Career Mentor for Medical Students

Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is seeking experienced, motivated, and dedicated leaders and educators to participate in the design and delivery of an innovative four-year medical school curriculum that engages medical students in active and novel learning.

Required Documents to Apply:

Job Description:

About Us

Founded in 2021, Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) is a nonprofit, four-year MD program enhancing traditional medical education with the arts, humanities, and whole health principles. The School’s culture embraces self-care to empower students to care for their own well-being as well as their patients’. The School’s state-of-the-art medical education facility is under construction in Bentonville, Arkansas on the Crystal Bridges campus, home to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and Heartland Whole Health Institute. The School has been granted preliminary accreditation status by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.

What We Seek

We are building a cadre of medical professionals trained in conventional medicine and in whole health, by reimagining medical education. We seek leaders and faculty who are excited by this endeavor. We are building a health care learning and delivery environment in which diversity is a strength and highly valued. Thus, we seek candidates who contribute to diversity in all its forms. Ideal candidates are committed to our goals of inclusive excellence, and to facilitating optimal health for all using a whole health approach. 

Faculty and staff members will contribute to the development and rollout of the ARCHES curriculum, which is built on evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning. It includes the following six core elements:

• Art of Healing
• Research
• Clinical Care
• Health Systems Sciences
• Embracing Whole Health
• Science of Medicine

All six areas of the curriculum will be interwoven throughout the four-year curriculum.

About the Position

The Alice L. Walton School of Medicine (AWSOM) invites experienced physicians, whether actively practicing or recently retired, to serve as Career Mentors for medical students. In this part-time role (approximately six hours per week), mentors will guide students’ personal and professional development, facilitate effective career exploration, and support their journey toward a successful residency match.

Rank/Classification

The position is open at the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor levels, depending on experience and qualifications.

We are building a workplace and learning climate in which inclusive excellence and whole health principles are inextricable parts of our culture and practices. All voices are heard and valued, and professional and personal growth are actively supported. While AWSOM does not have a tenure track, we are building a school that will facilitate exceptional professional development opportunities for our faculty and other team members.

Major Responsibilities/Essential Functions Specific to the Position:

• Meet bi-weekly at lunch time with an assigned group of 12 students, with one meeting optionally held virtually. Facilitate discussions on pre-assigned topics, share personal clinical experiences, and encourage active participation.
• Foster a sense of community and belonging within the student group by encouraging teamwork, mutual support, and peer mentoring.
• Provide individual mentoring sessions in-person or virtually to support professional development, academic progress, and navigating the challenges of medical school.
• Guide assigned students through all four years of medical school, offering milestone-specific career advice, including specialty exploration, clerkship selection, and residency preparation, in collaboration with the Director of Academic Advising.
• Promote the development of key competencies, such as leadership, teamwork, and communication, while supporting students in establishing a professional identity.
• Model and advocate for Whole Health principles by emphasizing self-care, resilience, and work-life balance in mentoring relationships.
• Share expertise about medical specialties and assist in building connections between students and local clinicians through events, guest speakers, and networking opportunities.
• Collaborate with the Office of Student Affairs to design and implement programming that supports student success, such as workshops, panels, and group mentoring activities.
• Identify students who may need additional academic, career, or personal wellness support early and connect them with appropriate resources, including learning specialists and mental health services.

Minimum Education

• M.D. from a Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited institution

• Completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited residency program in the respective specialty

Minimum Work Experience

• A minimum of 3 years of clinical experience, with prior mentoring experience preferred

Preferred Work Experience

• Board certification in respective specialty
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trusting and supportive relationships with students
• Knowledge of the residency application process, medical career pathways, and trends in healthcare
• Ability to guide students through personal and professional challenges with empathy and professionalism

Skills Expected of All AWSOM Team Members

• Exemplary written, verbal and other communication skills.
• Adaptability: Flexible around the needs of the position and the school.
• Collaborative Skills: Build and maintain internal and external relationships to the organization. 
• Creative and Open-Minded: Enjoy exploring and supporting innovation in teaching strategies, topic areas, professional growth opportunities, and more.
• Discerning: Ability to recognize and support innovation.
• Highly self-directed, and reliable and accountable.
• Strong commitment to self-care.
• Committed to Diversity and Inclusion: Ability to work effectively with a wide variety of stakeholders (e.g., co-workers, students, community members). 
• Ability to effectively mentor a diversity of individuals.
• Commitment to meet and maintain professional development requirements related to this role.