Alumni FAQs

Student mentees will contact mentors directly to find a time to connect. There will be four calls, each focused on a topic. Additionally, there will be separate debrief calls for alumni and students, likely to be held in March 2025. 

Student-Mentor Call 1: October 2024 Introductions Medicine: An Evolving Field 

Student-Mentor Call 2: Early December 2024 Perceptions of Aging 

Student-Mentor Call 3: January 2025 Retirement, the Changing Life 

Student-Mentor Call 4: February 2025 Ageism/Ableism/DEI 

Program Debrief Call (alumni only): March 2025

Yes. The call should be scheduled at a mutually agreeable and convenient time.

Please allow 45 minutes per call. In the pilot program, some calls have gone longer while others have been shorter. If both parties agree to extend the call, that’s wonderful, but it is not required. If you have time restrictions, please share them with your mentee at the beginning of the call. 

Students have assigned guiding questions to cover during each call. While exploring additional topics is encouraged, please allow your mentee enough time to address their assigned questions.

Before your call, the Alumni Engagement team will send students and alumni an email reminding them to schedule the call. This reminder email will include a summary of the topic to be discussed, required pre-reads for students, and the guiding questions students will address with you. It would help your discussion if you give some thought to the guiding questions before your call. You’re welcome to read the pre-read materials, but it is not mandatory. 

No follow-up work is required from alumni after the call.

Not at all. It is unlikely that a student will ask an inappropriate question. We encourage mentors only to share what they are comfortable disclosing.

We understand that circumstances may arise that lead mentors to step away from the program. We have a waiting list of alumni who would be delighted to assume the mentoring role with your mentee. Please contact the Alumni Engagement team at hmsalum@hms.harvard.edu or 617-384-8520.

Reach out to your student directly. If you still don’t hear from your mentee, please contact the Alumni Engagement team at hmsalum@hms.harvard.edu or 617-384-8520.

Please contact your student directly to find a new time to meet.

Yes, that is acceptable. Please inform your student and the Alumni Engagement team at hmsalum@hms.harvard.edu or 617-384-8520 as soon as you can. The Alumni Engagement team will provide another mentor for your mentee for that one call. You can look forward to reconnecting with your student on your next call.

Yes! Please make plans directly with your student mentee

Yes!

Yes! The Alumni Engagement team will need your permission to include your email information, which will be shared with other mentors. You will receive a survey requesting your permission.

The planned topics for each call should only take approximately 15 minutes, allowing ample time for discussions to unfold naturally. We hope mentors will do both!

Please inform the Alumni Engagement team at hmsalum@hms.harvard.edu or 617-384-8520. This is considered an educational program and is not covered by patient/doctor confidentiality.

Have them contact the Alumni Engagement team at hmsalum@hms.harvard.edu. Each summer, we refresh the mentor list, giving other alumni the opportunity to participate.