AHEC Student Interest Groups (SIG)
HERO SIG
The HERO Mentoring SIG was established to support under-represented high school students by exposing them to health science and careers. It is comprised of one-to-one mentoring activities with high school students led by Northern Vermont AHEC. By working with the HERO Mentoring Program, the HERO Mentoring SIG provides Vermont teens with firsthand experiences in health science through connection with medical student mentors. Meaningful interactions between mentors and mentees help youth gauge if a career in health or medicine would be right for them. Mentees are able to ask questions and engage their curiosity through online modules and one-to-one mentoring. The program consists of eight structured modules (75 minutes each) conducted in sequence from October through December. HERO is a structured program with a set time commitment (40 hours).
Student Leaders: Isabel Thomas and Caroline Johnston (Class of 2027) AHEC Advisor: Nicole LaPointe, Northern Vermont AHEC LCOM Faculty Advisor: Andrea Green, MD
Med Mentors SIG
The Med Mentors SIG provides mentoring and medical education opportunities for undergraduate students at UVM and other Vermont universities. This student led organization aims to encourage and support students interested in pursuing careers in medicine or other health care fields. In collaboration with the Vermont AHEC Network, we provide one-on-one matching between medical students and pre-health students in addition to group opportunities, such as panels and skills clinics. Recognizing the importance of diversity in medicine, mentors support and encourage students at all stages of their journey - from early exploration of a possible career in medicine to all aspects of the application process. Mentors and mentees are matched based on answers to a survey that asks which factors they feel are important to the match, including shared experiences, backgrounds or identity. Email medmentors@med.uvm.edu to learn more.
Our 2024-2025 activity calendar can be viewed here: Med Mentors Yearly Activity Calendar
This SIG welcomes LCOM members with all levels of interest and time commitment - there is the opportunity to mentor just a little as well as the chance to complete the 40 mentoring hours needed to complete the AHEC Scholars Education and Mentoring SIG 80-hour pathway.
Student Leaders: Neelia Abadi, Saim Ali, Jonathan Chen, and Greta Joos (Class of 2027)
AHEC Faculty: Charles MacLean, MD AHEC Advisor: Patti Smith Urie
AHEC Scholars Education & Mentoring SIG 80-hour Pathway
The Education & Mentoring pathway is an AHEC Scholars eligible activity that can be completed by Larner medical students in their first or second year at LCOM. The program includes 40 didactic hours and at least 40 field hours. To meet AHEC Scholars requirements, the 80 hours must be completed within the same academic year (August – May).
Participating students complete 40 field hours as a member of one or both of the LCOM mentoring SIGs - HERO SIG and Med Mentors SIG.
The 40-hour didactic curriculum is titled Cross-Cultural Encounters in Mentoring and Patient Care and is led by Nicole LaPointe, MSW, EdD, Executive Director for Northern Vermont AHEC.
Applications will be accepted from August 9 – August 30, 2024. Please read the full program overview before applying.