Dr. Dorothy Hatsukami Receives Carole J. Bland Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award for her Impact on Students and Fellow Researchers

Dr. Hatsukami was nominated by former mentees who wrote letters highlighting her profound influence on their careers and personal lives.

Dr. Dorothy Hatsukami, professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Minnesota Medical School, was recently awarded the prestigious Carole J. Bland Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award. Dr. Hatsukami has dedicated over 40 years to the Medical School, shaping not only the trajectory of her field of addiction research, but also the lives and careers of countless students and colleagues.

"I never considered myself as an outstanding mentor," she shares, saying that receiving the award was a surprise. "I’ve always thought of myself as a researcher, and mentoring was something I did along the way." 

Her former mentees wrote letters of nomination highlighting her profound influence on their careers and personal lives, speaking volumes about her effectiveness as a mentor.

Dr. Hatsukami's journey to mentorship began with her own experiences as a mentee. Arriving at the U of M to pursue a PhD in clinical psychology, she initially intended to focus on child clinical psychology, but a course in behavioral pharmacology sparked a passion for understanding how drugs affect the brain, leading her into the field of addiction research. 

While the love of the research drew her to the U of M, she credits the people she has the privilege to work with as the reason she has stayed for over four decades.

 "It’s primarily my colleagues," she explained. "The mentoring I received, both from my senior mentor and from peer mentors, sustained my desire to stay here. I felt lucky to have peers who made research exciting and fun. Together, we fueled each other’s passion for making significant contributions to science."

Her deep appreciation for mentorship is clear in her reflections on her own mentors. "My graduate advisor taught me how to write succinctly, craft a strong grant application, and introduced me to a network of professionals in my field. That mentorship played a crucial role in my career, and I’ve tried to do the same for others."

Dr. Hatsukami’s mentorship philosophy centers around the idea that effective mentoring is about fitting the mentee's needs, not forcing a one-size-fits-all approach.

"It’s important to find a mentor who puts your needs first, someone who listens to you and supports you through the challenges of academia and demands of personal life," she advises. 

Reflecting on her transition from mentee to mentor, Dr. Hatsukami feels that it was a gradual process, beginning primarily with peer mentoring and later formalized through leadership roles. Her contributions to mentorship cover a broad spectrum, extending beyond just one-to-one relationships. With leadership roles at the Masonic Cancer Center, she took on the responsibility of recruiting and retaining faculty, particularly in areas where research gaps existed.

When asked about the impact of receiving the Carole J. Bland Award, Dr. Hatsukami expressed how meaningful it was to be recognized for her mentorship efforts. 

"Of all the awards I’ve received, this one is the most meaningful. It touches your heart because it reflects the tangible impact you’ve had on other people’s lives. With research, you hope your work will make a difference, but you don’t always know. With mentoring, people come forward and say, 'You helped me,' and that’s incredibly powerful."

Dr. Hatsukami’s legacy at the Medical School is not just one of scientific achievement but also of nurturing the next generation of researchers and clinicians. Her advice to those considering becoming mentors is simple yet profound: "It’s an incredibly enriching experience. You learn as much as you give. Being a mentor to faculty provides a significant contribution to the quality and environment of medical school, and it’s a role that is extremely rewarding."