Peer mentoring in a medical school: a collaborative strategy during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract:

Introduction:

Due to the social distancing needed during the current pandemic, medical school has had to undergo deep and rapid transformation, such as the suspension of classroom activities and the virtualization of teaching, demanding high levels of adaptation skills mainly of the new medical students. In this scenario, Project ‘Peer Mentor in the Pandemic’ was implemented, aiming to achieve better results either from a social or academic perspective for these new students.

Experience Report:

In the project a senior/experienced student (‘Peer Mentor’) is in charge to receive a new student (‘Student Mentee’), providing support, orientation and applicable guidance to help them through difficulties and issues that arise during the semester. Besides the peer mentoring meetings, training and supervision sessions were held for the Peer Mentors.

Discussion:

The mentorship could substantially improve the integration, continuous development and bonding process of the students at the start of their medical training, promoting positive impacts on a social and academic level. Similarly, peer mentorship also enhances the senior student’s skills, such as social skills, communication skills, guidance principles, organizational abilities and leadership.

Conclusion:

Implementing peer mentoring may represent a strong strategy to support medical students, providing them with an easier route to being assimilated into this new environment.

Keywords:
Pandemic; Empathy; User Embracement; Mentoring; Medical School