The STFM ASCEND Mentorship Program pairs early career faculty with mentors to guide them on a pathway to success in academic medicine. The focus is on addressing and overcoming barriers in advancement and supporting faculty toward rewarding, fulfilling careers. ASCEND is an acronym for "Advancing Success in Careers through Education, Networking, and Development."Mentees are paired with mentors who receive training on the unique challenges in academic family medicine. The program attracts a culturally diverse group of faculty mentors who are dedicated to making things better for the upcoming generation.Unique benefits of the program include:
- Mentees are paired with mentors with similar academic backgrounds whenever possible.
- Mentees develop a network of early career and late-career faculty to call on who understand their unique needs.
- Mentees are encouraged but not required to work on a scholarly product with their mentors.
- Mentees and mentors work together to set specific career goals.
- Mentors are trained in addressing oppression, racism, and alienation.
- Mosaic Mentoring: Mentors make themselves available to mentees they are not assigned to if they can offer guidance with a specific career need.
