NHMA Medical Students Mentorship Program - Medical Hispanic Center of Excellence - Univ. of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Mexican American Hispanic Physicians Association

Feedback from Medical Students who participated in the Mentorship Program:

"My mentoring experience has been literally a blessing. Not only have I met my mentor, but I have also made a true friend. We always meet once a month for at least 1 hour to discuss how I'm doing in my classes and life in general, and we are always in contact each month, planning activities like dinner with our families. The mentoring program, for me, is one of the best treasures that the MHCOE has to offer to medical students. In my case, I can only speak of the success of program in my academic and personal life. To know that we have someone we can count on all the time, especially when that person is a doctor and understands us perfectly because of that, is comforting and reassuring. I have to express my gratitude for this program and the gift that you have given me by meeting my mentor and being able to learn from such a wonderful human being and physician..."

Dr. Parra speaking at the 2004 NHMA Conference

"I'd like you know to, I am very happy and quite pleased to have the privilege to have met with my mentor. We have had numerous email conversations with each other, including discussing my fears and apprehensions with succeeding in medical school. His encouragement and support that he will be there for me is vastly reassuring, and I take heart in knowing that he's always willing to encourage me along the way...I found him to be even more friendly and supportive in person as I have online. I explained that classes often keep me busy, and he assured me that he understands, and yet, is still there for me nevertheless. As for my impressions on the MHCOE mentorship program itself, I have found it to be extremely helpful. Although the schedule of a first-year medical student is challenging beyond my initial expectations, it is truly reassuring to know that someone like my mentor is there to help me along the way..."

"At the beginning of the program, the experience was directed mostly towards identifying disease signs and symptoms, history and physical exam skills, and treatments...we also talked at length on the business of medicine and she shared her personal insights and experiences. I also learned how to interact with patients and their families. I was so impressed by her intelligence, yet "down to earth" relationship with her patients and their parents...By the end of first year, she mentored me beyond medicine and Pediatrics...We talked about being a woman in the medical field and how family fit into the picture. We shared our interests and talked about how to develop them even in the midst of being completely overwhelmed by studying and tests. In short, she taught me more than medicine. She taught me to realize my personality so that I could become a good and caring physician."

This program matches Hispanic medical students with MAHPA physicians who want to be mentors. The program also offers Physician Panel; and Leadership Seminars to assist the students with their career goals and plans. The program recruits students from all of the four years of medical school. The program matches are done by career interest and other common interests to ensure a good match.

The Medical Students Mentorship Program was developed because medical training is rigorous and a consuming process that often results in isolation and alienation throughout medical school.

The purpose of the Mentorship Program is to provide structured professional and social support during this critical time. Creating a thriving and vibrant community for underrepresented Hispanic minorities is the primary objective of the Medical Students Mentorship Program.

Mission:

To develop and maintain a formal Hispanic physician/medical student mentoring program in different regions of Texas.
To match Hispanic Medical Students with Hispanic physicians or researchers as role models
To expose the Hispanic students to an array of leadership career options available to physicians and researchers
To foster mentoring relationships between Hispanic medical students and physicians in academic medicine and private practice

More feedback from students:

"The relationship has been fantastic! I am very excited to know my mentor, and she has given me invaluable advice regarding life after medical school, how to make the transition into residency, and about her particular field, which I am very much interested in. I am also currently asking her if there are any preceptorship programs in her department, and would at least like to spend a couple of weeks following her in the summer, even if it's completely volunteer basis. I am very impressed with the program in general; I only wish I wasn't so swamped with school work so that I could spend more time talking with her, and learning about her field of practice."

"I have previously met with my mentor twice this year. We discussed his area of medicine, and how I can get more involved to find out if his area of medicine is right for me. I personally think the mentor program works very well. I was set up with a doctor with my similar interests, and I found our meetings to be very helpful and informative."

"During my first and second year of med school I had a regular amount of contact with my mentor. Unfortunately, as our course work increased I did not stay in touch with him...I really enjoyed having him as a mentor because he gave great advice and also allowed me to see things on the private side of medicine rather than the academic. I would definitely recommend the mentorship program to other students."

Top of page