PURPOSE
Mentorship plays a critical role in medical education by fostering research
competencies and scholarly inquiry. However, faculty often face challenges in
guiding medical students due to the lack of standardized resources outlining
mentor responsibilities and tailored support. To address this gap, the
Resource Kit for Research and Scholarship was developed to provide structured
tools and best practices that enhance faculty confidence, clarify mentoring
expectations, and promote consistent support for medical student research
across two campuses of Baylor College of Medicine.
METHODS
The Resource Kit for Research and Scholarship was developed by faculty from
more than 15 departments. It provides ready-to-use tools and best practices
to support mentorship, clarify expectations, and guide students across
research stages. The Kit includes three phases: (1) Initiation and Selection,
addressing mentor-mentee matching, and research compliance; (2) Supporting
Student Research Activities, offering strategies for integrating research
with medical training, accountability, and feedback; and (3) Dissemination
and Career Development, providing guidance on presentations, publications,
and further scholarship. During the first month of implementation (October
1–31, 2025), faculty evaluated the Kit using a Technology Acceptance
Model–based survey assessing perceived usefulness, ease of use, and intention
to use the Resource Kit in mentoring. Engagement metrics were compared with
activity in institutional research databases.
RESULTS
Fifty-eight faculty completed the evaluation across two campuses in the
first month. More than 90% agreed that the Resource Kit increased their
confidence in mentoring, clarified expectations, and enhanced their ability
to support student progress. Of the 58 respondents, 54 were listed as mentors
in the institutional research databases for medical students.
CONCLUSION
An educational Resource Kit can strengthen research mentorship by
clarifying expectations, supporting faculty across stages of student
research, and expanding mentor participation across campuses.