A year-long external mentorship pilot program (EMPP) successfully increased interest in classical hematology among fellows, according to research presented at the 64th ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition. Fellows reported that the program positively affected their interest in classical hematology in terms of personal satisfaction, academic productivity, access to networking opportunities, and career development. Zoya Qureshy, MD, a resident at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), and colleagues found that factors contributing to the program’s success included strong mentor-mentee pairings, involvement in scholarly work, and connections with classical hematology faculty.
The program included 35 mentees pursuing careers in classical hematology who were paired with 34 external mentors. One mentor had two mentees. Mentees were recruited from hematology fellowship programs via social media and listservs, as well as through direct contact with program directors. Senior investigator Soo Park, MD, a hematologist and oncologist at UCSD, recruited mentors based on hematology expertise and academic productivity.
The majority of mentees (80%) self-identified as female and 20% self-identified as male. Sixteen were white (45.7%), 34.3% were Asian, 8.6% were Hispanic, 5.7% were Black, 2.9% were Arab, and 2.9% were white and Native American. One-third of mentees were in or accepted into an adult hematology/oncology program, and two-thirds were in or accepted into a pediatric hematology/oncology program. Mentees from each of the three years of fellowship participated, but a majority (45.7%) were in year two of their training program. Most mentor-mentee pairs (94.3%) completed the mentorship program.
Dr. Qureshy said she and her colleagues were pleasantly surprised by the results of the EMPP. While the program only lasted one year and occurred during the pandemic, both mentors and mentees responded positively on the survey, with 96.8% of mentees and 92.3% of mentors saying they would recommend the program to other fellows and faculty, respectively. The majority of mentees (74.2%) indicated they had scholarly work published, submitted, or in progress because of the program, and some mentees reported receiving awards. The majority of mentees (77.4%) reported that the program facilitated their career development by providing “career advice” and a “sense of community.”
Dr. Qureshy highlighted a comment from one participant who wrote, “[A]s a Black male, meeting [mentor] and getting his direct mentorship provided me safety and permission to live up to my dream of being a physician-scientist.”
Dr. Qureshy said projections show there will be a shortage of classical hematologists who will have the expertise necessary to treat conditions such as sickle cell anemia and clotting disorders in the future. She also explained that mentorship has been cited as one of the most important factors contributing to the decision to enter the field. The EMPP not only met this need but also provided opportunities for fellows to participate in research and facilitated networking with multiple specialists in the field.
Dr. Qureshy concluded by noting the team plans to continue the program and is seeking funding to expand beyond its pilot locations.
Any conflicts of interest declared by the authors can be found in the original abstract.
Reference
Qureshy Z, Connell NT, Lee AI, King AA, Murphy MC, Reid EG, Park S. Evaluating the impact of a year-long external mentorship pilot program in classical hematology. Abstract #669. Presented at the 2022 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition; December 11, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana.
