The importance of near-peer mentorship for LGBTQ+ medical students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18573/bsdj.274Keywords:
LGBTQ , medical student, mentorship, MedEd, SGMAbstract
Navigating medical school can be especially challenging for LGBTQ+ medical students. LGBTQ+ medical students face unique barriers and may struggle to find support for their professional and personal growth since the LGBTQ+ identity is often unrecognized or unacknowledged within medical education and practice. Currently, there is not enough support for LGBTQ+ medical students. One emerging resource to navigate transitioning through medical training is near-peer mentorship. A near-peer mentor is a peer who is at least one year senior to a mentee in the same level of educational training who provides guidance on career development and psychosocial growth. In order for any mentorship programming or relationship development to occur, LGBTQ+ medical students need to feel safe. Given the generally small number of LGBTQ+ students at each institution, programming to support LGBTQ+ medical students through near-peer mentorship would have to happen at both a local level and through social media. Here we explore the barriers that LGBTQ+ medical students face, the importance of near-peer mentoring, and some examples of potential mentorship programming.
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