With the shared goal of the pursuit of knowledge in rehabilitation sciences, the Detroit Medical Center's Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM) and the Wayne State University Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (WSU Applebaum) have collaborated on a new research mentoring program launching this summer.

The program will match WSU Applebaum faculty mentors with RIM rehabilitation professionals who are motivated to engage in research and professional development activities that contribute to evidence-based practice. Clinicians with any level of research experience are welcome to join the program, from those wanting to learn to evaluate literature in their field to those driven to pursue a research study of their own.

Mentees will be in the driver's seat, with faculty mentors coaching, advising, and guiding mentees toward fulfillment of their established research goals. A full list of mentee and mentor roles and responsibilities is below.

The RIM-WSU Applebaum Collaborative Research Committee, co-chaired by WSU Applebaum Interim Chair of Health Sciences Diane Adamo and Director of Inpatient Rehab Programs/Patient Access Christina Michajlyszyn, is actively seeking faculty mentors from any program within WSU Applebaum. The deadline to apply is Friday, July 15.

I want to be a mentor

The annual program, slated to run July 2022-July 2023, requires mentors to meet with their mentees for a minimum of one hour per quarter. Resources will be available for establishing goals and teaching/learning strategies, including a guiding mentoring log and first meeting reference. Mentor-mentee matches will be determined by the RIM-WSU Applebaum Collaborative Research Committee.

This collaboration will directly support Wayne State's mission to create and advance knowledge, and positively impact local and global communities. Faculty mentors will help facilitate improvements in patient care while advancing their own skill set in mentorship. At RIM, it will promote research related professional growth and development opportunities for staff, facilitate increased research activity, and increase RIM's visibility and reputation in the areas of research and evidence-based practice.

Interested in serving as a faculty mentor?

Complete the RIM-WSU Applebaum research mentoring program mentor questionnaire by Friday, July 15. Please contact Dr. Diane Adamo at dadamo@wayne.edu with any questions.

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Mentor roles and responsibilities

Coach/Advisor:

Give advice and guidance, share ideas, and provide feedback

Share information on "unwritten rules for success" within environment/organization

Provide input to the mentoring action plan

Help the mentee problem solve problems and address barriers

Source of Encouragement/Support:

Act as sounding board for ideas/concerns about choices; provide insights into possible opportunities

Provide encouragement and support

Resource Person:

Identify resources to help mentee enhance personal development and career growth

Expand the mentee's network of contacts

Champion:

Serve as advocate for mentee whenever opportunity presents itself

Seek opportunities for increased visibility for mentee

Devil's Advocate:

When appropriate, play devil's advocate to help mentee think through important decisions and strategies

Mentor questionnaire

Mentee roles and responsibilities

Driver of Relationship:

Identify the skills, knowledge, and/or goals that you want to achieve and communicate them to your mentor

Bring up new topics that are important to you at any point and give feedback to your mentor

Development Planner:

Develop and maintain the mentoring action plan and work with your mentor to set up goals, developmental activities, and time frames

Commit to meet with your mentor at a MINIMAL of 1x each quarter

Be receptive to feedback and suggestions

Resource Partner:

Work with your mentor to seek resources for learning; identify people and information that might be helpful

Be proactive in requesting feedback or help

Teacher:

Look for opportunities to give back to your mentor; share any information that you think might be valuable

Continuous Learner:

Keep reassessing progress, goals and needs

Take full advantage of this opportunity to learn

Mentee questionnaire

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About us

DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan is one of the nation's largest providers of physical medicine and rehabilitation services and the #1 Physical Rehab Center in Michigan as ranked by Newsweek in 2021. Whether a patient has low back pain, a sports injury or a more complex condition such as a stroke or brain injury, RIM's experienced team of physicians and therapists will customize a treatment program to meet the patient's needs and goals.

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels - from undergraduates to veteran faculty members - translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 25,000 students.