Design fundamentals of mentoring programs for pharmacy professionals

Part 2: Considerations for mentors and mentees

Abstract: Developing a mentoring program is multifactorial, and organisations developing such programs must be reflective in considering their own organisational culture to determine the goals and outcomes assessment of a mentoring program that aligns with the organisation's mission and values.

Part 1 of this series of papers on devising mentoring programs for pharmacy professionals paid mind to their structure, logistical concerns, and basic design consideration. Designing a program, though, cannot be successful without consideration of the people involved, and the very human process that is mentoring and being mentored.

This Part 2 paper takes into account the human needs of mentors and mentees, both independently and as pairs or groups involved in a potentially intimate and caring relationship that lasts anywhere from several months, to potentially a lifetime should the relationship be successful.

As such, this commentary pays careful attention to the evolving roles each person plays and what this means to administrators overseeing or assessing the results and implications from such a program so as to strive for maximum organisational effectiveness for employing institutions and self-actualization for persons involved in the program.

The work was led by:

  • Dr Efi Mantzourani MFCI MRPharmS MSc PhD FHEA, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Cardiff University
  • Professor Shane P. Desselle, RPh, PhD, FAPhA, Touro University California College of Pharmacy

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