Medical Student Peer Mentorship Program

The Medical Student Peer Mentorship Program is an initiative created by the Office of Student Affairs at the Schmidt College of Medicine. The purpose of the program is to provide second-year mentors to incoming, first-year medical students to promote student success through peer engagement. One of the best ways to adjust to medical school and the ongoing challenges of life as a medical student is through interaction with other medical students who have successfully navigated the process.

Peer mentors can be incredibly valuable resources, providing support and answering or finding answers to a wide range of questions. The most frequent questions are about housing, textbooks, classes, instructors, study strategies, adjustment to medical education, and medical student life in general. It is not just in this first year of medical school that the mentor/mentee relationship can be beneficial. We encourage all mentors/mentees to maintain their relationships throughout medical school.

Q&A Section

Who is Eligible to Apply to be a Mentor?

Medical students applying to become mentors must be in good standing with the College of Medicine and maintain the highest level of professionalism. Students will be selected based on their overall performance in all competencies and feedback received from faculty, staff, and fellow students. Students will submit their applications to become Peer Mentors during the summer prior to their second year.

What Are the Benefits of Being a Mentor?

Mentors often gain personal and professional satisfaction through assisting new first year students with adjustment to medical student life. Mentors help build community with students outside of the formal curriculum and Career Advisor program so students have another venue to discuss academic and/or social adjustment. By referring students to campus and community resources, mentors can help make FAU COM user-friendly and contribute to our overall positive institutional climate and familial environment. Being a mentor also helps develop your leadership and communication skills.

How Will I Be Matched With My Mentee?

Relevant information is gathered from potential mentors and mentees to facilitate the process of matching incoming students with a second-year student.

Mentor/Mentees will be matched based on a variety of variables including:

• Academic goals
• Specialty interest
• Research/scholarship
• Learning styles
• Leadership
• Overall goals
• Outside interests/experiences

What Are the Program Expectations?

At minimum, we ask for all participants to:

• Commit to one (1) year
• Maintain confidentiality with mentee
• Attend mentorship meeting/events 
• Create goals and discuss progress
• Meet mentor/mentee 3 times per year
• Participate in end-of-year assessments
• Attend mentor-training session(s)
• Sign Mentor Agreement