WDS Awards » Mentorship Awards Program

WDS Mentorship Awards Program

The WDS Mentorship Awards Program is to promote the concept of mentorship within the WDS by establishing long-term relationships between mentors and their protégés. The Purpose of the Award is to develop mentoring relationships that might not otherwise be possible due to distance or funding availability. The program helps develop leadership potential in candidates who have shown early promise through exceptional activities.

PROGRAM MISSION AND GOALS:

• To develop leadership skills in dermatology residents and junior faculty which will enhance their contributions to dermatology and medicine.
• To promote mentorship within the WDS.
• To establish long-term relationships between mentors and their mentee.

PURPOSE OF THE AWARDS:

• To develop mentoring relationships that might not otherwise be possible due to distance or funding availability.
• To develop leadership potential in candidates who have shown early promise through exceptional activities.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

• All applicants must be dermatology residents in training or junior faculty out of training five years or less at North American institutions.
• All applicants must be members of WDS (or in the application process).
• Either the mentor or mentee must be a woman.
• Mentee must attend the WDS Annual Meeting Luncheon at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting to receive the award.
• Each mentor may support a maximum of two mentee applications per year.
• If an applicant accepts funding from another organization for the same proposal or is unable to complete his/her mentorship, the awarded funds will be returned to WDS.
• The mentorship award is not intended to cover indirect or overhead costs.
• All mentorship rotations must begin after April 1st of the award year.
• Annual application deadline November 1st.
• Award announcement deadline is January 15th.

HOW TO GET STARTED:

1. Choose a mentor. Decide together on a time frame. Request a letter of recommendation.
2. Get a letter of support from your chairperson or program director and arrange for the necessary vacation or covered time in your program.
3. Complete your 2014 Online Application by November 1, 2013
   
   

   Questions? Please email us at: wds@womensderm.org. The Mentorship Program is designed for residents and young faculty. If you are a practicing dermatologist and have been a WDS member for least 3 years, you may be eligible to apply for a Career & Community Advancement Award. Visit the Career & Community Advancement Award section for more information.

   
   

Tips For A Successfully Funded Application

DO CONSIDER: Rotations with leading clinicians in diverse areas of dermatology such as pediatric dermatology, surgery, contact/atopic dermatitis, cutaneous drug reactions, pigmentary disorders and genital disorders. Generally these projects are designed to develop an area of expertise and a relationship with a mentor not available in the mentee’s own program. Projects that will prepare the applicant to contribute to dermatology, medicine and/or society. Unique and worthy proposals that may not otherwise receive funding. Applicants with a proven track record of purposeful activities in residency (publications, presentations at meetings, other visible contributions beyond the requirements for residency activities). These leadership qualities are often reinforced in the letters of support from chairpersons. Applicants may request up to $2,000.

DON’T APPLY FOR: Projects involving foreign travel unless a suitable mentor with the desired expertise cannot be found in the country of origin. Fees paid to the mentor or his/her institution for the experience. Fees for meetings or dues. Projects in which the applicant joining a department faculty will learn a new skill that will benefit the department directly (such as setting up a hair clinic). The department would be expected to underwrite the costs for such a training experience. Partial support for already established fellowships (dermatopathology, dermatologic surgery, procedural dermatology, or pediatric dermatology). Projects with budgets that rely on the purchase of equipment (computer, cameras). Bench research projects involving research supplies and equipment. Other funding avenues exist for these types of projects (foundations, local fellowships and institutional grants, etc.). Bench research projects in which travel is necessary in order to work with a specific mentor in another institution would be considered. In these cases, the budget would cover some living and travel expenses. In general, one to two month bench research projects are difficult to carry out, however, and careful planning of the project is essential.