How Do I Choose a Mentor?

TIMELINE - When should this task be completed?

December

To view a list of potential projects and mentors you must login (on the right sidebar)

Quick Links

• Tips from Students
  
• What if I need more guidance?
• Sample email for use to approach mentors
• Some Campus Resources for finding a mentor
• I have already chosen a mentor, what do I do next?

Each student will have a primary mentor and may have additional mentors, as dictated by the nature of the project.  Two key initial steps in establishing a successful mentor-student relationship are the selection of a mentor by the student and reaching agreement on the terms of the collaboration by mentor and students.

Tips from Students

• Find out what a typical day is like for your mentor.
• How much clinical vs. laboratory vs. other responsibilities they carry, and try to determine how much time they will have to meet with you on a regular basis, as well as how much guidance you feel you might need. 
• Some students meet with their mentor regularly, while others see or hear from them a few times per semester.
• Interview several potential mentors to get a feel for the wide range of possibilities. 

What if I need more guidance?

• Students will have the guidance of their faculty Emphasis advisors as well as the focus leaders during this period. Do not hesitate to contact your advisor or your focus leader for guidance and support.
• A series of faculty committees have been formed around each Emphasis area. These committees have the task of placing students in contact with potential faculty mentors.  Students may also approach faculty independently to request that they serve as their mentors.
• Some students will already have a very clear idea of a project; for them, the process may move very quickly.  Others will have less clear ideas, or plans for a project that may not be feasible, based on the availability of suitable faculty to serve as mentors, time or other factors relating to the particular scope of the proposed project.
• Do not hesitate to seek the guidance of your focus area leader or advisor! They are there to help you!

Sample email for use to approach mentors

Hello Dr. ___

My name is ____and I am a first year medical student currently enrolled in the Vanderbilt School of Medicine Emphasis Program. This program is a requirement for our first and second years. You may be aware that the Emphasis Program seeks to pair a medical student with a mentor with the goal of providing the student with the opportunity to acquire specialized knowledge and experience in an area of particular interest to the student.

My particular interest is _________ .

I am writing today to inquire as to your interest and availability to act as my mentor for the next two years.

If you would like to learn more about the roles and responsibilities of mentorship, please visit the Emphasis website for Mentor Resources.

I thank you in advance for your time, and look forward to hearing from you.

Student name, VMSI
contact information

Some Campus Resources for finding a mentor

• Faculty Database
• VUMC Researchers
• Research VU

I have already chosen a mentor, what do I do next?

Student/Mentor Initial Commitment Form (paper signature form)
Online Student/Mentor Final Agreement

1. Print the Student/Mentor Initial Commitment Form and obtain the mentor's signature. This form MUST be turned into the Course Coordinators, Tamie Swah or Samantha Martin in 203 Light Hall.
2. Please allow approximately one week for staff to post your mentor choice in our Emphasis database, and proceed to step 3.
3. Complete an online Student/Mentor Final Agreement. You must login to complete the form. This document should capture the understanding mentors and students reach in their discussions of the planned project.  You can complete the online agreement without your mentor present. When you are done and click the final ‘submit’ button, an automatic email will be sent to your mentor stating that you have completed the agreement and it is ready for review. That automated email provides instructions to your mentor about how to login, view, make comments, or simply approve the agreement. Through this review and approval process, the mentor is ‘signing’ your final agreement.
4. Although you have discussed your project at length with your mentor, one of the purposes of the online agreement is to have documentation of all Emphasis projects in a central location.
   • To preview the contents of the Student/Mentor Final Agreement, print this DRAFT COPY. You may wish to print it and use it as a discussion document with your mentor prior to completing it online.