Nevada Public Health Mentorship Program (NvPHMP)

Building the Next Generation of Public Health Professionals

The Nevada Public Health Association (NPHA) in collaboration with local colleges aims to build the next generation of public health professionals through the Nevada Public Health Mentorship Program (NvPHMP).

NvPHMP Mentoring Program matches experienced public health professionals with students and new public health professionals in a one-to-one relationship. It is intended to facilitate the mentoring process among public health professionals, recent graduates, and current students in Nevada for one year. The goals are

• to provide opportunities for mentors to enrich their contributions to public health and further develop as leaders;
  
• to establish clear pathways to careers in Public Health 
  
• to enhance the professional development of the public health mentee; and
  
• to strengthen the public health professional workforce network in Nevada
  

Mentoring relationships are intended to help students make the transition from an academic to professional environment, and to offer an opportunity for professional development, networking, and an exchange of ideas between experienced professionals and the next generation of public health leaders.

Mentoring Relationship

Mentoring is a process whereby an experienced public health professional (the mentor) guides another individual (the mentee) in the development and examination of their own ideas, learning, and professional development. This relationship has the opportunity of providing support, guidance, and knowledge to facilitate professional success.

Benefits

Mentoring relationships provide great opportunities and benefits for the mentor, and mentee. Mentoring has shown to have a positive effect on a person’s career and those who have been mentored tend to reach their goals faster and are more satisfied with their work and careers. The Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals, a consensus set of skills that are identified as desirable for delivering essential public health services, calls for mentoring activities:

1 Public Health Foundation. 2014. Core competencies for public health professionals. Washington, DC.

• 8A6. Tier 1: Participates in mentoring and peer review or coaching opportunities.
  
• 8B6. Tier 2: Establishes mentoring, peer advising, coaching or personal development opportunities for the public health workforce.
  
• 8C6. Tier 3: Promotes mentoring, peer advising, coaching or other personal development opportunities for the public health workforce, including him or herself.
  

Benefits to the Mentor

• Access to a greater professional support system or network and increases a mentor’s own professional network.
  
• Exposure to emerging talent and future workforce pool.
  
• Increased attention to own professional development.
  
• Exposure to diverse thoughts, styles, personalities, and cultures.
  
• Increased knowledge of recruiting success factors.
  
• Increased feedback loop to NvPHMP regarding education and workforce development training needs.
  
• Leadership development in the Public Health Profession.
  

Benefits to the Mentee

• Access to a greater professional support system and increase a mentee’s professional network.
  
• Develop new strategies in navigating professional career path.
  
• Identify gaps in knowledge and/or skill sets.
  
• Additional professional and leadership development.
  
• Gain exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences.
  
• Increase knowledge of career success factors.
  
• Stay informed about the latest trends and developments in the field.
  
• Complement or build upon internships.
  

Who can be mentor?

Public health professionals can serve as a mentors to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as, new professionals or those changing careers.

Graduate students can serve in a mentoring capacity to undergraduate students establishing a strong student community and pathway from undergrad to graduate programs.

How to apply?

Southern Nevada Chapter

To apply, make sure your NPHA membership is current then select Southern Nevada Chapter Application. 

Mentee applications received after December 1, 2018 will be considered for the 2019-2020 academic year. 

Mentor applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.  

Northern Nevada Chapter

For more information, or to apply, please email Amber Joiner.

We would like to thank the Arizona Public Health Association for sharing their program materials.