A paper about the long-term impact of the Health Mentors Program has been published ahead of print in the journal Academic Medicine and is freely available.
Data were collected in follow up interviews with 18 medical residents 3-4 years after they completed the program. Professional identity was explored by asking participants how Health Mentors had influenced their ideas about the ideal physician and the kind of doctor they aspire to become.
The study found that early learning from the authentic and autonomous patient's voice can foster a professional identity that embraces patient partnership, interprofessional collaboration, and patient-centred practice. The study shows how patient mentors can help medical students explore and commit to professional values that society expects of physicians.
