Global Health Mentorship

[Guest guest]

Snapshot:

- 75 mentors from 43 organizations participated.

- 85 students were mentored between October 2007 and June 2008.

- Mentors (81%) and students (88%) strongly supported the

continuation of the GHMP in 2008-09.

- Overall moderate improvements were reported by students in

terms of understanding of global health issues, resources and

opportunities.

- Students and mentors provided feedback on how to make the

mentorships more useful, such as closer matching in terms of

interests, experiences and geographic location.

- Participants would like to see more clarity in goal setting and

procedures in the next round.

Evaluation Report II - October 2007 to June 2008

and Nitasha Puri

Coordinators, GHMP

National Officer of Global Health Education, CFMS

Correspondence to: mentorship@...

2

To the participating NGOs, thank you for all of the generous hours you've put

into making the GHMP a success in 2007-2008! Please stay tuned for the

August-September 2008 NGO recruitment rounds for the GHMP! We appreciate your

continued support and will work to ensure that the GHMP will be even more

successful in 2008-09. Executive Summary Between October 2007 and June 2008, the

GHMP (formerly IHMP) had 75 mentors and 85 student participants. The inequity in

number between students and mentors was due to several mentors volunteering to

be paired with more than one student mentee. The pre- and post-mentorship

student surveys both had equal responses rate of 47% (n=40). The post-mentorship

mentor survey had a very low response rate at 28% (n=21). From the perspective

of students, the GHMP is a worthwhile initiative that should be continued

according to 88% of participants. 53% of student survey respondents indicated

that they had a moderate to extreme improvement in understanding of global

health issues through GHMP. Additionally, 50% of student respondents indicated

that they had a moderate to extreme improvement in terms of understanding of

global health education resources and opportunities. According to the

perspective of mentors, 81% agreed that the GHMP is a worthwhile endeavour that

should be continued. Additionally, 86% of mentors reported that they were

moderately or very committed to the project. 55% of mentors indicated interest

in participating again next year. There were many suggestions for improving the

GHMP. Many student and mentor comments suggested improving the calibre of the

matching process, to ensure mentors and students are matched more carefully

based on interest, experience and geographical location. Additionally, many

mentors and students felt that the goals of the project must be more carefully

articulated and clarified for the mentors and students. More suggestions for

improvement are included below in the document, and all suggestions will be

considered for improving the GHMP 2008-09 round. We sincerely thank both

students and mentors for their time participating in the project and for the

thoughtful feedback!

3

Pre- and Post-Mentorship Student Survey Responses Basics of Communication and

Commitment between Pairs: 22.5% of students reported communicating with the

mentor 2-3 times per month; 25% reported once per month; 52.5% less than once

per month. 72.5% used email as the primary means of communication. 55% or

respondents spent 0-2 hours and 40% spent 2-4 hours researching and preparing

topics to discuss with the mentor. 65% indicated that the mentor was either

moderately (30%), very (25%) or extremely (10%) committed to the project. 90% of

students indicated that the mentor had a moderate to expert understanding of

health and development issues specific to medicine; 65% of students indicated

that the mentor had an in-depth to expert understanding of global health and

development issues. 55% of students indicated they were moderately committed to

the project.

Physicians as Mentors 35% had mentors that were physicians. 52% that did not

have a physician mentor felt that they would have preferred a physician as a

mentor. 85% that did have a physician mentor felt that this improved their

mentorship experience. 63% agreed that their mentor should be invited back to

the project next year.

Student Evaluation of GHMP Services, Logistics and Value 85% agreed or strongly

agreed that the GHMP demonstrated professionalism. 69% agreed or strongly agreed

that they had sufficient support from GHMP team members to facilitate their

mentorship experience. 88% agreed or strongly agreed that the GHMP is a

worthwhile endeavour that should be continued. 55% of respondents probably

(42.5%) or definitely (12.5%) want to be involved in the GHMP next year.

Educational Outcomes from the GHMP The largest number of respondents (27.5%)

ranked the GHMP as yielding a moderate increase in general understanding of

international health issues. In total, 52.5% said their participation in GHMP

increased their understanding of international health issues between moderate

increase and extreme increase. The largest number of respondents (25%) said that

participation yielded a moderate increase in understanding of international

health resources and opportunities. In total, 50% of respondents ranked their

increase between moderate and extreme in terms of improved understanding of

resources and opportunities.

4

Qualitative Responses regarding Successful or Unsuccessful Mentorship

Experiences: Attributes of " successful " mentorship relationships: Geographic

proximity and ability to meet in person/talk on the phone Matched appropriately

based on interests and/or experiences – ability to relate to one another Mentor

commitment and availability Mentor directly involved the student in his/her work

Mentor frequently sent resources, websites, etc. as educational tools Use of the

monthly sector updates to facilitate conversation and learning

Main barriers to mentorship success: Lack of pre-defined goals or understanding

of how goals would be reached " We quickly ran out of things to talk about " Lack

of mentor or student time commitment, response or availability Geographic

disconnect, mentor travel or inability to meet in person

5

Mentor Responses to Post-Mentorship Survey Basics of Communication and

Commitment between Pairs: 66.7% of mentors indicated they communicated with

their mentee less than once per month. 71.4% spent between 2-4 hours per month

speaking with their mentee, 29% spent between 2-4 hours per month in

communication. 91% stated that the primary means of mentorship communication was

email. The majority of respondents (38%) indicated that their mentee was " very

committed " or " extremely committed " to the project. 86% of mentors reported that

they were moderately or very committed to the project.

Mentor Evaluation of GHMP Services, Logistics and Value: The majority of

respondents (76.2%) were neutral regarding whether or not the sector updates

benefitted the mentorship process. 86% agreed or strongly agreed that the GHMP

demonstrated professionalism. 57% agreed or strongly agreed that the GHMP

provided adequate support to facilitate mentor-mentee interaction; 33% were

neutral and 10% disagreed. 81% agreed or strongly agreed that the GHMP is a

worthwhile endeavour and should be continued. 62% " probably " or " definitely "

want to be involved in the project next year.

Mentors were asked the following: To continue this project, we will need to

recruit more mentors for next year. If you were to recommend mentoring through

the GHMP to a colleague, what might you say? Responses included:

" An opportunity to share your industry knowledge (particularly field experience

which I feel is most interesting to students) with someone who will likely have

a positive impact on the field. It is also an opportunity for the mentors to

learn about health issues in development and perhaps become more involved in

that area. "

" An opportunity to engage and help in the formation of future health care

providers who will be working in a multicultural context; help them to unpack

their assumptions about health & development and role they can play in the

process. "

" If you have time it is an excellent way to help others become involved. "

" I would present it as an opportunity to help process your own experiences

working internationally through a unique lens as a mentor. I found it to be a

very useful tool for

reflecting on my work and actively trying to uncover the many dynamics at play. "

To recruit more mentors: " I'd invite my colleagues to consider what they hope

for in the future leaders of international health, and then ask if they would

like to be directly involved in helping to cultivate those qualities… "

6

" I'd invite my colleagues to consider what they hope for in the future leaders

of international health, and then ask if they would like to be directly involved

in helping to cultivate those qualities. I might also ask colleagues what some

of their biggest learning points have been since beginning their careers, and

ask if they would be interested in sharing these insights with IHMP (either

through starting a mentor-mentee relationship, or just to the IHMP

administrators who may be able to do something with the info). "

" That it's a very worthwhile cause. "

" Interesting to get fresh, new and energetic perspective on ongoing

developmental challenges. "

" IHMP's goals should be clearly stated. Time commitment from both student and

mentor should be mentioned (I realize some mentors will have more time to devote

to this than others, but giving an estimate would be helpful for anyone

considering being a mentor; the student also needs to realize that he/she will

need to devote a certain amount of time for this to be worthwhile experience).

Finally, mentioning that IHMP will send examples of articles that you could then

use as a point of discussion gives mentors a better sense of what is expected of

them. "

" This is an opportunity to share your passion about international health with a

student - it need not take much time and your sessions with your mentee can be

scheduled so that both of you get the most out of the relationship. "

" It's an important part of one's duty as a professional to pass on one's

knowledge and experience to others. "

Mentor Comments to the GHMP Team to help us better facilitate the process:

" Select mentees who really want to engage with mentors. "

" I am at fault for not following up with my mentee and feel I should have done

more like write him and ask why he was not answering my mail or told someone

from the IHMP. "

" Fantastic initiative. Keep up the work. "

" Might need more structure: What does student want to achieve? This should be

clear to both parties. "

" There might be a way to clearly indicate the interests of the mentee and the

mentor and forge the relationships on those interests. "

7

The following NGOs are currently involved with the GHMP: World Vision Medecins

Sans Frontieres (MSF) Right To Play International Save the Children Plan

International (formerly Parent's Plan International) OHAfrica (The

Ontario Hospital Association for Africa) and the Lesotho HIV Clinic CPAR

(Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief) The Humber Business School

International Project Management Program CUSO Kartini International Light Up The

World The Center for International Health at the University of Toronto (CIH) The

Global Health Education Consortium (GHEC) The Coalition on Global Health

Research The University of Toronto HIV/AIDS Initiative The Canadian

International Development Agency (CIDA) The Coady International Institute

Xtending Hope and St. Francis Xavier University School of Development Studies

St. Mike's Hospital, Toronto The Norman man School of International

Affairs, Ottawa The World University Service of Canada (WUSC) The United Nations

Association of Canada (UNAC) A. Silverman Centre for International Health,

Mt. Sinai Dignitas International Habitat for Humanity International African

Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) MENTOR International Serving in Mission

(SIM) The Mennonite Economic Development Agency (MEDA) McAntony Gibson

Foundation (DMGF) Youth Challenge International (YCI) The Canadian Society for

International Health (CSIH) Street Kids International Thunder Bay Rural Family

Medicine The Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS) Association for

Social and Health Advancement, India Tearfund Developments in Literacy (DIL)

8

With special thanks to: (Please note, these are only the mentors who approved

publishing of their names. We are thankful to all of our mentors!) Rosine

Assamoi – Save the Children Canada Randy Bareham - RedR Beck – Mennonite

Economic Development Agency (Tajikistan) Concetta Buonaiuto - Médecins Sans

Frontières (MSF) Colleen Cameron - Coady International Institute Matt Capobianco

- GlobalMedic Todd Carmichael - Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief (CPAR)

Adrienne - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Leeane Chisholm - Family Life

Association of Swaziland (FLAS) Isabelle Chotard - Médecins Sans Frontières

(MSF) Cleary - Global Medic/Life Springs Foundation Coppock -

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Cornelson, MD - St. 's Hospital,

OHAfrica Coyle - Coady International Institute Wes Darou, D.Ed – Canadian

International Development Agency (CIDA) Del Col – OHAfrica (Ontario

Hospital Association) Dale Dewar, MD - Physicians for Global Survival (PGS),

Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) Alison Doucet, MD - Royal

Hospital, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Ann Duggan, MD - Médecins Sans

Frontières / Citizenship and Immigration Canada Ron Elliot - Canadian Society

for International Health (CSIH) Mike Fark - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

Rosemary Forbes - Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) Steve

, MD - Centro Evangelico de Medicina de Lubango, Angola Indu Gambhir, MD –

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Sebanti Ghosh, MD - Association for Social and

Health Advancementm, India (ASHA) Zari Gill, MD - World Vision Canada Olga

Gladkikh - Coady International Institute Rodrigo Goller - Niagara College

International Program Graham, RN, BScN, MHSc (in progress) - Médecins Sans

Frontières (MSF) Ayesha Haq - Developments in Literacy Dave Irvine-Halliday, PhD

- Light Up The World Madeline - CUSO Canada - Placed with Uhai

Centre/Archdiocese of Arusha Integrated Development and Relief Office Lori

- Canadian Society for International Health (CSIH) Anne-Marie Kamanye – African

Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) Koewn – CUSO Canada Ron

Lett, MD – Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS) Maureen Mayhew, MD,

MPH, CCFP - Medecins Sans Frontieres, Bridge Refugee Clinic, Vancouver Coastal

Health Judy McConnery - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

9

Aelish McCreary - DMGF, GlobalMedic, Toronto EMS McNern, MD - Beijing

United Family Hospital Carl Mercer – MENTOR International Tanjina Mirza, MD, PhD

- Plan International - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Nesbitt

- Youth Challenge International (YCI) Wes Normington- McAntony Gibson

Foundation/GlobalMedic Marie-Jo Ouimet, MD - PRAIDA/ Médecins Sans Frontières

(MSF) Pugh - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Rhymer, RN - Médecins

Sans Frontières (MSF) Alanna Rondi – African Medical and Research Foundation

(AMREF) Isabelle Roy – Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

Roy, M.A. - International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) Joanna

Santa Barbara, MD - Physicians for Global Survival (Canada), Centre for Peace

Studies McMaster University Sumeet Sodhi, MD, MPH, CCFP - Dignitas International

Soverow – Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) Abi

Sriharan - PAS Centre for International Health, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto.

Satyendra Srivastava, MD - Samagra Trust, India Starkman - Counseling

for Adolescents and Youth, and Canadian African Partnership on AIDS (CAPAIDS)

Shayna Szymkowicz - American Jewish World Service Kisanet Tezare - Kartini

International Thacker - Ekta Parishad, India Tubman - Médecins

Sans Frontières (MSF) - Mennonite Economic Development Agency

(MEDA) Wenninger, MD.

If you have any additional questions, please contact or Nitasha

Puri at mentorship@....