Mentors Program

The UICOM Mentors Program is a completely student-run organization that was created to facilitate first-year medical students’ exploration of various medical specialties for the purpose of career discernment. Past participants have expressed that their involvement in the Mentors Program has led to longitudinal relationships with mentors, research opportunities, and professional networking. Our aim is to provide medical students with a venue through which they can build strong interpersonal relationships with patients, peers, and residents/fellows within the UIC community.

Program Objectives:

  1. Spend at least one half-day in the clinic shadowing a resident or fellow.
  2. Attend at least 2 out of the 10 workshops led by specialists from various fields. These workshops are designed to expand mentees’ interests and broaden their medical knowledge.
  3. Submit two written reflections- one at the midpoint and one at the end of the program- on personal growth and shadowing experiences.
  4.  Collaborate with 3-4 other peers to create and present a poster at the annual Mentors Program Symposium in March 2027. Faculty judges will evaluate the presentations and give constructive feedback.

The Mentors Program is an opportunity for both students who know what specialty they want to pursue and who would like to gain early experience and mentorship, as well as for students who would like to explore different specialties to see what fits their interests best.

I had an amazing experience with my mentor last year! I personally did not shadow many physicians in the past, and this program provided me with an invaluable experience shadowing an anesthesiologist. He was very kind, patient, and willing to provide me with hands-on experience.

Specialty choices represented in the program (subject to changes depending on current year recruitment):

  • Anesthesiology
  • Cardiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Endocrinology
  • Dermatology
  • Family Medicine
  • Gastroenterology
  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Medicine/Pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Pathology
  • Pediatrics
  • Plastic Surgery
  • Psychiatry
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Otolaryngology
  • Radiology
  • Surgery
  • Urology

Annual Mentors Program Symposium

Research Board People

Information regarding the sign-up process for 2026-27 will be sent out in mid-August.

Questions?

Research Boards

Feel free to contact us at mentorsprogram@gmail.com if you have any questions!

You can also reach out to the Curricular Affairs liaison to the Mentors Program: