Abstract Manager

Oral

OC2-2-4

yes

General Call (Workshop, Oral Presentation, Poster Presentation)

Oral

Education Research

Student

yes

No Resident Left Behind: Investigating the mentorship needs of underrepresented and minoritized residents at the University of Toronto

The University of Toronto's Postgraduate Medical Education Office is developing a Diversity Mentorship Program (DMP) to connect underrepresented and minoritized residents (UMRs) to mentors for trainee education and professional development. Therefore, we conducted an environmental scan of existing mentorship opportunities in residency programs and a resident survey investigating trainee perspectives on mentorship.

Surveys were sent to the 98 Program Directors and 2044 residents in the Faculty of Medicine. Program Directors were asked about their existing diversity-based mentorship opportunities. Residents reported on their mentorship experiences, perceptions of the proposed DMP, and desired mentorship program features.

9/89 responding residency programs (10%) currently offer diversity-based mentorship. Out of 719 responding residents, 201 (28%) identified as UMRs, and 29% (n=58) reported no access to mentors. About 88% (n=175) of UMRs expressed interest in a DMP for career advice, networking, and discussions of minoritization. Residents valued frequent meetings with mentors and mentors from a similar background.

Lack of diversity-based mentorship opportunities for UMRs and their strong desire to participate in DMPs indicate the need for a Postgraduate Medical Education-wide DMP with features wanted by UMRs. A user-centred approach to DMP development is recommended to maximize program benefits and satisfaction of UMRs.

underrepresented and minoritized residents

mentorship

PGME

General

Postgraduate

Postgraduate

Faculty Development

Physician & Medical Student Health and Well-being

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes