This paper reports the experience of the first year of the Freshman Support Group (GAP). GAP was developed by a group of medical students at a private university in the state of Sao Paulo, supported by their coordinators, with the aim of supporting and humanizing the reception of new first-year students. GAP opened in 2013 founded on the concepts of mentoring applied at other Brazilian medical schools. GAP held weekly meetings in which participants (first year medical students), and mentors (both senior students and a psychologist), discussed topics such as resilience, compassion, humility, and respect. During the meetings the students voiced much concern about university hazing; cited as the worst problem faced at university. Following these meetings, the group directed its actions toward reducing hazing at the university. GAP, although only in its first year of operation, proved to be effective and could serve as a model for implementation at other universities.
Preceptorship; Medical Education; Medical Students; Ethics; Violence
