Midwestern Students Mentor Local Undergraduates through Mentors in Medicine and Science Program
Undergraduate college students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare now have a resource for navigating the path toward a graduate education in the health sciences, thanks to a free program established by Midwestern University on both campuses
AZ MIMS mentors celebrate at the annual kickoff event at the Glendale Campus.
Sponsored by the Offices of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Student Services; Admissions; and Communications, the Mentors in Medicine & Science (MIMS) mentorship program pairs undergraduate students with Midwestern University students from all eight University colleges, representing over 20 different healthcare career tracks. The MIMS program provides monthly communication between MWU mentors and their undergraduate partners about potential careers, good study habits, entrance exam test-taking, positive mental health, goal setting, and navigating the process of applying to graduate and professional schools.
The Glendale Campus MIMS program began with a kick-off reception and faculty panel at Midwestern University's Glendale Campus on October 10, during which 94 college students were matched with 131 Midwestern students.
On the Downers Grove Campus, the mentor match event was held on October 30 and included 44 undergraduate mentees from Aurora University, who matched with 51 Midwestern mentors. The session also included a faculty panel.
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; Erin Raney, Pharm.D., BCPS (CPG), Professor; Mae Ciancio, Ph.D. (CGS-IL), Professor, Biomedical Sciences; and Kolla Kristjansdottir, Ph.D. (CGS-IL), Associate Program Director, Biomedical Sciences.
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.”
“I was motivated to become a MIMS mentor because I had great mentors who guided me on the path to medical school.” said Chicago College of Osteopathic Medical student Hannah Neukom (CCOM ‘28). “I was lucky enough to call physicians, advisors, and friends my mentors when deciding to pursue medicine. They made my path to medical school smoother and less stressful,” “I have arthritis and had the opportunity to mentor adolescent kids who also have arthritis through the Arthritis Foundation and saw how impactful it was for them – and for me. I knew mentoring college students would be just as rewarding.”
"I am so happy that Midwestern is doing a program like this. It gives us students an opportunity to be the people we’ve looked up to for so long,” said College of Dental Medicine-Illinois student Alec Gechoff (CDMI ’27). “When I was applying to dental school, I was absolutely blind to what I should do. I didn’t know what classes to take, how to study, or when to apply. Without a mentor, I made so many mistakes that cost me time and money. Now, I want to help others avoid those mistakes. It feels so rewarding to give back in this way."
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 in Arizona, visit the MIMS-AZ page.
