A newly published study co-authored by Dr. Tracy Klein from WSU College of Nursing explores barriers to interprofessional mentorship among health sciences faculty. Funded by the Provost’s Office Mentoring Initiative 2023, the research identifies institutional obstacles—rather than interpersonal differences—as the most significant challenges to effective mentorship. Using Group Concept Mapping (GCM), the study collected data from faculty in nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and public health, highlighting “too many responsibilities” and a lack of institutional support as the most prevalent barriers. These findings underscore the need for systemic changes to better support faculty engaged in interprofessional collaboration.
This study emerged from the ASPEN Mentoring Seminar Series, an interdisciplinary initiative developed by Klein and her colleagues to explore the challenges and benefits of interprofessional mentorship. Their research found that while mentorship is critical for faculty development and career progression, faculty face significant institutional barriers such as insufficient resources, a lack of formal programs, and minimal incentives for engaging in interprofessional mentorship. Without clear recognition in tenure and promotion guidelines, faculty may be discouraged from participating in collaborative mentorship efforts, limiting opportunities for knowledge-sharing across disciplines.
By quantifying these barriers and offering a framework for improvement, this research provides actionable insights for universities and health sciences programs aiming to foster a more supportive mentorship environment. Institutional leadership must prioritize mentorship initiatives, align promotion guidelines with collaborative scholarship, and provide faculty with the resources needed to sustain interprofessional mentorship programs. These findings contribute to ongoing discussions about how best to support and retain faculty in health sciences education.
A newly published study co-authored by Dr. Tracy Klein from WSU College of Nursing explores barriers to interprofessional mentorship among health sciences faculty. Funded by the Provost’s Office Mentoring Initiative 2023, the research identifies institutional obstacles—rather than interpersonal differences—as the most significant challenges to effective mentorship. Using Group Concept Mapping (GCM), the study collected data from faculty in nursing, medicine, pharmacy, and public health, highlighting “too many responsibilities” and a lack of institutional support as the most prevalent barriers. These findings underscore the need for systemic changes to better support faculty engaged in interprofessional collaboration.
This study emerged from the ASPEN Mentoring Seminar Series, an interdisciplinary initiative developed by Klein and her colleagues to explore the challenges and benefits of interprofessional mentorship. Their research found that while mentorship is critical for faculty development and career progression, faculty face significant institutional barriers such as insufficient resources, a lack of formal programs, and minimal incentives for engaging in interprofessional mentorship. Without clear recognition in tenure and promotion guidelines, faculty may be discouraged from participating in collaborative mentorship efforts, limiting opportunities for knowledge-sharing across disciplines.
By quantifying these barriers and offering a framework for improvement, this research provides actionable insights for universities and health sciences programs aiming to foster a more supportive mentorship environment. Institutional leadership must prioritize mentorship initiatives, align promotion guidelines with collaborative scholarship, and provide faculty with the resources needed to sustain interprofessional mentorship programs. These findings contribute to ongoing discussions about how best to support and retain faculty in health sciences education.
