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The UWA Medical School has the only longitudinal mentoring program in Australia, whereby all medical students have a clinical mentor involved in the student’s professional development for the duration of the course. This program has been a popular feature of the student experience for many years from MBBS to the new MD course.

Clinical mentors are usually qualified medical doctors who altruistically dedicate some of their time to meet with medical students so that a productive mentoring relationship can develop. Just as it is essential for a medical graduate to know how to diagnose or treat an illness, they need to graduate with the professional skills that are required as an intern and beyond. The qualified doctors’ role as a mentor is to help ensure that their students have addressed and reflected on many of these areas in their professional development throughout the MD course and beyond.

Since the MD course commenced, students have the opportunity to nominate those mentors who they feel have been outstanding for a Dean’s Letter of Commendation. This year, Professor Brendan McQuillan, Head of the Medical School, presented these awards at the annual Clinical Mentor evening held in the newly refurbished Medical and Dental Library.

Ten clinical mentors were recognised for their contribution to student professional development, they were:

• Dr Sam Bowden
• Dr Mike Cadogan
• Dr Cherelle Fitzclarence
• Dr James Flynn
• Dr Seng Khee Gan
• Dr Andrew Gardner
• Dr Chris Griffin
• Dr Anne Karczub
• Dr Karen Moore
• Dr Stuart Prosser

The Medical School wishes to thank all the clinical mentors for their dedication and altruism in supporting the professional development of the next generation of doctors.

If you are a qualified medical doctor and interested in assisting with the professional development of tomorrow’s doctors, the Medical School is always looking for new clinical mentors. Please contact Ms Deborah Chapman , PPD Administrative Officer, for more information.

Media references

Ms Deborah Chapman (Academic Services, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences) (+61) 8 6457 2446