Although the end of January brings National Mentoring Month to a close, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine’s commitment to student mentoring doesn’t stop there. Since 2024, the school’s Qooper Mentoring Program has been connecting medical students with healthcare professionals to support their academic, professional and personal development.
Provided with guidance on everything from learning strategies to research opportunities, students are matched with experienced mentors at the university’s hospital partners—Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, MetroHealth and Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center—based on their specialty interests and career goals. This year, 100 students were paired with mentors across a wide range of medical and surgical disciplines.
Mentors and mentees meet monthly, either in person or virtually, with support from Qooper, an online mentorship platform that provides discussion tips and access to curated resources.
“As a mentor, I value meeting students early in their medical education and having the privilege of walking alongside them, mentoring and coaching them as they explore their journey towards a fulfilling career that reflects their values and aspirations,” shared Monica Yepes-Rios, MD, assistant dean of Student Engagement and Wellbeing at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine and an associate professor at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine.
The program reflects the School of Medicine’s ongoing dedication to cross-organizational collaboration that supports the growth and confidence of the next generation of physicians and researchers.
