Mentorship Landscape and Common Practices in an Academic Pharmacy Association

Area of Science:

• Pharmacy Education
• Professional Development
• Academic Mentorship

Background:

• Mentorship is crucial for career advancement in pharmacy academia.
• Professional associations play a key role in supporting academic pharmacists.
• Existing literature on mentorship programs in pharmacy associations is sparse.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the current state of mentorship within pharmacy academic professional associations.
• To identify existing mentorship programs in the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP).
• To provide recommendations for developing effective mentorship programs in professional associations.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature review of mentorship programs in pharmacy academia.
• Administered a survey to AACP affinity groups to assess current mentorship program landscapes.
• Collected data on program characteristics, assessment methods, needs, and barriers.

Main Results:

• Limited literature indicates positive perceptions of mentorship programs.
• A survey of AACP affinity groups revealed varying levels of mentorship program implementation.
• Identified common characteristics, assessment methods, needs, and barriers related to these programs.

Conclusions:

• Positive perceptions of mentorship programs exist, but require further investigation.
• Recommendations for program development include clear goals, defined outcomes, and association support.
• Consideration should be given to association-wide programs to ensure equitable access to mentorship opportunities.