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The URSponsored initiative, co-sponsored by the Alliance of Minority Physicians (AMP) along with FOCUS on Health & Leadership, is designed to enhance the careers of PSOM underrepresented women in medicine faculty members.  The goal of the URSponsored initiative is to improve career advancement and job satisfaction by providing sponsors to guide faculty career planning, personal development, and scholarly success at Penn.

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Why is Sponsorship important?

Sponsorship is different from mentorship. Sponsorship focuses on positioning individuals for opportunities through the established career networks and influence of a sponsor in order to facilitate the career trajectory of the protégé. Opportunities for the protégé may include, but are not limited to, speaking engagements, awards, and leadership roles. 

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Mission:

  • To provide a structure for intentional sponsorship to support and improve the career trajectory of URiM women faculty at PSOM.

 

Vision:

  • To create a race and gender equitable institution at PSOM, in which women and URiM faculty are retained, promoted, and provided leadership opportunities at a rate equal to their colleagues.

 

Commitment:

  • 3 years and an opportunity for recommitment  after the 3 years

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  • Sponsor Expectations

    • Meet at least twice a year with the protégé, with ongoing updates through a short form to be filled out quarterly

    • Track opportunities offered to protégées

    • Participate in program evaluations

    • Bring questions/concerns to FOCUS/AMP

    • Attend if possible the The URSponsored initiative reception for all participants immediately following our annual FOCUS conference, which is scheduled on Fri., Oct. 7, 2022.  We hope our sponsors and protégés can connect then as well. To continue to improve this initiative, we may reach out to you periodically after you complete the initiative.

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Content:

  1. Trainings for sponsors and protégé to grow skills necessary for successful sponsorship and academic advancement.

  2. Communicating with protégé to facilitate maintaining relationships with their advisors through regular email or virtual contact. It is the advisee's responsibility to maintain this relationship. 

  3. Supporting sponsors through regular follow-up to see how the sponsor-protégé relationship is progressing. 

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Expected Outcomes: The goal of this initiative is to enhance the career trajectories of junior faculty and help sustain a more diverse workplace.  We hope to promote connections among our faculty and create a culture of connectedness and investment in the PSOM pipeline.

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Questions: If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to e-mail Dr. Mira Mamtani, MD, MSEd (FOCUS) or Dr. Iris M. Reyes, MD (AMP).   

 

Sponsorship Publications: