Mentoring the next generation of integrated care stakeholders

Introduction: The purpose of this workshop is to enhance the capacity of emerging researchers and professionals in integrated care to effectively leverage mentorship with experienced mentors to build their professional development. Background: Over the past two decades, integrated health and social care has emerged as a system strategy to improve the quality of care for people living with complex health and social needs by patient centered care while addressing system inefficiencies. However, like in most emerging disciplines, novice and early career researchers and professionals experience challenges such as feelings of frustration due to lack of professional support or experience of burnout due to lack of knowledge or professional exposure. Effective mentorship, defined as a structured relationship between a mentor (senior/experienced person) and a mentee (a junior/less experienced person) in a professional setting can help the mentee build useful skills and grow professionally. Since 2017, the Early Career Researchers and Professionals in Integrated Care (ERPIC) launched a biennial mentorship program to support the development of the next generation of integrated care stakeholders. What are the challenges of running a mentorship program? What are the challenges of mentoring a novice researcher/professional? What are the opportunities and challenges of participating in a mentorship program? These are questions emerging researchers and professionals face early on in their careers. Aims and objectives: The main objectives of this workshop are for participants to: •Learn about the advantages and benefits of a mentorship program. •Understand what mentors and mentees value in an effective mentorship program. •Discuss ways to establish and run an effective mentorship program that meets the goals of mentees and mentors. Target audience: •This workshop is designed for emerging researchers and professional in the integrated care field who are interested in guidance from an experienced mentor. Learnings/Take away: •Participants will get acquainted with the process of participating in the ERPIC mentorship program. •Participants will learn what qualities a mentor seeks in a mentee to facilitate and improve the mentorship experience. •Participants will feel more confident in their capacity to effectively receive support and guidance from mentors and grow professionally to achieve their goals. Format: •10 minutes: A brief presentation on the ERPIC mentorship program •40 minutes: Each of 4 panel members (2 mentors and 2 mentees) will spend 10 minutes each discussing issues related to participating in a mentorship program. •20 minutes: Question and answer session, fielded from audience members. The ERPIC executive team will facilitate the workshop. Preferred length: 60 minutes