Essential elements for a nationwide remote pharmacy trainee mentoring program: An opinion of the Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy

Abstract

Mentorship is vital for pharmacy trainees to develop professional skills and networks. This paper aims to share the development and implementation of a national remote mentorship program for pharmacy trainees within the American College of Clinical Pharmacy Ambulatory Care Practice and Research Network. We offer recommendations for developing a similar program within organizations emphasizing the program's framework as a resource for similar initiatives. The following key recommendations are proposed to enhance mentorship programs: (1) Program flexibility for tailored interactions; (2) Effective mentor–mentee matching through comprehensive data collection; and (3) Strong, early communication to maintain participant engagement. These strategies are crucial for successfully developing remote mentorship programs in professional pharmacy organizations, as evidenced by limited reports in the current literature.