The ESTRO mentoring programme is entering its fifth year. More than 100 mentees and mentors from across Europe have taken part in this structured initiative, which is designed to support professional development, leadership growth, and cross-disciplinary collaboration in radiation oncology. The programme aims to connect early- and mid-career professionals with experienced mentors from different backgrounds, in order to foster reflection, confidence, and long-term engagement at both local and pan-Europe levels.

In this article, first-time participants reflect on the impact of the programme, the particular value of cross-disciplinary mentoring, and how the experience has supported their development beyond traditional professional boundaries, helping to shape the next generation of leaders within ESTRO and the wider radiation oncology community.

 

Mentee: Amanda Webster, research and development specialist Radiation Therapist at University College London Hospital, London, UK, a Cancer Research UK RadNet City of London PhD Student at University College London, and a Radiotherapy Trials Quality Assurance (RTTQA) RTT.

 

 

A conversation with Amanda Webster (Mentee) and Åsa Carlsson-Tedgren (Mentor)

Where were you in your career when you joined the mentoring programme?

Amanda, mentee:
I joined the programme in 2021, at a point of significant transition. I was new in post as a radiation therapist (RTT) at a hospital where I was a new recruit and navigating a dual clinical-academic role for the first time. It was an exciting but challenging period, with competing demands and expectations, and I was still finding my feet both clinically and academically. Having protected time to reflect with an experienced colleague came at exactly the right moment.

Åsa, mentor:
I worked at a university hospital, where I spent approximately half my time on clinical medical-physics work and the other half on research as an associate professor. I supervised three medical physicists, two of whom similarly spent half their time on PhD studies and the other half on clinical service. I held the grants that funded my PhD students.

 

What did the mentoring programme offer you at that stage?

Amanda, mentee:
It offered something distinct from line management or local support: a neutral, confidential space in which to step back, tease out challenges, and think more strategically about my development. The conversations enabled me to reflect on priorities, confidence, and longer-term direction, rather than focusing only on day-to-day pressures. That space was incredibly valuable during a period of change.

Åsa, mentor:
It gave me the opportunity to gain insight into a role very similar to those of the PhD students and younger colleagues at my hospital. It served as a reminder of challenges that may have been familiar in earlier career stages, but had faded in my memory over time. My challenges at a more senior level often relate to issues such as securing research funding; in comparison, this experience highlighted how easily clear communication can be deprioritised in demanding environments. It reinforced the responsibility of senior colleagues to be explicit about openness and dialogue from the outset, and to return to these conversations over time. Such clarity is beneficial both for individuals and for the work and projects they are involved in.

 

Your mentoring relationship crossed disciplines; why was that valuable?

Amanda, mentee:
Although I’m an RTT and my mentor was a medical physicist, the strength of the mentoring relationship wasn’t about our professional backgrounds, but about the roles and career pathways we were navigating. Radiation oncology is inherently multidisciplinary, and having a mentor with a different perspective helped me to think more broadly about leadership, research, and clinical-academic progression. It reinforced the idea that mentoring works best when it supports where you are going, not just where you come from. I would strongly encourage participants not to hesitate to take part in cross-disciplinary mentoring relationships.

Åsa, mentor:
We found that professional background was not a central factor. While we work with different details, the overall learning processes and professional challenges are similar across professions. Given the limited time available within the mentoring programme, it was neither intended nor realistic to address project-specific details. Instead, the value lay in discussing broader aspects of professional development, expectations, and working within a multidisciplinary clinical environment, making the mentoring relevant across professional boundaries.

 

How has the programme influenced your journey since then?

Amanda, mentee:
Since I took part in the mentoring programme, I’ve grown in confidence within my clinical-academic role at my institution and become much more active within ESTRO. The experience helped me to feel more connected to the wider community and more confident in contributing beyond my local setting. It played a meaningful role in supporting both my professional development and my engagement at a European level.

 

As the ESTRO mentoring programme turns four years old, what would you say to potential participants?

Amanda, mentee:
It’s a genuine opportunity for reflection, growth, and connection. Whether you’re early in your career or considering your next steps, mentoring offers protected space in which to think, learn, and gain perspective. It’s fantastic to see the programme entering its fifth year, and I would wholeheartedly encourage colleagues across disciplines and career stages to take part, as mentees and as mentors.

Åsa, mentor:
I would encourage colleagues to consider participating as mentors. The time commitment is modest, yet the return is significant, as it offers valuable opportunities to reflect on leadership, communication, and one’s role as a senior colleague. The programme provides a rare space in which to step back from everyday pressures, with benefits that extend well beyond the mentoring relationship itself.

 

Following the success of previous editions, the ESTRO mentoring programme will continue with a fifth, which will start at ESTRO 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, in May.