Mentorship

The Underserved Pathway mentorship is a longitudinal relationship to support students’ interest and commitment to caring for people who are underserved.

Who are Underserved Pathway mentors?

Underserved Pathway mentors are healthcare professionals from across the WWAMI region who are involved in the care of underserved populations in a variety of capacities. UP mentors must satisfy at least one of the following criteria:

– primarily care for underserved patients
– have extensive history of caring for underserved patients
– are from a group historically underrepresented in medicine
– conduct research related to the health of historically marginalized people

Why is mentorship impactful?

Working with a mentor provides students early and consistent exposure to professionals who can offer valuable insights into what it is like to care for underserved populations. These mentors can answer questions, provide advice, and support students through their education and professional development. 

How do students find their mentors?

Students take the lead on identifying a mentor, but the UP Team is always happy to offer mentor recommendations! Just email us at upath@uw.edu.
 
Many students ask a healthcare professional with whom they already have an existing mentor relationship to also be their UP mentor. Students might know this mentor through their Primary Care Practicum (PCP) if it was completed at an underserved site, TRUST, RUOP, a community organization, service learning or advocacy work, or another UWSOM pathway.
 
Students are required to confirm their mentor with the UP Program Manager (upath@uw.edu) by the end of Foundations. Students enrolling after the end of Foundations Phase need to show mentorship over time prior to enrolling. Students schedule and meet with their mentor once per quarter or a minimum of four meetings per year. Meetings can occur via in-person, or by phone, web-based conferencing, or e-mail. The complete Pathway Mentorship Policy can be found here.
 

UP mentoring roadmap Check out our Underserved Pathway Mentor Roadmap — suggestions for discussion topics with your mentor for all four years of medical school, with a few reminders about Pathway deadlines!

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more reading: check out Making the Most of Mentors: A Guide for Mentees by Zerzhan J., Hess, R., Schur E., Phillips, R., and Rigotti, N. (2009). Academic Medicine.; 84:140–144