Peer Mentoring Program

Program Description

The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s Peer Mentoring Program connects new students from an incoming class with a peer mentor from the second year class. Mentees can use their peer mentor for advice as it relates to transitioning to medical school, connecting to campus information and resources, networking opportunities, student involvement opportunities, medical student life questions, and personal encouragement. Though not mandatory, all mentees/mentors are encouraged to maintain their relationship throughout their medical school careers.

Peer Mentors know from recent experiences what it is like to be a new medical student. They are eager to share their insider information to guide you through your transition to medical school and help you feel confident in taking steps toward personal and academic success. Peer Mentors are here to supplement and refer, not to replace, professional academic support or personal counseling services offered through the WSU Health Sciences Spokane Student Success Center.

FAQs

How do I sign up to be a mentee?

All students admitted into the first year class will automatically be matched with a peer mentor from the second year cohort. To help make the best matches possible, we ask all admitted students to fill out this matching questionnaire with as much information that they want to share.

How are mentees and mentors matched?

Mentees and peer mentors are matched on several factors, including hobbies, interests, educational background and personal characteristics. A special effort is made to assign mentees to peer mentors within the same learning community. We ask all mentees and peer mentors to fill out matching questionnaires with as much information as they are comfortable sharing to help us make the best matches possible.

Is there a commitment involved in being a peer mentee?

We want all incoming students to have an opportunity to have a peer mentor they can go to with their questions, even if they don’t feel they need that support right now. It will be up to each mentee to determine how much time they want to interact with their peer mentor. Connections should be seen more as an opportunity than an activity or commitment. There will be opportunities to connect one-on-one with peer mentors, as well as mentoring events where students can network with many peer mentors.

When do I meet my peer mentor?

Due to Learn in Place for the academic year, we will be developing a virtual opportunity to meet your peer mentor at the beginning of the academic year.  Efforts will be made to introduce mentees and their peer mentor over email prior to New Student Orientation to facilitate written communication and offerings of support prior to the official virtual event.  Our hope is to also provide some face-to-face opportunities at Learning Communities when it might be safe to do so. MS2 Class: