Program Introduction/Background

The MedMentors Program, in partnership with the Vermont Area Health Education Centers Program (VT-AHEC), was established to support pre-medical students through the medical school application process. Led by medical student volunteers, the program offers individualized mentorship, application guidance, interview preparation, and peer support. By connecting applicants with near-peers who successfully navigated the process, the program aims to reduce barriers, increase confidence, clarify misinformation, and promote equity in access to medical education. Since its inception this program has exemplified a shared commitment to expanding and diversifying the healthcare workforce across Vermont and beyond.
 

Relevance to ASPBP

The MedMentors Program embodies ASPBP’s mission by advancing equity and access in the medical education pipeline. Through near-peer mentorship and active outreach, the program supports aspiring physicians and mitigates barriers in the pre-medical journey. Its student-led model aligns with ASPBP’s emphasis on sustainable, scalable programs. By sharing outcomes and lessons learned, this session will offer actionable insights for institutions looking to replicate or adapt mentorship programs that foster inclusivity and improve representation in the future healthcare workforce.
 

Target population

Most mentees are undergraduate pre-medical students at the University of Vermont, a land-grant university, though the program also supports students from outside of UVM, particularly those interested in applying to the UVM Larner College of Medicine (UVM LCOM). Each mentee is matched with a current UVM LCOM student, creating a personalized, near-peer mentorship relationship.
 

Lessons Learned, Challenges and Accomplishments, Best Practices, and/or Innovations, or General Program Framework Description, Transferability

A key challenge has been scheduling consistent mentor engagement. Currently, the program does not offer structured group sessions, and all meetings are arranged independently by each pair either virtually or in person. To strengthen initial connections, we are considering piloting a kickoff event at the beginning of the academic year to help mentors and mentees meet and set expectations. However, we hope to maintain the accessibility of the program to allow students from lower-resourced institutions or those who do not personally know a medical student to receive meaningful support.