The Training Environment

Institutional policies, such as in the Faculty Handbook, Student Handbook, and others, establish crucial values and expectations for the for the training environment. As an additional step, we embrace the principles of the Appropriate Treatment of Research Trainees (AToRT) guide published in October 2021 by the Association of American Medical Colleges Working Group on Research, Education, and Training (AAMC GREAT):  

Leadership – Mentors are expected to be leaders and role models in establishing a supportive and inclusive training environment

Professionalism – Mentors are expected to conduct themselves in a courteous, conscientious, and respectful manner 

Equity – Mentors are expected to practice inclusivity and impartiality, in keeping with our institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

The Graduate College partners with the Oklahoma Center for Mentoring Excellence to train mentors and mentees in skills that are fundamental to an effective mentoring relationship. Both the Mentor Training and Mentee Training satisfy the requirement for evidence-informed mentor/mentee training and assessment for NIH training grants. Training is available through campus-wide or program-specific offerings:

• Three-part workshop series each fall and spring semester, open to all mentors (faculty and advanced trainees) and mentees (students, trainees, and junior faculty) at OUHSC. Each session is 1.5 – 2 hours long.
• “Closed” workshop scheduled for specific program(s) or department(s). To schedule mentor or mentee training for your graduate program, contact Rebecka Bourn (rebecka-bourn@ouhsc.edu)