Jefferson InterProfessional Education Center (JCIPE)
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Who can be a Health Mentor?
Adults of any age, who have one or more chronic medical conditions (like high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, heart problems, cancer or others) can volunteer to be a Health Mentor.
What do Health Mentors do?
Health Mentors meet with a small group (4 to 5) of Jefferson students 2 times a year for 2 years. Each meeting will take about an hour long. For the first year, meetings will be scheduled by Health Mentors Program staff and will take place on Jefferson's campus. During the second year, one meeting will be a home visit and the other meeting can be scheduled at a place and time that is convenient for both the mentors and the students.
What happens at the meetings?
Jefferson students will talk to their Health Mentors about things that are important to being a good doctor, nurse, or therapist. For instance, in the first year, they will ask their mentors to tell them about events in their lives, about their medical history, about what health insurance does and does not pay for, and what makes a good health professional. Health Mentors will never have to answer any questions that they aren't comfortable with.
How do Health Mentors know what to do?
All Health Mentors get an orientation from Jefferson professors before they meet their students. Health Mentors can call Jefferson professors in charge of the program any time they have questions or concerns.
Do Health Mentors get paid?
Unfortunately, we can't pay Health Mentors for their time - this is a volunteer job. But - Health Mentors will know that they are playing an important role in training future health professionals to take better care of patients with chronic conditions.