Resources

Academic Advisor/Mentor 

excerpt from the UNLV Pediatrics Residency Handbook, revised 6/15/2021:

I. Introduction: 

Residency is an intensive period of training, education, and increasing responsibilities. To assist residents in the process, and to meet ACGME requirements, faculty mentors/advisors are assigned based on resident requests. They are an integral part of the training program. 

II. Policy: 

A. All residents in the training program have a self-selected advisor/mentor to assist and provide support/guidance as they navigate their residency. These areas include but are not limited to: 

1) rotation performance 

2) individualized learning plan 

3) individualized curriculum 

4) career goals 

5) preparation for the board exam and studying plans 

6) stress and personal issues 

7) challenges with performance during training 

8) advocating for the resident with program leadership 

B. Incoming residents (interns/PL1) are assigned to meet with program leadership for the first 6 months of training until they meet enough faculty to be able to select an advisor/mentor. 

III. Procedure: 

A. Incoming residents are randomly assigned to a member of the program leadership team (program director, associate program director) during orientation for the first six months of training. 

B. During the first six months of training, PL1 residents will meet with the program leadership twice before their semiannual meeting with the program director. During December of their PL1 year, residents will submit a list of three faculty who they have selected as potential advisors/mentors. The program director will assign advisors/mentors by January 15th of the PL1 year, trying to honor first/second choices when possible. For the second half of the year, PL1 residents should meet with their advisor at least twice. 

C. Senior residents are expected to meet at least twice with their advisor each half of the year. The first meeting must occur before October 1 to review Individualized Learning Plans (ILP) and study plans and another meeting is recommended to review the results of the in-training exam. Ideally, meeting with them at least four times in one year is recommended. 

D. Additional meetings may be required based on resident performance and residents may meet with their advisor ad lib if desired. 

E. Advisors/mentors are required to complete the advisor/mentor report form found in New Innovations. The coordinator will set up NI with the evaluations made easily available once all assignments have been made. For residents required to meet with their advisor/mentors on a more frequent basis, notes to file will be set up for ease of documentation purposes. The resident will also have a signature sheet for the advisor to sign for these purposes. 

F. In general, it is the responsibility of the resident to set up meetings with their advisor/mentors as required by the program. Reminders will be sent by either program leadership or the coordinators before deadlines, usually through a checklist on New Innovations.