NAHAC Mentoring Program

The NAHAC Mentoring Program is open to NAHAC members for the purpose of supporting members with refining and advancing their direct work with clients.  The Mentoring Program creates opportunities for members to serve as both mentors and mentees regardless of their professional level.  The NAHAC Mentoring Program is  open to those who have already established their businesses* and are seeking support in their work with clients.

Pairings are made by the NAHAC Mentoring Program committee based on the information obtained from applications. Mentoring pairs will have access to supportive materials to help guide their mentoring relationship and work together. Program evaluations and testimonials will be collected to both further refine and promote the program.  If interested, please fill out an application for either a mentor or mentee role.

For additional program information, please see our FAQs at the bottom of the page.

*(NAHAC members looking for support in establishing their businesses are directed to the Designing Your Practice (DYP) webinars in the Library of Webinars).

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Thank you for your interest in participating in the NAHAC Mentoring Program.

Your participation makes our program stronger!

Become a Mentor 

Become a Mentee

Mentors

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Mentor Benefits Include

  • Experience and status as a leader in developing the Patient Advocacy Mentoring program

  • Supporting colleagues in developing their skills as healthcare advocates

  • Developing future health care advocate leaders

  • Building connections with other health care professionals

  • Gaining fresh ideas and viewpoints about the practice of healthcare advocacy

  • Strengthening NAHAC’s Code of Ethics and Standards and Best Practices

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Mentor Characteristics Include

  • Currently active in the practice of advocacy

  • Commitment to provide support and encouragement to the mentee

  • Excellent listening skills

  • In-depth knowledge in their field of expertise

  • Demonstrated investment in their own professional development

  • Ability to recognize limits of their own knowledge of advocacy, and openness to seek additional support from one’s own professional colleagues

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Mentor Responsibilities Include

  • Leading monthly meeting with their assigned mentee as follows an initial meeting for 45 minutes, then 30-minute sessions afterwards for an additional 3 months, or for a length of time agreed upon with mentee.

  • Assisting with setting goals/expectations of the mentor-mentee relationship.

  • Providing scheduled availability similar to professors’ office hours.

  • Providing advanced notice of cancellation.

Mentees

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Mentee Responsibilities

  • Identification of learning goals, indicating their expectation of what success looks like, so that success can be measured.

  • Openness and receptivity; skilled at receiving and giving feedback, and disciplined to follow up on assignments.

  • Respect for their mentor’s time, and punctuality or cancellation for appointments if they cannot attend.

  • Understand that the mentor will not always have all the answers but will collaborate with the mentee to achieve a reasonable result.

  • Providing feedback and program evaluations.

  • Willingness to give back and serve as a mentor in the future.

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Why Would Someone Consider Working With a Mentor?

  • To flatten learning curve.

  • To seek and share best practices through collaboration, seeking advice, wisdom and expertise to help build confidence.

  • To gain a broader perspective of the field.

  • To identify opportunities to grow their business.

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What Would One Expect to Receive From a Mentor?

  • Constructive feedback.

  • Guidance.

  • Motivation and encouragement.

  • Emotional support and role modeling.

  • If identified as a need or interest, a mentor may help explore new areas of professional focus, set goals, develop contacts, and identify resources.

FAQs

Please email us at nahacmentoring@gmail.com if you have questions or want to discuss the program with us.