Reflections on a year-long student and pharmacist paired mentorship program

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Professional Development
• Mentorship Programs

Background:

• Mentorship programs are vital for professional development in pharmacy.
• Literature on mentorship for student pharmacists is varied.
• Formal programs can enhance student pharmacist growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development of a formal mentorship program for student pharmacists.
• To identify the benefits and challenges of this mentorship program.
• To assess the program's alignment with accreditation standards.

Main Methods:

• A year-long program matched third-year student pharmacists with practicing pharmacists.
• Feedback was collected from mentors (n=8) and mentees (n=17).
• Program development, implementation, benefits, and challenges were documented.

Main Results:

• High positive feedback from both mentors (100%) and mentees (94%).
• Key benefits included networking opportunities and diverse perspectives.
• Primary challenges were time limitations and scheduling conflicts.

Conclusions:

• The mentorship program fostered personal and professional growth.
• The program aligns with Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) Standards and Center for Advancement of Pharmacy Education (CAPE) Outcomes.
• Program modifications based on feedback can facilitate replication at other institutions.