Mentorship Program
Medical Organization for Latino Advancement
The mission of the MOLA Mentorship Program is to provide sustained, professionally-supported relationships to underrepresented Latino/a students pursuing careers in health care. The MOLA Mentorship Program aims to build a pipeline to health care careers for motivated high school and undergraduate students. Mentorship is provided in a team-based structure across all levels: Health Care Leaders, Physicians, Resident Physicians, Medical Students, Undergraduates, and High School Students
Program Components
Primary Areas of Focus
- Recruitment (i.e. increasing awareness of and/or stimulating interest in health profession careers and degree programs
- Academic preparation (e.g., increasing STEM knowledge
- Retention or completion of health professions degree programs (support for those currently enrolled)
Desired Outcomes
Mentees built a strong curriculum vitae and got their professional headshot taken at MOLA’s CV Workshop and Headshots Session. Mentees learned new skills using the manikins at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center’s state-of-the-art simulation center. Mentees also benefited from a joint event with Illinois Heart Rescue to teach a Basic Training: Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Class skills class. Partnership with a mentorship focused organization: I Am Abel, and presentation at their annual conference. Kicked off the Mentorship Program successfully at the 3rd Annual Latino Health Symposium with the MOLA Mentorship Breakfast. Committee members engaged the audience in a talk titled, “How to be an Effective Mentor and Successful Mentee”. Partnered with Junior Achievement of Chicago to host Doctor’s Day. Chicago Public School students were exposed to amazing doctors through panels and participated in workshops that highlighted finances, career success, and basic life support. Partnered with University of Illinois College of Medicine Hispanic Center of Excellence to provide MOLA’s Mentorship Program an opportunity to hear the stories and advice of residents and MDs. Dr. Celeste Cruz closed the event with her inspiring story on how she became a breast surgeon and the work she currently does.
Program Location
Settings: In-person
In-person location: Please contact program directly
Timing
Duration: Please contact program directly.
Time periods: During the academic year
Program Components
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Academic skills development (e.g. study skills, test-taking
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Mentoring (e.g. pairing with current health profession student)
As part of the program, a curriculum was implemented to build skills and provide resources to our mentees. The 12 sessions covered topics on: Transgender Health, Student Loans, My History-Dr. Rosalinda Alvarado, How to make a professional CV, ERAS Blueprint: Empowering Latinx for Match Success, Environmental Racism and the basics of Family Law. Overall, participants reported that the objectives were clearly stated and accomplished, and all participants agreed that the session added value to their career objectives. The Mentorship program engages expert speakers and presenters in the fields supporting the advancement of our mentees. All participants agreed that the speaker had a good knowledge of the topic. The lectures focus on practicing what is explained during the lecture and most of the participants agreed that this is the part they value the most.
Program Information
Program Location
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Program Sustainability
Affiliated Organizations and Networks
University of Illinois College of Medicine Hispanic Center of Excellence
Eligibility Criteria and How to Apply
Application Timeline
Please contact program directly.
Eligibility Criteria
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Academic
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Underrepresented racial and/or ethnic background
Underrepresented Latino/a students pursuing careers in health care. -
LGBTQIA+ identifying
Undergraduate Team-based mentorship provided by health care leaders, physicians, residents, medical students, and International Medical Graduates (IMGs).
Required Application Documents
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Application Form