The importance of near-peer mentorship for LGBTQ+ medical students

Rojo, Joseph, Dickson, Lexi and Marr, Mollie 2021. The importance of near-peer mentorship for LGBTQ+ medical students. The British Student Doctor Journal 5 (2) , pp. 56-64. 10.18573/bsdj.274

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Abstract

Navigating medical school can be especially challenging for LGBTQ+ medical students. LGBTQ+ medical students face unique barriers and may struggle to find support for their professional and personal growth since the LGBTQ+ identity is often unrecognized or unacknowledged within medical education and practice. Currently, there is not enough support for LGBTQ+ medical students. One emerging resource to navigate transitioning through medical training is near-peer mentorship. A near-peer mentor is a peer who is at least one year senior to a mentee in the same level of educational training who provides guidance on career development and psychosocial growth. In order for any mentorship programming or relationship development to occur, LGBTQ+ medical students need to feel safe. Given the generally small number of LGBTQ+ students at each institution, programming to support LGBTQ+ medical students through near-peer mentorship would have to happen at both a local level and through social media. Here we explore the barriers that LGBTQ+ medical students face, the importance of near-peer mentoring, and some examples of potential mentorship programming.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology L Education > L Education (General) R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Publisher:	Cardiff University Press
ISSN:	2514-3174
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	12 May 2021
Date of Acceptance:	21 February 2021
Last Modified:	03 May 2023 15:51
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/141260

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