The primary purpose of the UC Merced Department of Medical Education (DOME) Mentorship program is to build early health career identity among baccalaureate students to support the growth of the health care workforce in the San Joaquin Valley. We aim to do this through small group mentoring that fosters a sense of community and provides mentees with the opportunity to hear the experiences of health career professionals. There are also optional curricular materials and activities that can be used in these sessions so that mentees can begin building important relevant career building skills, including those related to the SJV PRIME+ and AAMC premedical competencies.
In addition to professional mentorship, mentors emphasize the importance of peer support, encouraging students to share experiences, challenges, and successes. This collaborative environment fosters a strong sense of community and resilience, ensuring that every student feels supported on their journey to becoming compassionate and capable healthcare providers.
Mentors make a huge impact on our students by sharing professional insight and helping baccalureate students visualize their own pathways to medicine. We are always looking for more mentors from all health careers to join our program.
For more information or to get involved in the Mentoring Program as a student or health professional mentor, please email mededmentors@ucmerced.edu.
