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and supporting innovative and inclusive mentorship
opportunities that will inspire the next generation
of diverse health care leaders for underserved
communities " . Established in California in 2012 as a
501c3 non-profit organization, MiMentor has quickly
grown into one of the country's largest grassroots
mentorship organizations, with over 15,000 members at
this time.
MiMentor's track record of successful mentorship boasts
impressive programs offered to students free of charge.
MiMentor's Medical School Readiness (MSR) program
for example, is a free 10- month program offered to
pre-medical students preparing for the medical school
application process.
With rising costs of applying to post baccalaureate
programs and the challenges of medical school
application process, programs like MSR are a vital lifeline
for students from low-income backgrounds.
The MSR program consists of monthly/bimonthly
meetings to empower students with skills, knowledge,
and social capital to navigate the medical school
application process more successfully. More importantly,
MSR focuses on community building amongst students
by offering small group and one-on one mentorship.
Most MSR students have overcome significant barriers
to succeed academically and professionally. Through
mentorship, MSR students are empowered to tell the
compelling story of their journeys, highlighting their
rich experiences, resilience, compassion, and drive.
The medical school admission rates for MSR cohorts
between 2018-2021 have been 93%, 73% and 84%,
respectively, significantly higher than the 38% average
national admission rate over those three years.
The imprint of MiMentor amongst California's medical
education system cannot be overstated. At least 11%
of California Matriculants to medical schools in U.S.
hail from the MiMentor community, most of whom
participated in the MSR program. Other programs and
didactic sessions that MiMentor offers include sessions
related to studying for the MCAT, networking and
interview practice sessions.
MiMentor's established credibility therefore represents
an opportunity for collaboration with physician
anesthesiologists and societies, including the California
Society of Anesthesiologists, in efforts to diversify our
current workforce.
MiMentor and the California
Society of Anesthesiology -
An Opportunity for Collaboration
In 2020, Mark Zakowski, MD, FASA, past president
of the California Society of Anesthesiologists and I
(CP) successfully secured funding from the American
Society of Anesthesiologist's Mentoring Grant Program
(through the ASA's Committee on Professional Diversity)
in efforts to create a mentorship curriculum with the
Figure 1. Online Webinar featuring Dr. Odi Ehi and Dr. Antonio Conte
Annual Publication 2022 | 85
Vital Times 2022

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