Office of Student Affairs

School of Medicine Peer Mentors


(Year 2 students who mentor Year 1 students) – Students who are selected as Peer Mentors have demonstrated a higher level of student leadership and will play an active role in the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Medicine (SOM) overall orientation and retention efforts.  They show a strong commitment to helping new students make the transition to UMKC SOM along with being part of a team of Peer Mentors.

2009-2010 Advisor

Tammy Davidson (Year 2 Advisor)
Education Team Coordinator, 
138 University Center, 816-235-1460

2009-2010 Peer Mentors

Vikram Chakravarty, St. Louis, Missouri
Katelyn Davis, DeSoto, Missouri
Gene Kim, Chesterfield, Missouri
Monica Mikkilineni, Overland Park, Kansas
Ruby Parikh, Granger, Indiana
Aarti Purohit, Lenexa, Kansas
Craig Raphael, Potomac, Maryland
Melanie Ruiz, Kansas City, Missouri
Anna Shah, Kildeer, Illinois
David Testrake, St. Louis, Missouri

2009-2010 Advisor

Connie Beachler (Year 1 Advisor)
Education Team Coordinator, 
138 University Center, 816-235-1459

2010-2011 Peer Mentors

Beenish Ahmed, Joplin, Missouri
Brandon Carney, Auburn, Kansas
Steven Curti, Carthage, Missouri
Poorvi Desai, Seminole, Florida
Bailey Hunkler, St. Louis, Missouri
Sheeba Kunnel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Blake Montgomery, St. Louis, Missouri
Amanda Phan, Diamond Bar, California
Bhavani Pokala, Naperville, Illinois
Belal Tarakji, Flint, Michigan
Maria Uloko, Leawood, Kansas

The responsibilities of the Peer Mentors include:

  • Attending all training sessions to prepare students for this role.
  • Becoming familiar with specific policies and procedures that most directly affect new students during the orientation programs and their first year experience.
  • Working with new students and family members at specific orientation sessions during the summer.
  • Sharing in the responsibilities for small group discussion sessions during orientation.
  • Assisting with the registration process at summer orientation and new student orientation (both during the summer and beginning of the fall semester.)
  • Contacting the new students assigned to their group by given deadline, including letters, phone calls and/or email messages.
  • Assisting new students with move-in on opening day.
  • Meeting with and facilitating groups during fall orientation.  This includes attending Convocation and other large group events as planned.
  • Completing required reports of student contacts in a timely manner.
  • Maintaining weekly contacts with first year students through October, then bi-weekly November thru December.
  • Participating in monthly meetings with team of Peer Mentors (September – December).
  • Participating in at least two programmatic events designed for first year students.
  • Performing other duties as assigned by the Years 1 & 2 Education Team Coordinator of the Peer Mentor Program.

Qualifications

All Peer Mentors must have completed a minimum of one semester as a student at the UMKC SOM in the 6-year Program.  These students must be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher along with having excellent verbal and written communication skills.  Being highly motivated, a strong ambassador for UMKC and appreciative & celebratory of diversity are essential.

Benefits

Peer Mentors will receive a letter of reference in their file. These types of recommendation letters are helpful for selection in honorary societies such as Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Sigma Lambda, Phi Beta Delta and Alpha Omega Alpha. Peer Mentors will also have meals covered during training sessions and gain access to special events for their Year 1 students.

Other Expectations

Peer Mentors will be expected to serve as exemplary role models for new students throughout the year.  This includes abiding by all university policies and local/state laws.  Peer Mentors are also expected to work collaboratively and respectfully with all faculty/staff associated with the Peer Mentor Program as well as the entire Peer Mentor Program staff.  Peer Mentors are expected to represent the University and themselves in an appropriate and respectful manner in all communications and programs (including Instant Messaging, Facebook, My Space, blogging, etc.).  Peer Mentors are expected to exhibit maturity of judgment, objectivity and integrity, and a willingness to follow prescribed objectives.