Background/Issue: Mentorship is foundational to cultivating the next generation of public health nursing researchers equipped to address health inequities. Within the ROPEH (Research for Occupational, Public, and Environmental Health) Lab, we explore how intentional, equity-focused mentorship can prepare emerging nurse researchers to conduct socially accountable, community-engaged research on pressing public health issues, such as lead exposure in Latino communities.

Description: This abstract is co-authored and co-presented by a mentor-mentee pair who collaborated on a community-based participatory research (CBPR) project examining lead exposure in a low-income, immigrant community. The mentee, an undergraduate nursing student, was guided through all research phases—from building community trust to co-developing culturally appropriate data collection tools and disseminating findings back to participants. The mentor fostered a reflective, collaborative environment where both clinical expertise and lived experiences were centered.

Lessons Learned: Mentorship rooted in shared power and mutual learning strengthened the impact of the CBPR project by positioning the mentee as a research leader. The mentee gained technical research skills, enhanced her knowledge of community engagement, and deepened her responsibility to advocate for impacted communities. The mentor benefited from the mentee’s cultural competence and willingness to guide the project based on community priorities. Key practices included regular debriefs, reflexivity around power dynamics, collaborative decision-making, and co-authorship of deliverables.

Implications/Recommendations: Strong mentor-mentee relationships are essential for preparing public health nurse researchers to lead equitable, community-driven research. Programs should institutionalize mentorship models that promote health equity through research.