OMSA Mentorship program

The Ontario Medical Student Association (OMSA) Mentorship Program aims to establish one-on-one relationships between Ontario medical students and physicians based on professional, clinical and personal interests with the goal being to provide direct support, encouragement and mentorship that is specifically tailored to students’ goals.

What’s involved?

This project began in 2020 as a small pilot program limited to 14 mentor-mentee matches. OMSA has had remarkable interest from students in this program and is hoping to expand their list of potential mentors and develop a mentor database for future years. The role of a mentor would include, but is not limited, to the following:

• assisting in the development and assessment of goals with your mentee
• supporting your mentee in their personal and professional development
• encouragement of career exploration through sharing of your own journey
• providing insight into the day-to-day realities of working in your field

Expectations of mentor and mentee

• it is recommended that mentors and mentees connect on a monthly basis for the duration of six months or longer (at the discretion of the pair)
• as this is a provincewide initiative, mentors and mentees may not be located in the same city or affiliated with the same institution. Meetings may take place over the phone or via virtual means
• there will be informal, regular check-ins with both mentors and mentees by members of the OMSA Mentorship Committee in order to assess progress and to provide an opportunity for feedback

As the current public health environment has affected medical learners’ clinical exposures, the need for alternate, more formalized forms of mentorship are increasing. This program addresses a need that has been identified by the OMSA and provides an exciting opportunity and rewarding experience for medical students and physicians alike.

To add your name to the mentor database for future mentorship opportunities with a mentee, please complete the OMSA’s mentor sign up form. For more information about the OMSA Mentorship Program, contact Courtney Leach, VP Student Affairs at student_affairs@omsa.ca, Emily Aleksa, Senior Mentorship Program Coordinator or Humayon Akhuanzada, Junior Mentorship Program Coordinator at omsa.mentorship@gmail.com.