The Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Alumni Association Mentorship Program is based in the Alumni Relations Unit with collaboration from the Career Services Unit. The program was developed to engage/re-engage alumni while providing a resource for current CDU students to explore their career objectives. The Alumni Mentorship Program is a six-month commitment which allows alumni to give back to the university while providing current university students resources outside of their core curriculum creating a holistic academic experience. This groundbreaking program features seventeen alumni from all facets of the healthcare field and research and 23 students from undergraduate and graduate programs. This program matches alumni and current students on a 1:1 or 1:2 professional relationship featuring opportunities to shadow alumni in their respective fields and exposure to professional networking opportunities specific to navigating healthcare careers as a person of color.
From the Judges
The thinking and research invested to fill revenue and volunteer gaps by identifying outside resources to balance their internal capabilities is brilliant. Paying mentors for their time was very creative and a great way to retain mentors while exposing students to various career roles and pathways in the healthcare industry. The program maximized campus partnerships as a means to provide tangible assistance through shadow experiences and mentoring through collaboration with career services and student affairs.
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science’s First Alumni Mentorship Program
