CPA mentorship program fosters growth and leadership in the next generation of psychiatry and creates opportunities for excellence in training and career advancement. Mentors are an essential resource for advice and guidance about topics outside the regular academic curriculum. They offer experience and leadership skills to help residents and medical students develop a successful psychiatry career. Mentors will either be a staff psychiatrist (in the case of resident mentee applicants), or a psychiatry resident (in the case of medical student applicants).
Mentees receive one-to-one guidance from mentors sharing mutual professional and non-clinical interests within their area of expertise. Common mentorship goals for residents might include: exploring subspecialties or fellowships of interest, elective planning, navigating job opportunities, building teaching skills, & developing practice management skills. Common mentorship goals for medical students might include: CaRMS preparation, elective planning, learning more about psychiatric practice, and networking.
Eligible CPA members are invited to complete the relevant application below.
• Staff Psychiatrist Mentor Application
• Resident Mentor Application
• Resident Mentee Application
• Medical Student Mentee Application
What to Expect
Once an application is received, it is reviewed by CPA staff and possibly the Mentorship Member-In-Training (MIT) subcommittee. Applications are compiled and mentor-mentee pairings will be made on a rolling basis, subject to availability of appropriate matches.
Once a pairing has been made, the respective mentors and mentees will be notified via email to confirm their ongoing interest in the mentorship program. Mentees are expected to proactively connect with the mentor to plan an initial meeting. At this initial meeting, mentor-mentee pairs will develop two or three goals based on school program, clinical/non-clinical interests, research, committee work, or other professional goals. The commitment is for one year with a minimum of four meetings, which can occur at the CPA annual conference, in person, virtually or by telephone.
Mentor/Mentee Benefits
Mentees gain vital guidance, experience and knowledge while our mentors contribute to the development of future leaders. The program provides:
- One-on-one guidance
- Collaboration in successful CPA submissions
- Identification of potential CPA committee work and group projects
Mentor/Mentee Commitment
Mentors & mentees will participate in the mentoring program through a minimum of four meetings over a one-year period. Tasks include the following:
- The mentee is expected to connect with the mentor and arrange to meet within one month of receiving a mentorship match
- The mentor & mentee will develop two to three mentorship goals. These can include, but are not limited to, exploring the mentor’s clinical interest/experience within psychiatry, advancing a mutual non-clinical interest, or jointly reflecting on the mentee’s career trajectory to provide guidance
- The mentor & mentee will provide feedback to CPA to help further develop the mentorship program
Program Support
CPA’s mentor program staff provide support by:
- Matching mentors and mentees based on mutual professional interest and facilitating goal setting
- Providing resources on how to be an effective mentor or mentee
- Evaluating the success of the program to ensure that matches are effective and enjoyable
With thanks to the American Psychiatric Association for sharing mentoring resources with CPA.
