AFHTO’s Executive Director Mentorship Program connects experienced EDs with new EDs who feel they would benefit from the support of a mentor.
Executive directors and admin leads play a key role as leaders, facilitators, and links within their teams and across their communities, with their peers, staff, physicians, boards, patients, and other system leaders. Mentoring is about supporting people to develop into their role, and this mentorship program is in place to help leaders in primary care teams excel.
ED Mentorship Program Overview
New executive directors tell AFHTO when they would benefit from this program and if there are specific areas in which they need guidance or support. This helps with mentor-mentee matching. We also make every effort to match EDs whose teams work in similar environments, taking into consideration geography, size, governance structure, academic or Francophone status, and other characteristics that reflect the diversity of teams.
EDs then decide frequency of meetings and communication. While there is no timeline on a mentorship program, EDs tend to work together for six months to a year. While formal mentorship rarely goes longer, the EDs tend to stay in touch from the relationships they build.
Benefits of the ED Mentorship Program
| Benefits to Mentors | Benefits to Mentees |
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What we have heard is a testament to the strong leaders in our membership. Mentees agree that their mentors are knowledgeable and able to provide needed support and guidance. Mentors tell us that their mentees are happy to receive input and guidance; willing to self-evaluate; and open to applying a mentor’s insights to their own situation.
Here is a sample of what the participants have said:
- “My mentor is awesome, very helpful! She provides amazing support.”
- “My mentor is very knowledgeable and easy to work with. She always makes time to answer questions and provide guidance when required.”
- “I would suggest having a mentor work with all new EDs when they come onboard.”
- “I can learn as much from my mentee as she can from me. Seems to be working for both of us.”
Resources for ED mentors and mentees
The materials are available to assist our ED mentors and mentees in defining and developing the mentoring relationship.
- ED Mentorship Checklist [PDF]
The program launched in February 2016 with an orientation webinar for ED mentors, presented in partnership with the Centre for Effective Practice (CEP).
- View the CEP Mentorship slide deck [PDF]
- View the Mentorship Program Overview slide deck [PDF]
- Watch a recording of the Orientation Webinar [YouTube]
More Information
Interested in becoming a mentor or a mentee? Please contact info@afhto.ca
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