Mentorship programme

Background

The aim of the SAPC-Mentorship Programme is to support both medical and primary health care scientists (i.e. non-medical colleagues) working in departments of Primary Care, who because of their heterogeneous core disciplines have no other single support scheme.  The mentorship scheme is designed to have a positive impact on career aspirations and development for such professionals and enhance their research productivity and leadership[1].  In order to build a clear pathway and community of mentorship practice, it is essential that the scheme is led and delivered by the most experienced researchers and clinical leaders from similar backgrounds[2].

The scheme is directed towards post doctoral medical and postdoctoral primary health care scientist researchers.  We offer this one to one mentoring support for members of SAPC and in addition affiliated to a department of Academic Primary Care or equivalent that is recognised by SAPC.

Mentorship schemes are also available available for primary care researchers who are funded by NIHR fellowships and/ or on a training pathway within the  NIHR School for primary care: 

Career development support and training | NIHR

NIHR Academy launches new mentoring programme | NIHR

The Mentorship Scheme is funded by SAPC and is currently administered jointly by the SAPC Secretariat. 

All of our senior mentors have mentorship experience at institution level and / or SAPC supported mentorship training. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please contact our SAPC secretariat and we can let you know when the next training course will be delivered.

Aims and content

The overall aim of the scheme is to provide high quality mentorship to support the next generation of academic leaders, in particular to:

  • help mentees move beyond being a serial researcher to a more senior post taking forward their own research ideas
  • help them to identify possible career pathways
  • support them in identifying barriers to their career progression and identifying ways they might overcome those barriers

The Programme offers:

  • Virtual video or face to face mentorship training
  • One to one mentoring support for members of SAPC and affiliated to a department of Academic Primary Care or equivalent that is recognised by SAPC

We anticipate that each mentee would have up to four contacts (virtual or face to face) with their mentor each year, lasting an hour or two.

Joining the programme

We would be delighted to hear from you if you would like to join the programme as either a mentor or a mentee.

Becoming a mentor  New mentor form

Becoming a mentee New mentee form

View our mentors

How mentoring can support your career

Academic careers have many challenges as well as rewarding opportunities.  Mentoring schemes can help overcome people overcome the barriers and progress their careers. 

Feedback from our mentees

Some of our mentees have provided feedback about the scheme which we hope will encourage you to seek mentoring through SAPC.

 

[1] Sambunjak, D, Strauss, SE and Marusjk, A (2006) Mentoring in Academic Medicine: A Systematic Review. JAMA, 2,96,9:1103-15

[2] Passmore, J (2007) Coaching and Mentoring: The role of experience and sector knowledge. Internat. J. Evidence-based Coaching Mentoring, Summer, 10 -16.