Be a Mentor
Here's a Time-Limited Opportunity to Mentor a Next-Generation RD
Are you professionally competent? Are you kind?
If the answer is YES, you are invited and encouraged to be one of several Oahu RDs who mentor a senior student in the UH dietetics program.
We have a large number of students needing to be placed in field site practicum to fulfill their FSHN 492 capstone class requirement. Your kokua is needed as a field site mentor.
Wait! Before you say "I'm too busy for that" or "I can't be bothered," take two minutes to learn more, and to find out how YOU can BENEFIT by participating in this important student education milestone.
Is a "field site practicum" like an dietetic internship?
No! Your student's role is highly observational and has no prescribed activities.
Then what will my student do?
Your student plans objectives and activities for the field site experience, and arranges a schedule in cooperation with you. Learning objectives and timelines are developed, monitored and evaluated through communication and negotiation with you. At the end of the experience, the student will have had an opportunity to identify her professional strengths and weaknesses, and evaluate career options.
What is my role?
As a mentor and role model, you will help answer this question for your student: "What's it like to be a dietetics professional?" You can guide the student in developing learning objectives and activities, which answer that question for your site, that is, your professional setting.
What is the time commitment for the student and me?
Your student needs to fulfill 100 hours at your site during January to May. The schedule is mutually agreed-upon and can vary. For example, a student may put in three hours, two times a week, then increase hours during Spring break, or put in six hours on a non-class day or holiday.
Of course, many of those hours, the student may be working on an activity without your direct presence.
You mean I don't have to be right by my student every hour?
Right! In fact, your student will be eager and available to work independently or with other staff on projects you've assigned. For example:
Will I be expected to evaluate my student's performance at the end of the semester?
Yes. You'll be provided with a two-page, check-off type of evaluation form. Nothing burdensome.
Who else has been a field site mentor?
Cyndy Kahalewale of Fresenius Medical Care and Zale Hisashima of Straub Clinic & Hospital are just a couple of those enthusiastic about their experience as a mentor.
Here are a few comments from another, Daryl Smith Oswald of Compassionate Nutrition Therapy and Kahi Mohala:
I found that students return about 150% of the time and energy I invested to teach and orient them. Once my student is familiar with protocols and working independently, I sort of feel I can be in two places at once! Another benefit: students teach us new things because their learning about say, new clinical guidelines, are current. Finally, this is a way for me to give back, to show my gratitude for others who taught me.
And Kristine Wallerius Cuthrell, Senior Project Coordinator for the Hawaii Foods Web site, says this about the experience:
Accepting students is a practical decision that helps bring new ideas and creativity to my work; they often ask the questions that help me to shape my own thoughts about the best way to achieve a goal.
I've found the time commitment is small, with benefits that exceed my efforts. Students do the nitty-gritty work that frees me to stay on top of higher level projects, so I get more done.
Being a preceptor is not only a way to "pay it forward" for all of those mentors who taught me about professionalism, work ethic and how to calculate a tube feeding ;-), it has provided some of the most gratifying memories in my career, as I've watched students I've helped to grow into their own careers.
Anything else I should know?
I'm interested, but can I ask a few more questions before I commit?
Of course! Here's my contact information:
Name: Anne Shovic, UH Dietetics Program Director
Email: shovic@hawaii.edu
Phone: 956-3847
Please contact me no later than January 15. Mahalo!
Are you professionally competent? Are you kind?
If the answer is YES, you are invited and encouraged to be one of several Oahu RDs who mentor a senior student in the UH dietetics program.
We have a large number of students needing to be placed in field site practicum to fulfill their FSHN 492 capstone class requirement. Your kokua is needed as a field site mentor.
Wait! Before you say "I'm too busy for that" or "I can't be bothered," take two minutes to learn more, and to find out how YOU can BENEFIT by participating in this important student education milestone.
Is a "field site practicum" like an dietetic internship?
No! Your student's role is highly observational and has no prescribed activities.
Then what will my student do?
Your student plans objectives and activities for the field site experience, and arranges a schedule in cooperation with you. Learning objectives and timelines are developed, monitored and evaluated through communication and negotiation with you. At the end of the experience, the student will have had an opportunity to identify her professional strengths and weaknesses, and evaluate career options.
What is my role?
As a mentor and role model, you will help answer this question for your student: "What's it like to be a dietetics professional?" You can guide the student in developing learning objectives and activities, which answer that question for your site, that is, your professional setting.
What is the time commitment for the student and me?
Your student needs to fulfill 100 hours at your site during January to May. The schedule is mutually agreed-upon and can vary. For example, a student may put in three hours, two times a week, then increase hours during Spring break, or put in six hours on a non-class day or holiday.
Of course, many of those hours, the student may be working on an activity without your direct presence.
You mean I don't have to be right by my student every hour?
Right! In fact, your student will be eager and available to work independently or with other staff on projects you've assigned. For example:
- Develop or update nutrition education materials (often a delayed project; it can now get done!)
Prepare for and participate in health fairs or other community initiatives - Perform computer-related or database tasks
- Organize materials; plan classes; make phone calls
- How else could you use extra help?
Will I be expected to evaluate my student's performance at the end of the semester?
Yes. You'll be provided with a two-page, check-off type of evaluation form. Nothing burdensome.
Who else has been a field site mentor?
Cyndy Kahalewale of Fresenius Medical Care and Zale Hisashima of Straub Clinic & Hospital are just a couple of those enthusiastic about their experience as a mentor.
Here are a few comments from another, Daryl Smith Oswald of Compassionate Nutrition Therapy and Kahi Mohala:
I found that students return about 150% of the time and energy I invested to teach and orient them. Once my student is familiar with protocols and working independently, I sort of feel I can be in two places at once! Another benefit: students teach us new things because their learning about say, new clinical guidelines, are current. Finally, this is a way for me to give back, to show my gratitude for others who taught me.
And Kristine Wallerius Cuthrell, Senior Project Coordinator for the Hawaii Foods Web site, says this about the experience:
Accepting students is a practical decision that helps bring new ideas and creativity to my work; they often ask the questions that help me to shape my own thoughts about the best way to achieve a goal.
I've found the time commitment is small, with benefits that exceed my efforts. Students do the nitty-gritty work that frees me to stay on top of higher level projects, so I get more done.
Being a preceptor is not only a way to "pay it forward" for all of those mentors who taught me about professionalism, work ethic and how to calculate a tube feeding ;-), it has provided some of the most gratifying memories in my career, as I've watched students I've helped to grow into their own careers.
Anything else I should know?
- Your student is expected to conform to the policies and practices of your workplace.
- Your student is covered by malpractice insurance sponsored by the American Dietetic Association.
- Work performed by the student can be done voluntarily or for pay.
I'm interested, but can I ask a few more questions before I commit?
Of course! Here's my contact information:
Name: Anne Shovic, UH Dietetics Program Director
Email: shovic@hawaii.edu
Phone: 956-3847
Please contact me no later than January 15. Mahalo!
