Midwestern Students Mentor Local AZ Undergraduates through Mentors in Medicine and Science Program

The Mentors in Medicine and Science (MIMS) kickoff match event and healthcare faculty panel in October connected 131 Midwestern University students with 94 undergraduate students from local colleges and universities. Midwestern student mentors from each University program and their mentees were matched based on corresponding healthcare career interests.

Sponsored by the Offices of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Student Services; Admissions; and Communications, the annual MIMS program provides pre-health undergraduate students with a mentor to guide them through the complexities of choosing a career, applying to health professional school, test-taking, interviewing skills, study skills, life balance, and more. 

As mentors, Midwestern students commit to meeting up with their mentee(s) at least once per month, from November 2024 to May 2025. Meetings can be virtual, in-person, and/or include the mentee shadowing their mentor on-campus for a day. Connections are documented via Canvas, where mentors share advice and experiences amongst themselves, and receive ongoing support from faculty advisors Alexandra Goe, D.V.M., Dipl. ACZM (CVM), Clinical Associate Professor, and Erin Raney, Pharm.D., BCPS (CPG), Professor. 

In-person check-in meetings during the winter and a spring hands-on event at the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center provide even more opportunities for mentors and mentees to learn from each other and the faculty advisors. 

Upon culmination of the MIMS program, mentors will receive a certificate of completion and, hopefully, a sense of pride in knowing that they’ve had a positive impact on someone else’s future.

For Cristina Ou (AZCOM ’28), being a mentor is a very personal experience. “As a very non-traditional, career-changing, mother of three, I went on this journey learning along the way. I wish I had a mentor then to help me navigate,” she explains. “I enjoy watching people grow and reach their potential. I can be the cheerleader to keep them going, be their pick-me-up, and offer the guidance and support that others may not be able to. I'll always sign up to be that person to have an impact, big or small, in hopes of inspiring and helping shape someone's future.”

Annie Phan (AZCOM ’27) agrees. “I joined the mentor program because, as someone without anyone in my family to guide me through the healthcare field, figuring out my way to medicine on my own was tough. Now, I get to support others who may feel the same way, helping them find their path with more confidence. It’s rewarding to be the mentor I wish I had.”

For Akhila Manthena (AZCOM ‘26), this was her second year matching with a local mentee. “Being a first-gen medical student, the pre-med journey has always been challenging for me. But having mentors throughout the process has helped me tremendously. I would not be a third-year medical student without their support! It is rewarding to see my previous mentees succeed and that motivates me to continue mentoring. I believe that if I can help someone achieve their goals, then they continue to help others in their future endeavors.”

For more information about the MIMS Program.