Seeds of trust ripe as luscious fruits: Faculty mentorship forum at Aga Khan University Medical College.

Abstract

Faculty members require mentoring in all stages of their professional development. Aga Khan University (AKU) has initiated mentorship programs for students and faculty at AKU Medical College (AKU- MC) and AKU School of Nursing and Midwifery (AKU-SONAM). This study aimed to explore perceptions of mentors, mentees, administrators (chairs, co-chairs, founder members and coordinators of the mentoring program) and leadership and further investigate the strengths and challenges faced by 'Faculty Mentorship Program' at AKU- MC. We conducted a qualitative exploratory study from February till December 2021 after approval from AKU using purposive criterion sampling. Mentors, mentees, administrators and dean of AKU- MC were included in the study. The interview guide was developed, validated and reviewed by experts. After piloting, four focused group discussions and 8 in-depth interviews were conducted in AKU- MC. The findings described the transition from informal to formal mentorship, identified challenges faced by mentors and mentees and suggested the role of leadership / administrators. The themes identified were "Continuous improvement of mentoring practices", "Building strong foundations for mentoring relationships", and "Growth and development through challenging experiences". The faculty mentorship program at AKU-MC was in line with the goals and vision of the institution. All participants identified the need of additional resources, administrative support, rewards, incentives and recognition of mentors for sustainability of the program.