A Group Approach to Clinical Research Mentorship at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is committed to conducting research that improves the health and quality of life of veterans. Mentorship is vital for developing and advancing a novice VA investigator's research agenda; however, there are several barriers to effective research mentorship.

The VA Clinical Research Mentorship Program was developed to assist clinician investigators with writing and submitting competitive grant applications. The program offers group and individualized consultation services utilizing the expertise of experienced investigators/faculty mentors, peer mentors, and other research staff. Since its inception in 2015, 35 clinicians have enrolled. Program mentees have submitted 33 grant proposals, with 19 approved for funding. Among participants who responded to a program evaluation survey, 17 reported (89%) that the meetings were an effective use of their time, 17 reported (89%) that the program increased their work satisfaction, and 13 reported (68%) that the program reduced clinician burnout.

A group-based research mentorship program was positively viewed by participants, proved to be successful in helping mentees obtain funding for research, and had an impact on increasing participants' work satisfaction and reducing levels of burnout.