The Power of Mentorship: Building Pathways to Opportunity and Finding the Right Mentor
Research for post done by an NGJ volunteer Cristina Samuel
In every field, mentorship quietly shapes the leaders who go on to transform their communities. Research shows that one-on-one guidance significantly increases career confidence, productivity, skill development, and long-term success for both students and professionals. Yet access to high-quality mentorship remains unequal, especially for first-generation students, underrepresented communities, and young professionals without established networks. Strengthening mentorship ecosystems is not just a personal investment.
This post explores why mentorship matters, the broader social impact of guided professional support, and steps for finding a mentor who aligns with your goals and values.
Why Mentorship Matters for Students and Professionals
Mentorship is more than advice: it’s structured support that accelerates growth. Studies show that mentees are more likely to persist in challenging fields, pursue leadership roles, gain proficiency, and report higher personal and professional satisfaction. Mentors provide:
Career Navigation: Real-world insight on academic paths, clinical roles, research opportunities, and industry expectations.
Skill Development: Support in communication, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and decision-making.
Exposure to Networks: Access to internships, shadowing, research labs, volunteer programs, and job openings not always publicly advertised.
Confidence and Belonging: A sense of “I see you, and you belong here,” which has been shown to boost retention for marginalized groups.
In fields like medicine, public health, and community work, where inequality affects who enters and who stays, mentorship becomes a tool for strengthening representation and building an equitable workforce.
Why Mentorship is an Equity Issue
Just as environmental health challenges disproportionately affect certain communities, so does access to professional guidance. Students from resource-limited backgrounds often face:
Lack of institutional networks to connect them with professionals
Fewer role models who share their lived experiences
Financial barriers to attending professional events or conferences
Limited awareness of scholarships, grants, research programs, and leadership opportunities
Strengthening mentorship pipelines, particularly those connecting community organizations, schools, churches, and local nonprofits, helps reduce these gaps. When mentorship is made accessible, it supports a more diverse generation of leaders who understand the needs of underserved populations and are committed to advancing such inequalities.
How to find the right mentor
Finding the right mentor doesn’t have to be overwhelming. These steps can help you find someone who aligns with your personal, professional, and community-focused goals.
1. Identify Your Needs
Think about what you’re looking for:
Academic guidance?
MCAT help?
Research mentorship?
Career clarity?
Emotional support balancing school, work, and life?
Even a mentor who cannot guide you in everything can still shape you in the areas that matter most.
2. Look in the Right Places
Mentors exist in many circles… not only professors. Consider:
Faculty in your department
Leaders at nonprofits or community organizations
Healthcare professionals you’ve shadowed
Supervisors from jobs or volunteering
Faith-based or youth program leaders
Professional associations (e.g., SOMA, AMSA, public health organizations)
Alumni networks
Many of these individuals want to mentor but simply haven’t been asked.
3. Focus on Alignment, Not Prestige
A good mentor is someone who:
Values your personal story
Invests in your development
Encourages your goals without projecting their path onto you
Listens deeply and communicates clearly
Demonstrates integrity and humility
Prestige is optional, but alignment is essential.
4. Start with a Simple Outreach
Your message can be warm and straightforward:
“I admire the work you do in ___. Would you be open to meeting briefly so I can ask a few questions about your career journey?”
Most mentorships begin with one simple conversation.
5. Maintain the Relationship
Schedule consistent check-ins
Update them on your progress
Ask for feedback and guidance
Show gratitude
Pay it forward as you grow
Mentorship is a relationship and not a transaction.
Building a Mentorship Culture for the Future
As we work toward healthier, more equitable communities, mentorship must be recognized as a critical tool for empowerment. When students and professionals—especially those from underserved backgrounds—are supported by mentors who believe in their potential, the impact reaches far beyond the individual. It strengthens systems, improves career confidence, diversifies leadership, and builds long-term capacity in fields that need it most.
Resources:
Grilo, S. A., Joseph, M. A., & Samari, G. (2025). Implementation and sustainability of mentorship for public health student success. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, Article 1657044.
Helewaut, F., Reniers, J., Paelinck, E., & Yildirim, S. (2024). How do mentors perceive and perform their role in a reflection-based mentoring programme for medical students? International Journal of Medical Education, 15, 130–138.
Leong, J. R., Lim, A. Y. D., Ravindran, N., et al. (2025). A systematic scoping review of mentor training in medical education between 2000 and 2024. BMC Medical Education, 25, 1110.
Murrell, A. J., Blake-Beard, S., & Porter, D. M., Jr. (2021). The importance of peer mentoring, identity work and holding environments: A study of African American leadership development. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(9), 4920.
Sambunjak, D., Straus, S. E., & Marušić, A. (2006). Mentoring in academic medicine: a systematic review. JAMA, 296(9), 1103–1115.
Wu, J., & Olagunju, A. T. (2024). Mentorship in medical education: reflections on the importance of both unofficial and official mentorship programs. BMC Medical Education, 24, 1233.
