Virtual Mentoring: Practitioner Strategies for Students Underrepresented in Industry

Abstract

Technological advancements have continued to develop over the past two decades impacting how we engage with each other. This evolvement has also influenced the way our students and instructors are acquiring and delivering information. In order to sustain the connections with our young people our engagement strategy also needs to evolve. This is especially significant for first generation minority students who are underrepresented in many academic disciplines, industries, particularly in medical education. Research continues to suggest that non-privileged minority groups are less likely to have strong support systems within their social networks and or family. This research paper will provide programmatic frameworks illustrating ways to mentor first generation minority students using virtually tools, learning development models and strategies that help produce positive measureable outcomes.

The Impact of the Transition to Virtual Environments on Medical Students Mentoring At-Risk Youth

“…With the onset of COVID-19, various mentorship programs were required to transition to virtual environments [5][6][7][8]. AMI also transitioned to include virtual mentoring, which involved the use of digital platforms, inclusive of textbased exchanges, audio or video calls, or a combination of these.…”