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John Mendelsohn: Not all mentors are leaders, but all leaders should be mentors

Collage photo of John Mendelsohn and Sendurai Mani

Mar 30, 2025, 14:47

John Mendelsohn: Not all mentors are leaders, but all leaders should be mentors

Sendurai Mani, Associate Director of Translational Oncology at Legorreta Cancer Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐃 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧
‘Not all mentors are leaders, but all leaders should be mentors’ This saying perfectly encapsulates my experience with one of the great leaders in academia, Dr. John Mendelsohn.

When I joined MD Anderson Cancer Center, I was eager to gather insights from the best, and Dr. Mendelsohn was at the top of my list. Despite his significant responsibilities as president, overseeing more than 18,000 employees and leading MD Anderson Cancer Center, the number one hospital for cancer care, he demonstrated what true leadership looks like.

Upon my request, Dr. Mendelsohn didn’t just schedule a meeting; he ensured it was productive. Realizing that 30 minutes wouldn’t suffice, he didn’t hesitate to cancel his next appointment and made sure we had enough time for a meaningful discussion. During our meeting, he generously shared his wisdom on navigating the challenges of academia.

I am profoundly grateful for Dr. Mendelsohn’s visionary leadership and mentorship; he even became a member of my faculty mentorship committee along with some amazing people, including Dr. Jeff Rosen, Dr. Gordon Mills, Dr. James Allison, and my former chairman, Dr. Ignacio Wistuba.

John has left a lasting impact on me and many others at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Thank you, Dr. Mendelsohn, for demonstrating that the essence of leadership is not just about leading but also about nurturing and guiding.”