Thank you for joining us for SUNY Downstate's 1st Annual Mentorship Symposium, "Advancing the Science & Practice of Mentorship in Biomedical, Behavioral, and Clinical Research," where we explored the foundations of sustainable, effective, and equitable mentorship in STEM and medicine. 

This event brought together educators, researchers, healthcare professionals, and students to share best practices, tools, and strategies for fostering mentorship relationships. Through interactive panels, workshops, and discussions, participants we gained insights into creating supportive environments, building pathways for underrepresented groups, and promoting long-term success in academic and professional settings.

Event Details

Date: January 17th, 2025

Location: SUNY Global Center, 116E 55th St, New York, NY, 10022

Time: 9 AM - 5 PM

PAST Agenda

8 AM Set-up and Registration

9 AM Registration and Breakfast 

9:30 AM Welcome and Introductions (Symposium Co-Chairs Drs. W. Marcus Lambert, Marlene Camacho-Rivera, Carla Boutin-Foster, Ayesha Joshi, and David Christini) 

9:45 AM Session I: Keynote Address, Adaira Landry, MD, MEd

10:45 AM Coffee Break 

11 AM Session II: Lightning Talks 

Speakers (10-minute slots)

-   Felicia Setiono: Patterns of effective mentorship found among NIH K-awardees

-   Jodi-Ann Edwards: Mentorship of underrepresented minorities and women in surgery

-   Juan Marcos Alarcón: A novel REACH mentorship model

5 min question break

-   Mohamed Boutjdir: Mentorship models for grant success

-   Carla Boutin-Foster: Clinical Research Scholars Training (CREST) Program

-   Sherene Sharath: INSPIRE

5 min question break

12:30 PM Lunch and Roundtable Discussions – Mentoring Roundtables – Mentorship expertise and topic areas

-   Felicia Setiono: Developing Mentors as Grad/Medical Student/Postdoc

-   Jodi-Ann Edwards: Mentorship for Residents and Medical Students

-   Juan Marcos Alarcón: Developing Undergraduate Pathways

-   Mohamed Boutjdir: Mentorship Program Development and Grant Writing

-   Carla Boutin-Foster: Clinical Research Mentorship

-   Sherene Sharath: Inspiring a Community-based Mentorship Model

2 PM Concurrent Workshops

Workshop [for Mentors] - Developing Your Mentorship Philosophy

Facilitated by Marcus Lambert and Eric Simmons

In this session, participants will develop and refine their personal mentoring philosophies, reflecting on core values and experiences. They will learn how to integrate these philosophies into practical mentoring plans, ensuring alignment with their mentoring goals.

Workshop [for Mentees] - Mentoring Up and Effective Communication 

Facilitated by Fátima Sancheznieto

This session will empower trainees with strategies to proactively manage their mentoring relationships through 'mentoring up.' Participants will learn effective communication techniques to ensure clear, productive, and mutually beneficial interactions with their mentors. 

3 PM Panel [for all] – Sustaining Mentorship: Building Processes and Structures for Long-Term Success 

This panel will explore strategies for ensuring the long-term sustainability of mentorship programs in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. Topics will include creating institutional support, developing mentorship policies, establishing accountability systems, and integrating mentorship into organizational culture. The goal is to explore how mentorship can be institutionalized so that it is both impactful and enduring, ensuring ongoing support for future generations of researchers.

Panelists: Marlene Camacho-Rivera, Sabina Hirshfield, & David Christini

Moderator: Marcus Lambert

4 PM Summary, Concluding Remarks, and Next Steps (Symposium Co-Chairs) - Meeting adjourned 

4:15 PM SPNSOR Program Meet and Greet