This Program Is:

• An annual conference which brings together high school and college students to explore health care issues and prepare for health careers.
• For students who have expressed an interest in a career in the health professions.
• Beneficial in helping mentees gain insight into successful preparation for an application to professional schools.
• Student run.
• Aimed at meeting the long-term objective of increasing underrepresented student representation in health professions programs.
• Set up so that it provides an opportunity for college and high school students to seek advice from mentors enrolled in professional health profession programs.
• Geared so that the network is established which includes the middle school through professional school educational community.
• Designed so that medical, dental, graduate, nursing and allied health students serve as mentors to college and high school students.
• Sponsored by the local chapters of the Student National Medical Association, the Student National Dental Association and the Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs.

The Roles and Functions of a Mentor

To be:

• An advisor.
• A coach.
• A counselor.
• An experienced leader.
• An advocate.
• A patron.
• A role model.
• A guide.
• A sponsor.
• A support system.
• An objective critic.
• A confidante.
• A source of inspiration to the mentee.
• The individual who shows the mentee the ropes.
• There for the mentee.
• Helpful so that the mentee gets used to the particular professional culture.
• The sounding board that the mentee needs to express ideas.
• The support person to the mentee in setting appropriate goals and methods of assessing progress in relation to these goals.

Advantages of Participating in a Mentoring Program

A mentor can help a learner:

• Find useful resources.
• Set realistic targets.
• Plan for personal development.
• Become more self-confident.
• Cope with challenges.
• Learn from experience.

Contact

Granville Wrensford, Ph.D.
Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-3920
Email: gwrensford@uchc.edu

Kerry-Ann Stewart, Ph.D.
Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington CT 06030-3920
Email: kestewart@uchc.edu

Jan Figueroa
Department of Health Career Opportunity Programs
UConn Health
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030-3920
Email: jfigueroa@uchc.edu