Mentorship Initiative for Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI)

Purpose

MIDI is a structured sponsorship and mentorship initiative designed to meet the needs and experiences of residents with diverse backgrounds, including individuals who are underrepresented in medicine and those who are socially, economically, or educationally disadvantaged.

Overview

Our aim is to promote a collaborative model of mentorship that provides culturally-informed education, interactive training and social support jointly to mentors and mentees. We want to provide a safe space for faculty and residents to understand and discuss issues relevant to diversity. Our goal is to help faculty and trainees gain experience in cultural humility and prepare participants to address challenging professional situations and conversations.

For our purposes, we will define diversity as related but not limited to age, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, ethnicity, and gender. We welcome faculty and residents of all identities and lived experiences.

Goals

• Illuminate the role of culture in the mentor-mentee relationship

• Prepare mentors to engage in conversations around culture and diversity

• Create a supportive workplace to better navigate such conversations

• Build a network of peers with mutual interests, concerns and questions around incorporating issues of diversity into academic medicine

• Enhance mentees workplace satisfaction, feelings of relatedness and level of comfort in academic medicine
   

Structure

• One year longitudinal mentorship program conducted virtually

• Monthly meetings for 3 months, then bimonthly for the rest of the year

• Monthly meetings between mentors and mentees

• Physically distanced & socially connected mentorship dinners

• Collaborative case based discussions and interactive didactics