Development, implementation, and evaluation of a mentorship program within hematology/oncology pharmacy association (HOPA) - a professional oncology pharmacy organization

BackgroundFormal mentorship programs are important for the pharmacy profession. In 2019, the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) launched their Mentorship Program aimed at pairing early-career pharmacists with senior HOPA members. Following an initial pilot program, the program was further expanded with supportive infrastructure as an annual offering from HOPA to eligible members.ObjectiveTo assess the impact of the HOPA Mentorship Program on involvement in the organization and to evaluate changes in self-reported professional and leadership perceptions following participation in the Mentorship Program.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed HOPA-level membership data of participants going through the Mentorship Program to assess their involvement in HOPA following program participation in domains including committee membership, committee leadership, conference attendance, and advocacy event participation. Mentees in the program also completed pre- and post-program surveys as part of their participation in the program. Median composite pre-and post-program survey responses were compared to assess changes in self-reported professional and leadership perceptions.ResultsA total of 39 mentees participated in the HOPA Mentorship Program between 2019 and 2025. Most mentees went on to serve on a HOPA committee (74%), with 28% serving in a leadership position on a committee. Most mentees (59%) also attended a HOPA-sponsored meeting following Mentorship Program participation. Mentees reported higher post-program ratings on leadership and professional development items compared with pre-program responses.ConclusionHOPA Mentorship Program participants demonstrated organizational contributions through committee service, leadership roles, and advocacy activities. Survey data demonstrated significant improvements in mentee self-reported leadership skills, career goal-setting, and professional engagement.