Promising and Established Investigators' Experiences Participating in the National Athletic Trainers' Association Foundation Research Mentor Program

Insight into development of a mentorship program in a professional pharmacy organization

INTRODUCTION

The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Pharmacy Practice Section appointed a task force charged with developing a formal, national mentorship program for association section members. This manuscript provides insight into the creation of a mentorship program in a professional organization.

METHODS

Eighteen task force volunteers were divided into four sub-teams, along with a chair and vice chair. Sub-team responsibilities were segmented into the following: (1) mission and vision development, (2) structure and content, (3) assessment and impact, and (4) dissemination and scholarship. Task force members were surveyed to generate recommendations for creating a formal mentorship program within a professional organization and reflect on the process.

RESULTS

Seven of 14 eligible task force members completed the questionnaire (50% response rate). Most participants were mid-career, involved in a range of development aspects, and represented both committee members and leadership within the task force. The average time commitment was 15-19 hours over the year. The most common resource utilized was published literature and guidance documents. Identified needs included validated assessment tools, a wider range of exemplary programs to review, and guidance on broader organizational support. Strengths included organization and sub-team structure. Areas for improvement included coordination between sub-teams and resources available. Participants noted the challenges of creating a program to meet the diverse needs of a large membership.

CONCLUSIONS

This manuscript demonstrates the feasibility and evidence-based approach in creation of a mentorship program within a national organization.

Postgraduate Research Mentorship Program: An approach to improve the quality of postgraduate research supervision and mentorship in Iranian students

BACKGROUND

One of the important challenges at the Universities of Medical Sciences is the mentorship of postgraduate students' academic theses. Since 2015, the Research Mentorship Program (RMP) has been implemented with the aim of improving research knowledge and skill, thesis quality, and quantity and quality of papers of emerging from postgraduate students' theses.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study with census sampling method (nonprobability sampling), completed between 2015 and 2018. Twenty-eight postgraduate students participated in the program. Each trainee student is done during the research period through the supervisor and another student in a higher level of education as mentor. Questionnaire with open-ended questions and checklist was used for data gathering. For statistical analysis, Chi-square test was used.

RESULTS

100% of the mentors and 93% of the mentee participated at the Research Mentorship Program were satisfied. In addition, the duration of the research course for the master's students participated in the RMP was reduced. Participants in this program had higher quantity and quality of papers resulting from postgraduate student's academic theses. RMP can enhance the postgraduate students' knowledge and skills in their research projects and research methods, develop personal and professional relationships, and promote interpersonal communication as a student or mentor.

CONCLUSION

This program and its similar programs can improve the quality of postgraduate students' academic theses and reduce their research period.