Perspectives

Building Bridges: The Impact of Matching Mentees and Mentors in a Premedical Peer Mentoring Program

Authors: Melenis Lopez, BS, Brittney Moore, BS, Adrianne Mitchell, BS, Lauren Nuriddin, MS, DeAnna Turner, BS

Abstract

Across the United States, only 11% of all physicians are Black or Latinx, and this percentage has only increased by 2% since the year 2000. Near-peer mentoring programs help increase diversity in medical schools, close the gap of limited access to resources, raise awareness of opportunities, and allow minority premedical students to feel heard and seen by mentors who have shared experiences. Furthermore, mentoring programs can create authentic, long-standing relationships between mentors and mentees. To accomplish this, mentors need to align with their mentee’s expectations, build rapport, maintain open communication, and facilitate their mentee’s agency.

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