The UCR School of Medicine's Mentorship Program wrapped up its 2025 cohort with an end of year luncheon on Dec. 3, 2025. The mentorship program was created in 2024 and is held during the calendar year, serving as a cornerstone for staff development and professional growth, by providing employees with an opportunity to learn from SOM leadership and discover new possibilities for their careers.
After a kickoff luncheon, mentors, mentees, and members of the SOM’s Professional Development Committee met throughout the year, participating in capstone projects, open discussions, lunch and learns, and hands-on sessions. From finance to human resources, mentees spent the year exploring new skills, discovering their strengths, and building connections that extended beyond the program.
The 2025 mentors and mentees were:
- Peter Escalante & Mary Voss
- Sylvia Vasquez & Karina Quezada
- Carie Smith & Fernando Reyes
- Isaac Owusu-Frimpong & Myrna Flowers
- Kathrine Fruge & Isabel Guzman
- Michelle Ceron & Maggie Godinez
- Dylan Smith & Edgar Gutierrez
The human resources capstone presentations were delivered by Karina Quezada, Mary Voss, and Fernando Reyes. FAO open table discussions were led by Isabel Guzman, Edgar Gutierrez, Myrna Flowers, and Maggie Godinez.
The Professional Development Committee is already planning improvements to make next year’s program even more impactful. Upcoming improvements include adding new career tracks, launching a lunch and learn series for financial analysts not admitted into the program, and strengthening mentor–mentee matching through resume collection and manager engagement.
Recruitment invitations for potential new mentors for the 2026 cohort will begin in mid-January and mentee applications will be sent to staff at the end of January. To qualify, potential mentees must have financial analyst experience and at least one year working at the School of Medicine in a full-time position. The application process includes a referral letter, a resume, and a purpose statement. For more information, email the Mentorship Committee members Shaleta Smith (left) or Kristen West (right).
