Information for mentors
The idea for the Premedical Explorers Program arose from the loss of Dr. Susan Moore, a high school friend, and female Black doctor due to complications from COVID-19.
She made a bedside video while hospitalized about the nature of her care. She sounded a call to action for more Black doctors.
Our team is led by two female Black doctors. PrME is the result of a research-oriented approach to addressing how to increase the number of Black doctors in the U.S.
Join PrME in tripling the number of Black doctors for improved healthcare outcomes.
Paging All Mentors
The numbers do not lie. Black doctors are only 5% of all doctors. To match our percentage in the U.S. population, the medical profession will need to add 92,600 new Black doctors to the field. (AAMC, 2019) PrME arrived to expand the pathway to pipeline for students and parents with the ambition, but need the knowledge and guidance.
Dr. Eleanor M. Walker and Dr. Danielle Morrison
The Mentor Matters
There is a saying that children become who they see. At the age of 10 years I decided that I wanted to become a physician.
It never occurred to me that I couldn’t do so because I was surrounded in my neighborhood and church with black role models. My family dentist and pediatrician were black men. Our family doctor was a black man from the island of Grenada where my family was from. In addition, the first lady of my church was a OB/GYN. There were multiple lawyers and businessmen that were all black and members of my church. As a result, received mentorship in the sense that these people talked with me about being successful and helped to encourage me in my journey.
I also had a praying Mother who had expectations of my success! Eleanor M. Walker, M.D., Radiological Oncologist
Apply Today
If you are a medical school graduate, understand how to use the technology of distance learning, and will to make the time commitment, then PrME is looking for you.
Why Be a PrME Mentor?
Experienced Doctors
Your experiences in premedical programs and medical school are highly valuable to our Explorers.
We Provide Training
PrME works with education partners to maintain our program mentoring model and your ongoing proficiency as a mentor.
The Parent and the Student
PrME sees mentoring as the third leg of a tripod. We also coach parents to be informed advocates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will it take to be a good mentor?
Mentoring is a much relationship management as it is dissemination of knowledge. A good mentor is a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage. As each mentor develops the relationship with the Explorer and their parents, PrME creates more opportunities for learning and affinity for the medical profession.
What is the time commitment?
PrME wants a mentor for at least one academic year. During a program, a mentor will engage an Explorer at least 2 hours weekly. PrME will take care to match mentors and Explorers as best possible. Each mentor is encouraged to continue on to mentor the same Exlporer over successive years.
Is mentor training available?
PrME will convene a virtual mentor training prior to the start of any programming in addition to posting training videos for continued reference. As many of you have expereinced mentoring in different ways, PrME seeks a quality control in delivery of mentorship to best measure the results.
Can a mentor refer students to PrME?
Mentors are encouraged to help PrME identify students interested in persuing an advanced medical degree. PrME will assess each case to determine if and when that student can attend one of our programs.
Will PrME provide mentors with proof of service?.
As mentors successfully complete each academic year, PrME will note the duration of service, reassess the match, continue with mentor development, and provide any needed letter of proof of service as requested.
If I mentor an Explorer virtually, will we meet face-to-face?
PrME is developing a summer learing session where mentors will have opportunity to work face-to-face with Explorers. PrME will also host White Coat Ceremonies as Explorers complete levels of our programming. While we cannot guarantee a face-to-face meeting, PrME will make your experience as robust as possible.
Invest in Black Students
The great hindrance to the advancement of the free colored people is the want of unity in action. If we were to unite in the pursuit of any one object, I can imagine no possibility beyond our power to compass. But we are not united as a people; and the main reason why we are not united is that we are not equally oppressed. This is the grand secret of our lack of union. James McCune Smith, the first Black doctor to hold a medical degree.
You Have to See One to Be One!
You can’t be what you don’t see. I didn’t think about being a doctor. I didn’t even think about being a clerk in a store. I’d never seen a Black clerk in a clothing store. – Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Former U.S. Surgeon General.
Mentor Inquiry