say they find the experience to be a valuable one.
• Retention rates were much higher for mentees (72%) and mentors (69%) than for employees who did not participate in the mentoring program (49%).

Does mentoring always work? Yes and no. Based on personal conversations with colleagues, employees, and friends, some say that now is not the right time to seek out a mentor, or they will wait for another time that will work better. Others may make it their priority.

We encourage you to focus on being ready to receive mentoring and understand why mentors are important in your professional life. The time is now. Don’t wait for the perfect time or for it to align better with your personal goals.

Throughout our careers as MSPs, Ashley and I have been fortunate to benefit from the guidance of exceptional mentors. We learned the importance of strategic thinking and effective communication in managing complex challenges. There are great teachers and mentors in the NAMSS community, and we could not have come this far in our careers without their support and guidance. These experiences have inspired us to pay it forward and support other MSPs by sharing our knowledge and encouraging continuous learning. Mentoring ensures that the next generation of professionals are well-prepared. We encourage you to reflect on the mentors who have shaped your journey and consider how to extend the same guidance to others.

Find a Mentor or Become a Mentor

Let’s allow the recent National Mentoring Month to serve as a reminder of the impact mentorship has on patient safety, healthcare providers, and our colleagues, all while strengthening the future of the medial services profession. NAMSS supports mentorship within the profession. NAMSS offers resources and programs for seasoned MSPs and mentees to create opportunities for meaningful exchanges of knowledge and experience by joining the NAMSS Mentorship Program. Experienced MSPs and Provider Enrollment Professionals have an opportunity to serve as role models by providing guidance on best practices and navigating challenges. If you are interested in finding a mentor or volunteering as a mentor, visit the NAMSS Mentorship Program website.

References:

National Mentoring Month | MENTOR. (2025, Jan. 3). MENTOR. https://www.mentoring.org/campaigns/national-mentoring-month/

Winstanely, G. (2024, Feb. 21). Mentoring Statistics You Need to Know - 2024. Mentorloop Mentoring Software. https://mentorloop.com/blog/mentoring-statistics