Development of a peer and near-peer mentoring program to support early career research faculty: The ASPIRE! program

Area of Science:

• Translational Science
• Academic Medicine
• Faculty Development

Background:

• Early-career clinician and non-clinician research faculty face unique challenges.
• The TRANSFORM KL2 Program at Columbia University Irving Medical Center fostered a collaborative environment.
• A need for structured peer support among junior faculty was identified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the establishment and origins of the ASPIRE! peer mentoring group.
• To outline the development of an institution-wide peer mentoring program.
• To highlight factors contributing to the success of peer mentoring for early-career faculty.

Main Methods:

• Formation of a peer mentoring group by seven early-career faculty members.
• Leveraging shared experiences from the TRANSFORM KL2 Program.
• Establishing a safe space for open communication and shared academic goals.

Main Results:

• Successful creation of the ASPIRE! peer mentoring group.
• Expansion into an institution-wide peer mentoring program.
• Identification of shared career stages, diverse backgrounds, and common goals as key success factors.

Conclusions:

• Peer mentoring is a valuable strategy for supporting early-career academic researchers.
• The ASPIRE! program model can be adapted to foster faculty development and success.
• Collaborative environments and safe spaces are crucial for effective peer support.