There is a saying in comparative religion that "truth is one, sages call it by many names," which aptly describes the wonderful series of paired mentor/trainee papers in this issue of Academic Psychiatry. A Day in the Life of a Psychiatrist in-the-Making shows us that there are indeed many names: forensics, child, consultation-liaison, general psychiatry, through which residents reach the truth of caring for persons with mental illness in an academic context. These snapshots of resident life are a microcosm of the rich diversity of our contemporary trainees who are united in their commitment to a career dedicated to research, teaching, and clinical care constituting the world of academic psychiatry. We meet in these pages trainees striving to balance their personal and professional lives in different ways, whether married, single, parents or pet owners. Some are already conducting research or transitioning into administration through serving as chief residents, and nearly all are already involved in teaching medical students and their fellow residents.
Crucial to the transition of these young psychiatrists from resident to attending is the mentoring of their respective sages: the mentors who generously share their time and experience, passing on the academic tradition. We glimpse in their words the great rewards of helping the next generation of clinician-teacher-researchers to take their place as colleagues in academic psychiatry and realize that mentoring is a source of nurturance for their own professional development. We read a lot of discouraging news about psychiatry these days regarding the fragmentation of the mental health care system, the waning of psychotherapy and the ever-present financial pressures. Yet, despite these very real challenges, these residents are undaunted in their desire to contribute to the progress of their profession. In doing so, they provide hope and inspiration for all of us in academic psychiatry.