130 Mentorship Programme
About the Programme


Introduction

The 130 Mentorship Programme was set up in 2017 in celebration of the 130 Years of Medicine in Hong Kong.  Administered by The University of Hong Kong Medical Alumni Association (HKUMAA), the Programme aims to provide young medical alumni and students an opportunity to meet senior alumni for the enhancement of their professional, social and personal growth and to build a strong professional network in order to continue the process of enlightening each other in a 2-year mentor-mentee relationship.  It is expected that professional and experienced alumni will be matched with recent medical graduates or medical students of the Faculty.  Through a series of activities, formal and social, mentors and mentees will interact and share their experiences with one another.

The Programme targets to bring together young alumni/ medical students with alumni from more distant to recent generations.  It is a home-coming experience for many of our alumni. The 4th term of the Programme is from 1 December 2023 to 31 August 2025.

Committee

The 130 Mentorship Subcommittee (Committee) established under HKUMAA oversees the Programme and designs a variety of events throughout the period of 2 years.

The Committee is composed of:

  1. Co-chairman Dr Libby Lee (MBBS 1996)
  2. Co-chairman Dr Kevin Lau (MBBS 2005)
  3. Advisor Dr Kathleen So
  4. Members:  Dr Marco Ho, Dr Lau Chor Chiu, Professor Kendrick Shih, Dr Lawrence Tee, Dr Chris Tsang, Dr Flora Tsang, Dr Kenny Yuen
 

Eligibility:

  • MBBS or MD graduates of the Faculty
  • Nominated by either the Faculty or HKUMAA and selected by the 130 Mentorship Subcommittee

Role:

Organise meetings/ activities with peer Mentees and facilitate the conversations that take place in those meetings/ activities.

Tips for Mentors:

DO'S

  1. Share knowledge and experiences and help Mentees to avoid similar obstacles
  2. Provide guidance and advice to Mentees
  3. Show support to Mentees
  4. Help mentees understand the real life experience in workplace and integrate their theoretical learning with practical examples in the field
  5. Provide insight for professional and personal growth and leadership skills to Mentees
  6. Enhance self-esteem, confidence, professional commitment, ethics and human relation skills of Mentees
  7. Expand communication network of Mentees
  8. Maintain contacts with Mentees
  9. Arrange activities, formal and informal, for Mentees
  10. Arrange group activities with other Mentors and Mentees
  11. Invite the Programme committee members to join group activities
  12. Inform the Programme Secretariat the progress of your Mentees regularly (e.g. monthly/ quarterly/ annually)
  13. Invite Mentees to join activities organised by your professional organisation
  14. Unite and uphold the Faculty's spirit

DON'TS

  1. Give Mentees expensive gifts
  2. Always pay the bill

Eligibility:

  • Either recent MBBS graduates of the Faculty, i.e. 2023 and 2024 MBBS Graduates for the 5th term commencing in 2025, or current MBBS students who are taking their clinical years, i.e. MBBS IV-VI
  • Selection shall be arranged by the 130 Mentorship Subcommittee

Role:

Take responsibility and be actively involved

Tips for Mentees:

DO'S

  1. Know your Mentors
  2. Communicate with Mentors
  3. Let Mentors know your goals
  4. Contact Mentors if you encounter problems regarding the Programme
  5. Prepare some topics for discussion before you meet
  6. Take the initiative to contact your Mentors and make arrangements for activities
  7. Be patient and persistent when your Mentor(s) is/ are busy. Send emails, letters or cards when your Mentor(s) is/ are too busy to meet
  8. Consider the advice or suggestions rendered by Mentors
  9. Take part in activities organised by Mentors
  10. Support Mentors in organising meetings and small group functions
  11. Invite Mentors to join event/ activities of your organisation or on campus

DON'TS

  1. Contact your Mentors at unreasonable hours
  2. Expect your Mentors to have all the answers to your problems
  3. Take for granted that your Mentor(s) is/ are going to pay for everything

Matching of Mentors and Mentees:

Each group includes Mentors with different profiles and specialties, while Mentees are assigned to their peer Mentors according to similarities in academic interest (specialty) and hobbies as far as possible.

Frequency of meeting

This depends on the schedules of Mentors and Mentees.  Basically, each mentor-mentee group should attend not less than 2 official activities organised by the Programme committee during the 2-year Mentorship Programme, such as the launching and closing ceremony.  Ideally, each mentor-mentee group can meet 4-6 times a year, supplemented by a steady stream of communication via emails, social media, letters and the phone.