8 Qualities of a Good Mentor

8 Qualities of a Good Mentor8 Qualities of a Good MentorGood beraters do not take their roles lightly. They feel invested in the success of the mentee. Usually, this requires someone who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and possesses the attributes of a good teacher or trainer. Excellent communication skills also are required. A good ratgeber is committed to helping their mentees find success and gratification in their chosen professions. Overall good ratgebering requires empowering the mentee to develop their own strengths, beliefs, and personal attributes.A good berater exhibits the personal attributes it takes to be successful in the field. By showing the mentee what it takes to be productive and successful, they are demonstrating the specific behaviors and actions required to succeed in the field. Remember, the positive attitude must go both ways. Its important that you always treat your mentor with the utmost professionalism. If you are lucky enough to find a mentor, hold on tig ht, and take the relationship seriously. A good mentor is hard to find, and most people dont have mentors. Dont take the relationship for granted. A good mentoring relationship provides new employees as well as interns with someone who will share their professional knowledge and expertise in the field. A good mentor is available to answer any questions relevant to the job.Good mentor-mentee relationships are a two-way street, so show agenuine interest in your mentor and a willingness to do what it takes to become successful as an intern or new employee in the field. Following suggestions and recommendations as well as reading all pertinent literature available in the field is a good way to show your mentor that you are committed to being successful and that you take your career and responsibilities seriously. 01Willingness to Share Skills, Knowledge, and ExpertiseCaiaimage/RobertDaly/Ojo/Getty imagesA good mentor is willing to teach what heknows and accept the mentee where they curr ently are in their professional development.Always taketimeto stop talking about yourself and ask your mentor how he or she is doing. Ask them about their experiences and learn from their stories. Good mentors can remember what it was like just starting out in the field, so use their experience to your advantage.02Demonstrates a Positive Attitude and Acts as a Positive Role ModelA good mentor exhibits the personal attributes it takes to be successful in the field. By showing the mentee what it takes to be productive and successful, she demonstrates the specific behaviors and actions required to succeed in the field.Remember, the positive attitude must go both ways. Its important that you always treat your mentor with the utmost professionalism.03Takes a Personal Interest in the Mentoring RelationshipGood mentors do not take their responsibility lightly and feel invested in the success of the mentee. Usually, this requires someone who is knowledgeable, compassionate, and in possessio n of the attributes of a good teacher or trainer. Excellent communication skills also are required. A good mentor is committed to helping their mentees find success and gratification in their chosen profession. Overall good mentoring requires empowering mentees to develop their strengths, beliefs, and personal attributes.04Exhibits Enthusiasm in the FieldA mentor who does not exhibit enthusiasm about his job will not make a good mentor. Enthusiasm is catching, and new employees want to feel as if their job has meaning and the potential to create a good life.Your mentor has to take a special interest in helping you build and develop as an executive. If they arent enthusiastic about you and the kind of work you are trying to do, it probably wont work out.05Values Ongoing Learning and Growth in the FieldMentors are in a lage to illustrate how the field is growing and changing and that even after many years therestill are new things to learn. Anyone who feels stagnant in their current p osition will not make a good mentor. When starting out in a new career, people want to feel that the time and energy they spend learning will be rewarded and will ultimately provide them withcareer satisfaction. Good mentors are committed and are open to experimenting and learning practices that are new to the field. They continually read professional journals and may even write articles on subjects where they have developed some expertise. They are excited to share their knowledge with new people entering the field and take their role seriously in teaching their knowledge to others. They may choose to teach or attend classes to further develop their knowledge and skills. They enjoy taking workshops and attending professional conferences provided through their membership in professional associations.Finding a mentorwho is committed to continued learning is important. You want someone who truly believes in the power of professional development, regardless of where theyre at in their career.06Provides Guidance and Constructive FeedbackOne of the key responsibilities of a good mentor is to provide guidance andconstructive feedbackto their mentee. This is where the mentee most likely will grow the most by identifying their current strengths and weaknesses and learning how to use these to make themselves successful in the field. A good mentor possesses excellent communication skills and can adjust her communication to the personality style of the mentee. A good mentor also will provide the mentee with challenges that foster professional development and a feeling of accomplishment in learning the field.As the mentee, its crucial that you listen to the feedback, dont take it personally, andactually consider it. Remember, this feedback is coming from the right place.07Respected by Colleagues and Employees in All Levels of the OrganizationIdeally, mentees look up to their mentors and can see themselves filling a mentors role in the future. Mentees want to follow someon e who is well respected by colleagues and coworkers and whose contribution in the field is appreciated.Ask your mentor about his or her experiences working with their team, ask them about how they navigate sticky situations, and ask them about how they got to where they are.08Sets and Meets Ongoing Personal and Professional GoalsA good mentor continually sets a good example by showing how his habits are reflected by personal and professional goals and overall success.That being said, your mentor is busy, and you have to respect that. They arent always going to be able to drop everything to speak with you. Make sure you dont abuse the relationshippick and choose what you bring to your mentor.

How to Prevent and Treat Motion Sickness While Flying

How to Prevent and Treat Motion Sickness While FlyingHow to Prevent and Treat Motion Sickness While FlyingFeeling queasy? Airsickness, a specific type of motion sickness, is a common ailment formany pilots and passengers. It tends to happen mora often early in flight training, as your body adjusts to the moving elements involved with flying an airplane. Passengers are also likely to get airsick since they often read or focus on objects inside the airplane. If youre a new pilot or passenger experiencing airsickness when you fly, try not to become frustrated.Many peopleget airsick when they first begin flying, butthere are methods for overcoming it.The good news is that most people go on to experience rewarding flying hobbies or careers. The Causes of Airsickness Airsickness is the result of the bodys reaction to different signals it tries to interpret. While in a moving vessel, such as an airplane or a car, the vestibular system senses movement in one waywhile the brain interprets a lack of movement from what the eyes see. While flying in an airplane, your eyes tend to adjust to the movement as if youre barely moving. Your body, specifically your inner ear, reacts to the actual movement in relation to gravity and tells your brain what it feels. The conflict of signals confuses the body, creating a feeling of nausea along with many other symptoms. The Symptoms of Airsickness QueasinessNauseaFatigueChillsSweatingIncreased SalivationVomitingYawningHeadacheDizzinessIn severe cases,disorientation or incapacitation Are You Susceptible to Airsickness? Some people are more susceptible to becoming airsick than others. For example, women and children seem to be more vulnerable to motion sickness, as well as new pilots and passengers not used to the flying environment. Pilots not flying the airplane (such as an instructor observing a student) might become sick while in the air since their attention isnt focused on flying. It has been found that paying attention to flight duties can prevent or relieve airsickness. The FAA has published a list of things that can make a person more susceptible to becoming airsick. These coincide with the IM SAFE checklist, and include the following IllnessMedicationStress and AnxietyAlcoholFatigueEmotionsAnxiety How to Prevent Airsickness If you are susceptible to airsickness, start by flying a series of short flights close together to allow your body time to adjust to the motions involved with flying.Eat a nutritious diet that is low in sodium and fat. Dont eat immediately before flying, but dont fly on an empty stomach, either.Stay hydrated.Try to relieve any anxieties you might have about flying before you get into the airplane. If youre learning how to fly, study as much as you can before the flight. Showing up prepared will decrease your stress and anxiety level and might prevent a nervous stomach. If youre a student pilot, talk to your instructor about your options. For example, instead of attempti ng the scheduled lesson on steep turns, maybe you could try a straight-and-level cross-country flight, while your body adjusts to the flying experience.Natural remedies, such as ginger or pressure therapy can help in some cases, but these remedies arent proven. How to Alleviate Airsickness Get fresh air. Open the air vents and windows if possible. Try to cool off.Look outside at the fixed point on the horizon and make all turns, climbs, and descents very shallow. Keep your head as still as possibleUse supplemental oxygen, if available.If youre the pilot not flying and youre skill level allows it, ask to take the controls. Focusing your attention on one thing can keep your mind off of feeling sick. What leid to Do If youre a passenger, dont read while flying.Dont put your head down.Dont forget to take sick sacks with you.Dont focus on your airsickness. If you think youll be sick, you probably will be. Try to stay positive and focus on specific tasks to keep your mind busy.If youre a pilot, dont forget to fly the airplane. If youre too sick to fly, land as soon as practical and get your feet on the ground.If youre a pilot, dont take any medication for airsickness before flying. There are no FAA-approved medications or over-the-counter drugs that pilots are allowed to take before flying to treat airsickness. All nausea and motion sickness medications have side effects that can affect a pilots mental state and judgment, as well as cause drowsiness. If you are a pilot with a severe case of motion sickness, talk to your aviation medical examiner about your options. Getting over airsickness can take some time, but if you are persistent and follow some of these guidelines, you have a good chance of conquering any motion sickness you may have in the beginning.

How to write an effective Data Scientist resume (with a real example)

How to write an effective Data Scientist resume (with a real example)How to write an effective Data Scientist resume (with a real example)Data Science has become one of the fastest-growing fields in recent years. It has also been mentioned as one of the worlds best jobs across several industries and has a very lucrative career trajectory the average salary for a data scientist in the US in 2016 was over $100,000. But standing out and getting a job in this competitive field is a real challenge.Ultimately, a great resume is one of the most effective ways to get noticed. As weve learned from Pavels story, an effective data scientist resume can have you on the track to a fulfilling and exciting career. Steps for Writing a Data Scientist ResumeTo write a successful data scientist resume, you can make use of these steps that weve distilled from Pavels approach to getting hired at Booking.com.1. Research opportunities in the fieldBefore putting your resume together, you need to see what va cancies are out there. Data science is not limited to one field and it can be fruitful to specialize in one sector or another. Personal networks are one of the most effective ways to find opportunities. Pavel benefited from being referred to the position by a friend. You can start by checking LinkedIn connections or asking around your networks.2.Analyze the job descriptionUnderstanding the job description will allow you to tailor your resume to the specific requirements of that vacancy. I customized the resume in a way that it addresses everything that the requirements in the position description said. Pavel used this strategy when assessing the vacancy with Booking. The better you understand what the company is looking for the better you can tailor your resume perfectly.3. Find resources on the topic While data science is a new area, there are resources out there that give some insight into the types of things recruiters are looking for. One of the best sources of information for t his are books on interview questions for data scientists (which are actually a thing, look them up). Glassdoor is also perfect for finding past interview questions. Pavel credits this kind of research into past interview questions as being crucial I bought those books which were expensive but Im very happy I did that now.Understanding the questions that you might be asked in an interview allows you to specify experience in your resume. If you know youll be asked about coding, make sure thats included in the resume even if its not heavily featured in the job description. 4. Build your resume with a flexible platform Often, resumes are split into two categories. As Pavel puts it,Theres two components aesthetic, the more beautiful the piece of paper. And the second is the content. What I really appreciate is that supports both components. When you create your resume, you want to make sure its relevant to the vacancy (as covered in step 2) but it needs to catch the recruiters attention . Melding both of those together puts your best foot forward and gives you the best chance at landing an interview. 5. Put your resume through a review Youre not always going to catch mistakes in your resume. Its also very difficult to predict how your resume reads from another persons perspective. Having friends look over your resume or even other professionals in your area is the brde thing you should do before sending it out in an application. With , you can easily refer your resume to others using our built-in referral link. This way, friends, family, and colleagues can leave comments suggesting edits where necessary.Writing Your Data Scientist Resume These real resume examples have shown that a great data science resume accomplish three things catches the attention of the recruiter, answers the questions of the job description and shows your personality. All three are doable using a clean, pleasing design. Like Pavel, you can try our builder to create a resume that ticks all the boxes for aesthetics and content.

Job References How to Format and Present Them

Job References How to Format and Present ThemJob References How to Format and Present ThemHow do you deliver job references to an executive recruiter or hiring manager? To start, remove References available upon request from your resume.Youve got glowing references. How and when do you put them in front of an executive recruiter or hiring manager? Do you send them along with your resume? Do you walk into the interview with a prepared list of references to call?The first thing most job seekers need to do is delete the phrase, References available upon request from their resumes, said Mary Schumacher, a certified professional resume writer who works with Ladders. I dont think any resume needs this kind of statement, she said. Its a clich and not necessary to include.Beyond that, the rules are similar to resume-formatting guidelines Use standard file formats and fonts, save files using keywords, and dont lie, said Schumacher, Steven familienkutsche Vreede and Dan Dorotik, also certified professional resume writers who work with Ladders.How to format and submit job referencesFile format Save the file as a Microsoft Word or PDF document, separate from your resume.File name Save your references document as either Professional References, (Your Name) references or simply References. Branding consistency To ensure your references look and feel like the rest of the documents youve submitted for a job application, resume writers recommend taking a cover letter and saving it as a new document titled References or something similarly descriptive.Cut everything but the header, which contains your name and contact information, Van Vreede suggested. This way, a job seeker will have a consistent, branded framework for their resume, cover letter and references, giving them a more professional appearance.Reference information The list should include at least three references, preferably from your most recent employers. Include name, title, company, business address, e-mail and p hone (optional).Make sure contact information is current.Print it Print several copies of the reference list (in case you are interviewed by multiple people) on high-quality, ivory or white resume paper for an interview, Van Vreede said.Post it Schumacher noted that many people have references right on their LinkedIn profiles, as quotes from bosses or customers. LinkedIn makes it easy to request recommendations simply by e-mailing those in your network just click on Recommendations on LinkedIns menu.When to submit Provide references during the interview phase.Submission exceptions Submit before interviews if youre in a field where its required, such as education, or if specifically asked.

The Leaked Secret to Physician Assistant Resume Uncovered

The Leaked Secret to Physician Assistant Resume Untitelblatted To develop a great curriculum vitae (CV), its important to see the function it is going to have in the residency application approach. Normally your cv will wish to be focused on unique areas based on where the job which youre applying to is located. No matter your degree of job knowledge, your resume format is vital to making your application stick out. The Physician Assistant Resume Cover Up Creating a resume with the help of a design template will allow you to truly feel mindful of the resume areas which you should fill up. Start with choosing the security or sign template you are going to need. Now you understand how to compose a Medical cv template. There are respective templates that youre in a position to use to consider about the work application. What Physician Assistant Resume Is - and What it Is Not There are lots of resume search sites all over the world and the principal intention of the websites is usually to serve the companies by looking for the people with the right skills. Even though fruchtwein of resumes should offer data in your work and education experience, as well as your abilities and achievements, there are various ways to present this info. When you have done so, you will be on your way to creating an excellent CV. A CV, on the flip side, shows the complete breadth of your professional accomplishments. Physicians assistants also have to be self-motivated and organized since they will perform many duties and juggle massive quantities of patients without immediate supervision. To find out more on what it requires to be a Family Physician, take a look at our complete Family Physician Job Description. Your Physician Assistant skills list should consist of tasks that are linked to your specialization. Licensure and Certification Physician assistants have to be licensed so as to practice. You have to list whether you specialize in the area of surgery or in the subject of medicine. Utilize theresume summaryif you have at least 2 decades of PA experience. Track record of creating initial diagnoses regarding a patients injury or illness. Producing your resume is essential. There are several orthopedic sub-specialties. If you want to receive a new job and you want some good Orthopedic resume examples youre on the correct site. Now you have a few ideas about just what the format resembles and what things to write for your physician CV, its far better begin. Anytime you can create your resume letter customized and private, you may have a better response. The letter needs to be greeted and addressed to the correct person. A cover letter comprises the overview of the qualifications of a potential job seeker. Your printed name has to be included in the memo section, if you arent submitting a personal check. Prior to you even try to compose the letter make sure you might have researched all of the vital information concerning the enterprise. Like your CV, your cover letter ought to be short and simple to read. Theres no normal cover letter. Potential employers can be exceedingly thorough when it has to do with examining your resume. The Physician Assistant profession is just one of the quickest growing and highly regarded professions in the nation. Your Physician CV objective ought to be to reflect your education and experience in the business. Physician assistants serve an important function in the health care profession. Conversely, if youre asking for a research position, you can distribution policy your research experience initially and include more detail on previous research experiences. Zetys resume templates are made with the aid of recruiters and adhere to the best practices in HR. Some programs also require some sort of healthcare experience. Performed clinical research associated with certain operations. In addition, make certain you halt the letter on an excellent note by needing the typical person fantastic luck. What can provide you with a better edge over the rest of the applicants is when you show them that youre a respectable person by how you dress. Youll get such ready types for each type of task that you would like to apply. Where you can in a place to transfer all sort of files whenever you may. Potential employers want to learn what you (and your family members, if applicable) are interested in since they need to assess what your ties to the community could be. Its possible to also incorporate the address and contact number of the school. It isnt necessary to to compose long descriptions of your duties and duties. You are going to need certainly not permit them know in which you got information they have an opening as it generally doesnt really aid you with anything instead have them know why you desire to be a member of the company.

Facts, Fiction and Writing a Resume for Real Estate Investors

Facts, Fiction and Writing a Resume for Real Estate Investors What You Should Do About Writing a Resume for Real Estate Investors Beginning in the Next 5 Minutes Utilizing an expert profile rather than a career objective is a significant means to quickly demonstrate a possible employer why they ought to invest more time into reading the remainder of your resume. In the same style, carefully crafting your real estate business program is a fundamental part of your trip. The thought of selling is something which scares lots of people out of genuine estate. In a partnership, youre oftentimes made to go over all decisions however trivial with your partner, which can add a great deal of time to your dealings. Lots of people just do not make decent business partners. A lot needs to be managed as an investor. fhigkeit investors and customers wish to understand whom they are handling. What You Dont Know About Writing a Resume for Real Estate Investors Naturally, the property needs to be insured in the event of calamities and disaster. Theres nothing terribly exciting concerning the financial section of a company program. As a renter, obtaining a pet can on occasion make it even more complicated to obtain a new house though. If you intend to purchase a residential house, pick the ideal neighborhood for you. From time to time, the demand for property repairs will probably arise. When you understand that the property includes a huge return, do whatever you can to purchase it. In the event the property is used for business, choose one thats located in a location with a huge population. Your property is just as good and as valuable as where its located. The Chronicles of Writing a Resume for Real Estate Investors It is essential for any real estate investor to realize that incorporating your business is nearly universally regarded among the most effective ways to guard yourself from personal liability. Alongside the investment procedure, the advantages of investing in real estate ought to be written too. Of course real estate isnt a get-rich-quick scheme so patience is necessary. Creating a real estate investment can actually be an easy concept if you understand both the advantages and the responsibilities that includes it, together with the risks involved.

Vital Pieces of Where to Put Gpa on Resume

Vital Pieces of Where to Put Gpa on Resume This has a tendency to be for really competitive entry-level positions which tend to get a good deal of competition. That means you may include classes that you intend to take, but mucksmuschenstill have not completed. Thats a good deal of competition A number of these firms actively recruit on college campuses across the usa, and desire a way to rapidly differentiate between different groups of applicants. Your first region of focus ought to be professional clubs and organizations tied right to your career field. Some jobs and a few employers may call for a greater baseline minimum. If youve held any preceding jobs (such as internships) In an netz review process, the exact same recruiter might be sifting through hundreds of resumes hoping to locate a best applicant. The interview may offer you a chance to speak about your hobbies, as it supplies you with a chance to reveal how well rounded you are. Infographic resumes are just a supplement. Graphic-based resumes permit you to lay out complex info in a simplistic way. The Fundamentals of Where to Put Gpa on Resume Revealed In this instance, there is a superb chance they could ask you for a copy of your transcript to confirm your GPA. Just bear in mind there are a few methods to go around a minimal GPA without lying. The very first point is really much self-explanatory. The point to remember is you maynot state, or even vague imply that youre a CFA charterholder, until youre actually one. Introducing Where to Put Gpa on Resume You might think that the worst case scenario is you dont get the job and continue on. Work or internship experience in your area and solid resume references carry lots of weight and can ensure employers that it is possible to manage the job. Most often once you complete the job application there is going to be a location for you to list your references. Needless to say, when it comes time to complete the job program, list all your employers, even the short ones. I believe the arguments for listing your GPA differ based on whether youre applying in partie or on the internet. Your education section can either come following your experience section, or you are able to add it before in case youve recently graduated. So make certain to get in touch with your regional Department of Health and ask about the specific requirements. Things You Wont Like About Where to Put Gpa on Resume and Things You Will Its stress-free, not risk-free While there are numerous terrific advantages to studying online, you want to be careful to prevent any pitfalls. When considering what things to put on a resume, skills are the absolute most important. Hands-on skills cant be learned online, and based on which state you reside in, only the theoretical portion of your education can be done online or none whatsoever. Have a look at this post on including the proper hard and soft skills. The Chronicles of Where to Put Gpa on Resume Therefore, in sum, you dont have to list GPA in your resume after youve got your very first job. Its possible to also set your GPA within this section. In the majority of cases, you wont even be considered on account of your low GPA. At this stage, you own a college GPA youll be able to include instead (unless that is extremely low). For those who havent completed your degree still, you can still list your present GPA, but note how many credits are taken to reach that average. Think about including a lower GPA if youre in an incredibly challenging program. You cant who is on the opposite end of your resume review and the way they may react. Deciding what things to put on your resume can be as hard as trying to determine what things to wear for the interview. Now that you know what things to put on your resume, lets at a few matters you should leave off if youd like to have interviews. The Honest to Goodness Truth on Where to Put Gpa on Resume So crafting an effe ctive resume is vital to be able to put your very best foot forward. 1 method is to not include it whatsoever. You dont need to bring a hobby section, but it is a good way to showcase your personality and set yourself apart. The experience section will compose the body of your resume. Look at placing your GPA only as long as you have under 3 decades of experience. If youre an undergrad, you might still have the time to compensate for your earlier carelessness in not keeping up your grades. Youre going to learn all there is to learn about whether or not you ought to consist of GPA on a resume. GPAs in non-technical fields arent as scrutinized, though naturally, it can be contingent on the individual employer. Jokes on me because jobs just dont care as much as you might think about grades. Dont forget, education doesnt have to be limited to formal education. Many situations this is how it is, as students have a tendency to seek out their footing and buckle down the last half of their college term. Again, this is just for recent graduates.

Mental Health Employee Benefits

Mental Health Employee BenefitsMental Health Employee BenefitsIt is estimated that nearly one in five American adults has suffered from some type of mental illness in their lifetime, which accounts for some 4.2 percent of all working adults in the USA. (Source NIH) The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) advises that Serious mental illness costs America $193.2 billionin lost earnings per year. Further, Individuals living with serious mental illness face an increased risk of having chronic medical conditions. Adults in the U.S. living with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than others, largely due to treatable medical conditions. How Behavioral Health Benefits Support Wellness Maintaining good mental health requires access to mental health services and support. However, a vast number of health care plans do not provide benefits that cover the specific needs of behavioral health patients, nor the medications and therapies they need to have normal lives. This results in limited resources for employees who may be dealing with stressful personal and professional situations, depression, emotional issues, and interpersonal dysfunctions. Not having access to mental health benefits can cause sufferers to turn to unhealthy ways of dealing with things, such as masking symptoms and acting out in unacceptable ways in the form of substance abuse and addictions. Over long periods, lack of mental health leads to poor productivity, low employee morale, and legal risks to the company when an employee finally comes to the end of their coping skills. Designing Mental Health Benefits That Work Fortunately, there are behavioral health plans that help address this very real herausforderung across many workplaces. This often involves the use of a multi-integrated approach. The components of a well-designed behavioral health plan include On-Demand Access to a Live Person When a person is in the middle of a perceived crisis, whether it be something pe rsonal or professional, having a knowledgeable and caring person to talk to makes all the difference. A number of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) provide direct access to telephone counselors, nurses, and other health providers who can direct an affected employee to the behavioral health services he or she may need. Additionally, emergency room nurses and doctors should be ready to provide prompt and respectful care to adults suffering from mental illness symptoms. Immediate Approvals for Services Along with fast access to a live person to help someone cope with what they are experiencing, being able to get admitted to inpatient care to treat an immediate threat to an employees or their dependents safety is a must. Behavioral health plans offer a faster pre-certification process and claims handling than standard healthcare insurance.Data and Service Integration An important factor for any behavioral health insurance program is that it can seamlessly and confidentially manage the healthcare data of each member in a secure environment. In the past, it was harder to control and get members into the right programs due to privacy issues with paper records management methods. With HIPAA guidelines in place, a mental health system can allow group insurance plan members privacy when they need to access mental health services. Prescription Assistance When someone needs medication to treat an underlying mental or behavioral health issue, a possible barrier is having access to approved prescriptions. Behavioral health programs offer greater success with obtaining medications to treat a large number of problems, from depression to substance abuse. Additionally, this must be an ongoing level of support as mental health patients often decide to go off their medications when they start to feel better. Physicians and pharmacists need a way to communicate the importance of regular drug therapy. Fortunately, the stigma associated with mental illness is decreasing, and patie nts are able to get the care they need using their mental health plan benefits. In addition to regular psychological care, medication, and talk therapies, the outlook for those dealing with mental health issues is getting more positive.

Mapping the Heart for Future Health

Mapping the Heart for Future Health Mapping the Heart for Future Health Mapping the Heart for Future HealthDoctors rely on cardiovascular imaging to get vital information about patients heart function, their anatomy, and pertinent tissue features. It stands to reason that if imaging data from many patients with the same condition is pooled (anonymously, of course) doctors can tease out trends and patterns to help them and others better understand the condition.Its a viable idea, but one thing holds it back the sheer amount of data that imaging returns can be overwhelming for healthcare providers, who struggle with how to best glean meaningful results from the reams of information. Enter phenomapping, a technique traditionally used to make sense of vast amounts of DNA information and to classify it by type. The technique is now making its way into healthcare research.Phenomapping synthesizes many images to create phenotypes for patients with a particular disease. A phenotype groups pa tients by their predominant physical and biochemical characteristics. Not all patients with a particular heart condition, for example, have the same clinical profile. That is, the disease doesnt manifest itself in the exact same way in all patients, although it can within big groups.Researchers are now looking at the tool as a way to synthesize and make sense of cardiovascular imaging information, thus offering insight into how diseases play out subgroups of patients with the same disease.Sanjiv Shah, a Northwestern University professor of cardiology medicine, has used phenomapping to help overcome what he calls a one-size-fits-all approach to healthcare. The approach can classify a group of patients with one disease into separate phenotypes within that category.That approach is a major challenge in the treatment of chronic medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart failure, Shah says. The fact is, one size doesnt always fit all.Physicians can better tailor treatment t o patients if they understand variations within the overall medical condition the patient has. This is where teasing out sub-groups of patients who manifest the same disease in different ways is helpful, Shah says.The key is finding patterns among patients with those conditions. Thats where phenomapping comes in. For a 2015 study, he and his team used machine-learning algorithms to find patterns among 67 laboratory, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic markers from 397 patients with the heart condition HFpEF. Though phenomapping has traditionally been used to analyze genetic data, the researchers used the computer algorithms on non-genetic data gathered from patients in the university clinic, Shah says.Current therapy doesnt improve outcomes for the 3 million adults in the United States who have HFpEF. Large-scale clinical trials have failed to demonstrate a significant benefit for any HFpEF treatment, Shah says. That was really the impetus behind the phenomapping analysis.The machine-learning tools led investigators to discover three distinct groups of HFpEF patients. An analysis of the groups showed that each of the three types of HFpEF has significantly different clinical profiles and levels of risk for hospitalization or death, and each demands tailored therapeutic strategies, Shah says.In future clinical trials, the researchers plan to offer each of those three groups of patients specific, tailored treatments.The findings are a revolutionary departure from the current standard of care that lumps these patients into one broad HFpEF category, Shah says.Though much of the phenomapping research has been on patients with heart conditions, Shah expects other chronic diseases such as diabetes to be investigated and categorized by phenotype using the technique.Shah says future studies using the Northwestern techniques on HFpEF patients from other hospitals are needed to verify the Northwestern results. But he believes phenomapping has much to tell us in the near future about how to best match the medication to the patient.Jean Thilmany is an independent writer. For Further Discussion That one-size-fits-all approach is a major challenge in the treatment of chronic medical conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart failure. The fact is, one size doesnt always fit all.Prof. Sanjiv Shah, Northwestern University