YNP Mentorship: Experiences of Mentors and Mentees

The ERA YNP Mentorship Programme aims at giving young professionals interested in nephrology (physicians, researchers, biologists, nurses, nutritionists, etc.) – “the mentee” – an opportunity to exchange experiences with senior or more experienced nephrologists within the ERA, in order to increase the future professional success as well as broaden the horizons of these young trainees/professionals.

“Being a mentee in this programme has been a transformative experience, shaping my personal and professional growth. It nurtured curiosity, confidence, and a passion for continuous learning. I am sincerely grateful for the thoughtful guidance and lasting inspiration it has provided.” – Saliha Uyanik Yildirim, Mentee

“As a mentor, I aspire not only to impart knowledge but to spark curiosity and inspire growth, embracing the philosophy that the mind is a lamp to be lit. Guiding emerging nephrologists through shared challenges and discoveries has deepened my commitment to nurturing their professional journeys and fostering creative, forward-thinking solutions. Each interaction is an opportunity to ignite new ideas, cultivating optimism and collaboration as key drivers of future success.” – Luis F. Quintana, Mentor

“ERA initiatives have been a source of inspiration for my research from the very start. The YNP Mentorship Programme gave my work a powerful second wind, providing me with valuable skills and international collaboration. One day, I aspire to become a mentor myself, hoping to guide young scientists with the same dedication and excellence that my mentor, Professor Messa, has shown me.” – Evdokia Bogdanova, Mentee

“I had the opportunity and pleasure of mentoring Dr. Evdokia Bogdanova as part of the YNP mentorship programme. Besides appreciating her excellent basic research skills, the most significant and satisfying outcome of the mentorship, in my opinion, was the ability to build a collaborative path between her and our research group, launching a series of projects that I am confident will achieve significant outcomes in the field of nephrology research.” – Piergiorgio Messa, Mentor

“The programme gave me the opportunity to work with leading experts in the field of nephrology, participate in research projects, prepare scientific articles, and develop a network of contacts. The knowledge I gained resulted, a.o., in a project awarded by EIT Food – a global leader in food innovation.” – Natalia Pietrzkowska, Mentee

“A truly excellent opportunity to engage with and learn from the next generation of nephrologists.” – Peter Stenvinkel, Mentor

“As a Nephrologist from Eastern Europe, I’ve noticed that our scientific activity is less pronounced compared to Western Europe. However, my meeting with Mentor Professor Andrzej Więcek has inspired me to be more active and strive for publications in widely cited journals.” – Andrejus Bura, Mentee

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