Group Peer Mentoring Program

 Dear Faculty: 

We are thrilled to launch our next year of Group Peer Mentoring (GPM), a career development program for Weill Cornell faculty that will run from Fall 2023 – Spring 2024. Facilitated group peer mentoring has been shown in the literature to lead to career advancement, improve physician vitality, and have benefits in the realms of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will have opportunities for faculty from a variety of career paths to join a peer mentoring group, including early and mid-career researchers, clinician-educators, leaders in medical education, and experienced faculty. GPM consists of 4 day-long faculty development workshops from Fall 2023-Spring 2024. Most groups will meet in person at the Weill Cornell Medicine campus. Two hybrid groups will have a modified schedule with 2 day-long in-person sessions (all attending on site), and 4 half-day virtual meetings (all attending on Zoom). Researchers, medical educators, administrators, and clinicians with faculty positions (Instructors, Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors) are all invited to apply. Groups are open to faculty regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or national origin. In this program, participants will: 

• Participate in regular faculty development workshops from October 2023 - May 2024 

• Meet with peers for 30-60 minutes between sessions 

• Develop career vision aligned with your core values, strengths, and identities 

• Create individually designed goals and plans for personal and professional development 

• Engage in mentoring and leadership skills related to diversity, equity, and inclusion 

• Learn approaches to negotiation, feedback, and team leadership 

• Gain enhanced meaning in work within a scholarly community 

Please find below the dates for the five peer mentoring groups open for recruitment for this academic year. We are planning for sessions to be in person at Weill Cornell Medicine, with a hybrid format for two of the groups. Faculty may apply for more than one group but can be placed in at most one group for the 2023-2024 academic year, as space permits. To apply, faculty must commit to attending all sessions. The program is being offered free of charge thanks to generous sponsorship from the Dean's Office and the Department of Medicine. 

Leaders in Medical Education (WCM, all departments) 

9 AM - 5 PM at Weill Cornell 

• October 4, 2023 

• December 13, 2023 

• January 24, 2023 

• May 1, 2023 

Clinical Faculty (WCM, all departments) 

9 AM - 5 PM at Weill Cornell 

• Oct 26, 2023 

• Dec 7, 2023 

• Feb 8, 2024 

• May 9, 2024 

Early Career Researchers (WCM, all departments) 

• Oct 23 from 9 AM – 5 PM in person at Weill Cornell 

• Dec 12 from 9 AM – 1 PM (Virtual) 

• Jan 24 from 9 AM – 1 PM (Virtual) 

• Feb 28 from 9 AM – 5 PM in person at Weill Cornell 

• April 2 from 9 AM – 1 PM (Virtual) 

• May 7 from 9 AM – 1 PM (Virtual) 

Experienced Faculty (WCM, all departments) 

9 AM - 5 PM at Weill Cornell 

• November 1, 2023 

• January 10, 2023 

• March 6, 2024 

• May 8, 2024 

Department of Medicine Faculty (WCM, DOM) 

• October 4, 2023 - 9 AM – 5 PM in person at Weill Cornell 

• December 14, 2023 - 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Virtual) 

• January 30, 2024 - 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Virtual) 

• February 29, 9am – 5PM in person at Weill Cornell 

• April 2, 2024 - 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Virtual) 

• May 9, 2024 - 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Virtual) 

To apply for the Group Peer Mentoring Program, please complete the application here by July 7, 2023, at 5 PM EST. If you have questions about this program, please contact Deborah Ofosu at deo4001@med.cornell.edu or visit our website here! 

Sincerely, 

Kimberly Bloom-Feshbach, MD & Swana De Gijsel, MD 

Co-Directors, Weill Cornell Group Peer Mentoring Program 

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Testimonials 

“Learning in the group is applicable to every aspect of our lives, not limited to our professional career. We are considered as whole individuals. All our identities are recognized, valued, and considered at every mentoring session. The approach is unique, so I have learned a great deal so far. Also, the environment is incredibly welcoming, so it is very easy to open and discuss even the most difficult topics” 

“I really appreciated the program and found it great to get to know colleagues across the institution. I was able to get feedback on a scholarly piece I was working on from two members of the group. I could tell that colleagues in many departments were really missing exactly the community that GPM fostered.” 

“It’s been great to connect with people throughout the institution who I didn’t know well. It’s very helpful to hivemind and brainstorm for people. Often our struggles are shared, and wisdom can also be shared.” 

“Following a curriculum that allows me to connect with myself. Homework assignments with a partner to keep me accountable. Relaxed, supportive tone of the emails/meetings that encourages growth through reflective listening. Connections with other faculty I otherwise would not have likely met. Time to reflect on my career path and change the trajectory. Opportunity to be myself without fear of being judged. Time well spent.” 

“Different perspectives from people in different divisions/departments. Appreciate the frameworks and concrete tools provided for planning goals.” 

“It is helpful to realize that across all disciplines in the hospital, people are largely feeling under-mentored. I feel less alone in this regard and more aligned with everyone's struggles. If I am not alone then I feel more energized to figure out how to work on the problem, rather than feeling resigned to the reality of the hospital system that isn't providing the best resources for the faculty. GPM really allows us to be open and honest about our struggles and different peers bring different talents, strengths, and helpful ideas to the table.” 

“Life-changing program”