Medi-futures orlando mentorship program

what is the medi-futures mentorship program?

The Medi-Futures Mentorship Program connects undergraduates, health professional students (medical, PA, nursing, dental, etc.), and healthcare professionals from similar backgrounds and with similar interests. The goal of the program is to contribute to a more successful and transformative health career pipeline by bringing students and professionals together to support one another and to provide guidance, foster insight, encourage growth, and empower.

Over a 6-month period, mentorship groups meet monthly to work on a project and to discuss suggested topics. To facilitate relationships among group members and to give everyone an opportunity to pursue a professional development project, each group works toward solving a problem related to any aspect of healthcare, health education, healthcare access, or community outreach. Mentorship Program participants do not need to cure cancer or end all health disparities (though, be our guest!). At the end of the 6-month program, all Mentorship Program participants have the opportunity to present their project at the Mentorship Project Exposition & Reception event with the opportunity to win awards.

Note: Medi-Futures Orlando is not affiliated with an academic or health institution; rather, leadership and participants of the program are individuals who learn and work at various institutions in the Orlando area. The Medi-Futures Orlando program does partner with the Medi-Futures UCF program.

who is in a mentorship group?

Undergraduate students and health professional students are matched with a healthcare professional in a career path/specialty of interest.

Members of a mentorship group include:
– 1 healthcare professional
– 1-2 health professional/graduate students
– 2-3 pre-health undergraduate or gap year students

Residents and fellows are welcome to join mentorship groups, either as the primary mentor or as a co-mentor with an attending physician.

Example Mentorship Group: 1 neurologist, 1-2 medical students interested in neurology, 2-3 undergraduate students interested in neurology

Example Mentorship Group: 1 physician assistant, 1-2 PA students, 2-3 pre-PA students

Monthly meetings & Mentorship Project

The 2026-2027 program will take place over 6 months, from October 2026 to March 2027, with an estimated time commitment of 2-3 hours per month for mentors and 3-5 hours per month for mentees. The Medi-Futures team will provide each group with monthly discussion topics to initiate intentional conversation. Each group will be expected to discuss these topics in addition to planning and executing a required group project (as detailed below).

Monthly meeting times will be coordinated by you and your group based on overlapping availability. We highly encourage you to attend your monthly meetings in-person to foster stronger relationships; however, we understand distance is a factor for some, so you are welcome to meet via Zoom if needed. Undergraduate and professional students students will be asked to fill out a brief meeting summary form each month for the Medi-Futures team to keep track of active participation.

Within each mentorship group, program participants will pursue a professional development project solving a problem related to any aspect of healthcare, health education, healthcare access, or community outreach. Here are some suggestions for possible projects:

• Work on a research project guided by the mentor
• Organize a community outreach event or program
• Develop a curriculum or session to educate students on a topic of interest
• Identify a patient care issue in a healthcare facility and develop a solution
• Create a pamphlet to simplify health information for patient understanding
• Start an initiative to improve healthcare access for an underserved population

See some projects from our University of Florida Mentorship Program here.

Apply to the medi-futures orlando mentorship program

application

Undergraduate & Gap Year Students

Who can apply?
– Applicants must be a current undergraduate student local to the Orlando area OR must be in a gap year in the Orlando area
– Preferred applicants have earned a Medi-Gators or Medi-Futures Virtual Shadowing Program certificate (not a requirement)
– Applicants must complete a Medi-Futures Mentorship & Professionalism Training module prior to applying.
– Students at any undergraduate academic level may apply, including students in a gap year, post-baccalaureate program, or master’s program (with the intention of applying to a professional program)
– Students who are eager to serve as a mentee!

The application process is highly competitive and selective, and preferred applicants are those who display a high level of professionalism, passion, responsibility, and accountability.

Applications will open in August.

application

Health Professional/Graduate Students

Health professional students include medical students, dental students, PA students, nursing students, pharmacy students, PT students, OT students, SLP students, AuD, students, CAA students, etc.

Who can apply?
– Health professional students at any academic level
– Students who will be located in the Orlando area between October and March are preferred
– Students who are passionate about mentorship!

Health professional students in the Medi-Futures Mentorship Program will play a unique role, serving as both a mentor (to undergraduate students) and as a mentee (to the healthcare professional).

Applications will open in August.

application

Healthcare Professionals

Healthcare professionals at any stage of their career (including residents and fellows) are encouraged to complete the Medi-Futures Mentorship Program application.

Who can apply?
– Healthcare professionals located in the Orlando area
– Mentors in various settings are welcome to apply (i.e. academic medicine, community hospital, private practice, research)

Applications are currently OPEN!

Apply Here

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