**1. Introduction**

#### **1.1 Origins of mentoring**

When examining the differences between coaching and mentoring, it is useful first to consider the origins of these words, and their original usage and meanings. The term *mentor* comes from ancient Greek mythology [1]. In Homer's epic poem, *The Odyssey*, a character named Mentor was a trusted friend and advisor to king Odysseus. When Odysseus left for the Trojan War, he entrusted Mentor to look after and care for his son Telemachus. While away, Odysseus's house was overrun by those who wished to remove him from power. The goddess Athena disguised herself as Mentor, and provided counsel and guidance to Telemachus, and encouraged him to go on a journey to find his father [2]. In modern times, *mentor* was first mentioned in the Francois Fenlon's book *Les Adventures deTelemaque* in 1699, a rewriting of *The Odyssey*. In this version, Mentor takes a more pivotal role in the teaching and guidance of Telemaque. The book was immensely popular and became the most reprinted book in the 18th century. It is from the book's popularity that the word which we now use as *mentor* gained usage, first appearing in the English language around 1750 [2]. Today mentoring has become a well-established pillar in medicine as well as many other fields, including business, teaching, and academics.

#### **1.2 Origins of coaching**

The term *coach* was first used to refer to academic tutors at Oxford in the 1830s. These coaches would guide students by asking questions that helped them develop reflective thinking and analysis [3]. This term is now commonly associated in sports, where a coach guides a player in the development of skills and instructs them what to do during games. Nowadays, *coach* is more so used in business and psychology, and is rarely a term related to medical education [4, 5].
