Rehabilitation Sciences Sector Diversity Mentorship Program

We recognize that learners in MScOT, MScPT and MHSc-SLP programs who come from social, cultural, and or economically diverse communities face increased barriers in their academic and career journeys. Many recommendations and calls to action highlight how invaluable mentorship is in creating a welcoming, inclusive and safe community.

This pilot of the Rehabilitation Sciences Sectors (RSS) Diversity Mentorship Program (DMP) aims to address these needs for connection. Apply to be matched with a clinician mentor who is able to support you in your educational and professional development.

This program is open to MScOT, MScPT and MHScSLP students from social, cultural, and or economically diverse communities.

The main purpose of the RSS DMP is to help ensure that students from socially, culturally or economically diverse communities can explore their full potential as learners and as future healthcare professionals. Learner mentees who are matched with a mentor are then encouraged to take leadership in the relationship, to ensure that they are able to get the most value from their experience.

The program components include:

• Attending a Welcome Orientation/Training event
• Signing a mentorship agreement which clearly states role, responsibilities, objectives and expectations of the mentorship relationship.
• Mentorship agreements last to the end of this Winter 2024 academic term.
• Investing at least 3 hours of meeting time with your mentor/mentee. This may be done in a variety of agreed upon methods, including phone calls and video chats.
• Responding to requests for progress and updates from the Office of Inclusion and Diversity.
• Providing feedback for the purposes of evaluating the RSS DMP program at the halfway point of the program and at the end of the match.
• Option to join additional events/activities.

Please note that this iteration of the RSS DMP will run primarily with hybrid events (though we encourage in-person attendance whenever feasible). However, connections within your mentorship can be done through phone calls, video chats, or other agreed upon forms of remote communication, or in-person meetings.

Contact

Should you have any further questions about the RSS DMP, please email medicine.dmp@utoronto.ca.