Mentoring is a personalized approach to learning based on a personal and professional relationship between a learner, the mentee, and a teacher, the mentor. In many professions, mentoring relationships can facilitate individual growth and promote the vitality of the profession itself. The National Mentoring Program in Public Health (NMPPH), an ongoing project of the Public Health Student Caucus, is in official relations with the American Public Health Association. Its goals include improving the relevancy of students’ academic training, increasing the professional success and productivity of students and professionals, and helping to strengthen the field of public health through the retention and growth of strong and committed leaders. The 1999 2000 NMPPH matched 45 public health students with 45 public health professionals. Participants represent three countries, 31 U.S. states and territories, five racial/ethnic groups, and seven general interest areas within public health. Mentees were matched to mentors based on the following criteria: (1) general interest area, (2) specific interest area, (3) three rank-ordered mentoring objectives, and (4) vision of ideal match. This program was evaluated using a quasi experimental pre-test/post-test design. Following baseline data collection, participants received a manual on building effective mentoring relationships. Mentees also received e-mail every two months reminding them to contact their mentor. Follow-up data collection assessed participants’ opinion of their professional success, productivity and satisfaction. This presentation will explore the evaluation results and will discuss implications for the participants, the profession, and the future of the program.
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Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.