Stanford Medicine 1st Generation Mentorship Program

The 1st Generation Mentorship Program is a community of Stanford Medicine students, faculty, alumni, and staff. Many are either the first in their family to attend college, graduate, or professional school and/or are the first in their families born in the United States. Our goal is to provide first-generation students with broadened academic and professional networking opportunities and advocacy through continued mentorship.

"As a first generation student, it is difficult to navigate higher education. I wanted to have a mentor that was first generation or was interested in helping first generation students like myself navigate the system".


Zoom Backgrounds

If you would like to download some cool 1st Gen Zoom backgrounds created by Gabriela Valazquez, click here!



Mentor Program

Our Mentors are the backbone of the 1st Generation Mentorship Program. Below is an evolving and growing list of our 1st Gen Mentors. They have been sorted according to their mentoring interests. Please read below for more information.

"This program is absolutely incredible! This is a community explicitly for first generation graduate/medical students. I think this is critical because we go through specific hardships that some other groups might not experience exactly as we do, and it is great to have the support of people who understand"

"I like that the program tries to match you to a mentor that can support your career goals. I also liked that there were workshops and seminars for those involved in this program. These types of events gave me a sense of community at Stanford, in addition to having the support from a mentor"

"I had a really rough time in my winter rotation, and my mentor has been very useful in helping me choose my rotation labs. He met with me during winter to talk about how to deal with my situation and what to do for my spring rotation. It has been amazing to have his perspective because he has mentored a lot of students."


Become a Mentor

Many successful professionals have had, early on, one or more mentors who made a big difference in helping them achieve early success. Our graduate students, and especially those who are first generation, will benefit greatly from expert guidance throughout their academic journey.

Being a mentor has its benefits. First, sharing your passions, you can help to set the tone for students entering their professional careers. Mentors learn things about themselves as well; their career benefits, and, when thinking about the impact on someone else’s life, mentors feel like they are doing something that matters deeply and personally.

Pay it forward. Bridge the generation gap. Become a mentor.

(Please note that, while we greatly value our mentor community, not all mentors will be matched directly with a student. We need a diverse pool of mentors so that they best suit the needs of our mentees).

Become a Mentor! Fill out our New Member Form.


Events

GAB! Before Pi Day

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 | 2:30-3:30pm
DCORE | Lane Library | 300 Pasteur Drive, Room L003

GAB! (grub and banter) is an hour of casual community and a bite to eat. No agenda. No scheduled activity. Just casual conversation or a break for quiet reflection. Perhaps a theme. Join us for a little GAB! and celebrate Pi Day with us.

We value not just the pursuit of academic excellence, but also the bonds we form and the conversations we share. GAB! Before Pi Day is the perfect opportunity to take a breather from your challenging, inspiring coursework and enjoy the lighter, sweeter side of student life. Join us and build connections that go beyond the classroom.

Kindly confirm your attendance (RSVP here) by Noon on Friday, March 8 so we can ensure we have enough pie for everyone!

This event is closed to Stanford Medicine students and 1st Gen members.

 

Searching for Kapwa Documentary Screening

Wednesday, May 1, 2024 | 6:00pm-8:00pm
Clark Center Auditorium | 318 Discovery Walk | Stanford Medicine Campus

The 1st Generation Mentorship Program is proud to host a screening of the documentary Searching for Kapwa, a story of identity, history, and belonging. This screening will be open to the 1st Gen, Stanford Medicine, and Stanford community. After the screening, please join us for a Q&A with filmmakers Larry D. Lariosa and Terrence Marcotte, collectively Alchemy & Twine Productions.

Inspired by the pre-colonial Filipino value kapwa, or “shared identity”, Searching for Kapwa follows the filmmaker’s quest to heal from a sense of cultural alienation, understand his ancestral roots, and find his place in the arc of history. As a child of immigrants and a queer brown person living in polarized America, Larry’s journey unpacks the complicated history of the Philippines, and its lasting impact on the Filipino diaspora. Ultimately, the film is a densely layered exploration into what it is to be American, and the legacy of the generations we all carry within us.

Please RSVP to attend. Space may be limited! Only registered guests will be admitted. An RSVP does NOT guarantee a reserved seat, so please arrive early. All seating at the event is first come, first served.



In the Community


BrightCrowd 1st Gen Community Book

Are you a current 1st Gen Member? 

The 1st Generation Mentorship Program offers its members an opportunity to participate in our 1st Gen Community Book. This provides our Mentors and Mentees a place to look for other community members. Contact 1st Gen Committee member Anthony Lee to join.





 


Help select the next generation of doctors! Volunteer as an MMI Interviewer/Rater

Multiple Mini Interview or MMI, is an interview technique where multiple short interviews are conducted in a timed circuit. MMI is useful to assess essential skills and attributes that are important to becoming a good doctor like problem-solving, teamwork, empathy, ethical judgment, and more. MMI sessions are being conducted virtually.

Office of MD Admissions is recruiting a diverse group of people across Stanford and our broader community to serve as MMI interviewers (raters). Of particular interest are persons with a background in STEM and health professions, patient advocates, Stanford Medicine faculty, students, and staff, and Stanford Medicine alumni from diverse backgrounds.

Please note: Individuals planning to apply to medical school in the next 5 years are ineligible to participate.

For more information email: mdvolunteers@stanford.edu.
 

Meet FLI

The Stanford FLI Office (First Generation and/or Low-Income Office) is a hub for first-generation graduate students. They know that many of the challenges that FLI students face do not simply disappear after college and are there for you.

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In the News

Grace Li’s art heist caper | August 8, 2023 | Stanford Report

The third year medical student spoke at the Anderson Collection last week about her best-selling thriller, Portrait of a Thief, now in development at Netflix.

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NCORE 2023 | May 30-June 3, 2023 | New Orleans, LA

The 35th Annual National Conference on Race & Ethnicity in Higher Education will return to the Big Easy! Get ready for five days of amazing conference sessions, networking, community outreach, and fun. Experience all things NOLA while expanding your mind during NCORE sessions.

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