OACC Fellowships

Fellowship Programs

The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (SFESOM) at the University of Utah is home to students from many backgrounds, including race, ethnicity, ability, socioeconomic status, age, religion, sexual orientation, values, and perspectives. The Fellowship program was developed to empower students to play a meaningful and active role in university-wide initiatives. The Fellows will advance the mission of the Office of Academic Culture and Community (OACC) via collaborations with all departments and offices at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. Fellows advocate for their student peers, participate in the development of education and strategic initiatives, develop topic area expertise and current program enhancement, and provide a direct means of communication between Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine leadership and the student body.

We provide two compensated 12-month fellowship programs for SFESOM students each year starting in the Spring: the Research and Advocacy track and the Mentorship track. Students must be enrolled as a second-, third-, or fourth-year medical student at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. A new addition for the 2024-25 school year is the Senior Leadership fellowship for students who have been with the office for at least one year and who have demonstrated excellent leadership skills, excellence, and commitment to supporting the mission and vision of the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (SFESOM). Fellows can apply for the senior role in either the Research and Advocacy track or the Mentorship track.

The deadline for application for the 2024-25 academic year has closed. Applications for 2025-26 will open in Summer 2025.

Mentor Fellowship

Introduction and Overview of Position

The Leadership Fellowship role was developed to empower students to play a meaningful and active role in university-wide student success initiatives. The Fellows will advance the mission of the Office of Academic Culture and Community via collaborations with all departments and offices at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. Fellows advocate for their student peers, participate in the development of strategic initiatives related to education, develop topic area expertise and current program enhancement, and provide a direct means of communication between Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine leadership and the student body.

About the Mentorship Fellowship

As a mentor you will serve as a positive role model by sharing your educational/professional experiences and networking opportunities and to offer advice, support, insight to pre-medical students that are working on applying to medical school. Mentors encourage and guide mentees, showing them important aspects of life in Medical School, and recommend activities that will help them create a competitive application.

 

Roles and Responsibilities:

  • Fellows are expected to develop a mentoring plan between mentor and mentee. Help mentee set goals for the semester/year.
  • Contact your mentee at least twice a month via text, email, or phone calls.
  • Based on you own experiences, help your mentee develop a career/education plan in medicine.
  • Establish effective communication by providing constructive feedback, encouragement, and support to mentees.
  • If applicable, suggest additional resources to help your mentee’s academic and professional development.
  • Setting and agreeing on frequency of meeting times according to needs and set up meeting via in-person, over the phone, or Zoom.
  • Fellows will meet monthly to discuss progress, concerns, or setbacks regarding the mentors, mentees, and the program, itself.
  • Develop curriculum for the mentorship track.
  • Assist the Office of Academic Culture and Community with community engagement.

  • Plan and facilitate a minimum of one (1) Workshops for Success in collaboration with the Office of Academic Culture and Community.

    Qualifications:

  • Must be enrolled as a second, third or fourth-year medical student at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.
  • Must be in good academic standing with the University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.
  • Self-motivated, with the ability to multitask and prioritize objectives to meet deadlines.
  • Must be committed to promoting mentorship.
  • Must be a positive role model and have experience or character to enable success in developing relationships with one’s peers and supporting a positive community experience.

About the Senior Leadership Mentor

Roles & Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a senior mentor to the Mentor Fellows.
  • Oversee the planning/pairing of the mentor fellows to ensure they meet the needs of both mentors and mentees.
  • Serve as a liaison between the Office of Academic Culture and Community Mentor Fellows track and the Research and Advocacy track.
  • Assist the mentor fellows with organizing and facilitating Workshops for Success.
  • Help develop the curriculum for the Mentor Fellows track.
  • Regularly evaluate the impact of mentorship activities and report findings to the Office of Academic Culture and Community contributing to the continuous improvement of the mentorship program.
  • Meet with the Office of Academic Culture and Community staff regularly to discuss and advance the above responsibilities.
  • Complete the end-of-year evaluation survey

Qualifications:

  • Must be enrolled at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and completed a one-year fellowship with the office.
  • Must be in good academic standing with the University of Utah School of Medicine.
  • Self-motivated, with the ability to multitask and prioritize objectives to meet deadlines.
  • Must be committed to promoting research and advocacy.
  • Must be committed to promoting mentorship.
  • Must be a positive role model and have experience or character to enable success in developing relationships with one’s peers and supporting a positive community experience.

Please address any questions to the Director of OACC, Donna Eldridge at: donna.eldridge@hsc.utah.edu 

Research & Advocacy Fellowship

Introduction and Overview of Position

The Leadership Fellowship role was developed to empower students to play a meaningful and active role in university-wide student success initiatives. The Fellows will advance the mission of the Office of Academic Culture and Community via collaborations with all departments and offices at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. Fellows advocate for their student peers, participate in the development of strategic initiatives related to education, develop topic area expertise and current program enhancement, and provide a direct means of communication between Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine leadership and the student body. 

About the Research and Advocacy Fellowship

As part of the Leadership Fellowship, students interested in research or advocacy projects that align with the SFESOM’s mission can apply. Fellows may choose one or two of the areas of focus listed below and will have the opportunity to develop their project six months after starting their fellowship.

Areas of Focus: 

  • Collaborate with the Office of Education Quality Improvement on a student identity survey, analyze the data, and recommend actionable steps.
  • Develop an evaluation program that examines how integrating Clinical Community Health Workers into the student-led clinics impacts both student and patient experiences.
  • Develop a curriculum for the Research and Advocacy track.
  • Represent the Office of Academic Culture and Community on one or two committees where student representation is needed, such as the Curriculum Committee, Public Safety Committee, mistreatment task force, or Education Policy and Program Committees (EPPC).
  • Analyze survey data, make a report, look at trends, and suggest ways to improve the program.
  • Work with the authors of the Patient-first Language Guide to keep the language guide up to date.
  • Foster inter-professional collaborations amongst students advocating for students’ well-being and success across the main campus. 

About the Senior Leadership Mentor

Roles & Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a mentor for the Research and Advocacy track fellows.
  • Plan and lead training sessions for fellows on topics including, but not limited to, the hidden curriculum and how to conduct qualitative analysis.
  • Help in creating an online module that focuses on providing practical skills in research, advocacy, and community representation.
  • Assist the Research and Advocacy fellows with their ongoing projects, from planning through to implementation.
  • Help develop the curriculum for the Research and Advocacy track.
  • Assist in publishing the research work or projects that are generated.
  • Serve as a liaison between the Office of Academic Culture and Community Mentor Fellows track and the Research and Advocacy track.
  • Represent the Office of Academic Culture and Community on one or two committees where student representation is needed, such as the Curriculum Committee, Public Safety Committee, Mistreatment Task Force, or Education Policy and Program Committees (EPPC).
  • Meet with the Office of Academic Culture and Community staff regularly to discuss and advance the above responsibilities.
  • Complete the end-of-year evaluation survey

Qualifications:

  • Must be enrolled at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine and completed a one-year fellowship with the office.
  • Must be in good academic standing with the University of Utah School of Medicine.
  • Self-motivated, with the ability to multitask and prioritize objectives to meet deadlines.
  • Must be committed to promoting research and advocacy.
  • Must be committed to promoting mentorship.
  • Must be a positive role model and have experience or character to enable success in developing relationships with one’s peers and supporting a positive community experience.

Please address any questions to Director of Education, Rawad Farhat, MD, MSPH at: rawad.farhat@hsc.utah.edu