National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change

Engaging, accessible, evidence-based interventions are needed to support the professional development of research mentors within the clinical and translational sciences. This article reports on the usage and impact of the University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s online...

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Main Authors: Anne Marie Weber-Main, Kimberly Spencer, Emma Dums, So Hee Hyun, Christine Pfund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866125000846/type/journal_article
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author Anne Marie Weber-Main
Kimberly Spencer
Emma Dums
So Hee Hyun
Christine Pfund
author_facet Anne Marie Weber-Main
Kimberly Spencer
Emma Dums
So Hee Hyun
Christine Pfund
author_sort Anne Marie Weber-Main
collection DOAJ
description Engaging, accessible, evidence-based interventions are needed to support the professional development of research mentors within the clinical and translational sciences. This article reports on the usage and impact of the University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s online mentor training module, Optimizing the Practice of Mentoring (OPM). Among the 1,124 OPM users in our contemporary evaluation sample (Feb 2019–June 2022), retrospective pre-to-post gains were observed in respondents’ self-rated mentorship skills (11 items), perceptions of the overall quality of mentoring they provide, and mentoring confidence. A high proportion (83%) of users reported making or intending to make changes in their mentoring practices as a result of the training. Example behavior changes included a greater focus on aligning expectations, more proactive attention to the relationship (overall and its distinct phases), increased usage of active communication skills, adoption of tools such as Individual Development Plans, and ongoing self-reflection. Over a 10-year period, 4,011 unique individuals registered for the module, representing over 650 different institutions (a majority being affiliated with past or current Clinical and Translational Science Hubs). OPM has the versatility to be employed as a standalone, asynchronous approach for mentor development or as one curricular component of more comprehensive, multimodal programs.
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spelling doaj-art-e7f43aa90e4f4675957dda416a0b17ae2025-08-20T03:08:51ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Clinical and Translational Science2059-86612025-01-01910.1017/cts.2025.84National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior changeAnne Marie Weber-Main0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2059-4681Kimberly Spencer1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5556-2727Emma Dums2https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3345-674XSo Hee Hyun3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6982-9541Christine Pfund4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5081-0288Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USAInstitute for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research, University of Wisconsin– Madison, Madison, WI, USAInstitute for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research, University of Wisconsin– Madison, Madison, WI, USAInstitute for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research, University of Wisconsin– Madison, Madison, WI, USAInstitute for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, USA Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research, University of Wisconsin– Madison, Madison, WI, USAEngaging, accessible, evidence-based interventions are needed to support the professional development of research mentors within the clinical and translational sciences. This article reports on the usage and impact of the University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute’s online mentor training module, Optimizing the Practice of Mentoring (OPM). Among the 1,124 OPM users in our contemporary evaluation sample (Feb 2019–June 2022), retrospective pre-to-post gains were observed in respondents’ self-rated mentorship skills (11 items), perceptions of the overall quality of mentoring they provide, and mentoring confidence. A high proportion (83%) of users reported making or intending to make changes in their mentoring practices as a result of the training. Example behavior changes included a greater focus on aligning expectations, more proactive attention to the relationship (overall and its distinct phases), increased usage of active communication skills, adoption of tools such as Individual Development Plans, and ongoing self-reflection. Over a 10-year period, 4,011 unique individuals registered for the module, representing over 650 different institutions (a majority being affiliated with past or current Clinical and Translational Science Hubs). OPM has the versatility to be employed as a standalone, asynchronous approach for mentor development or as one curricular component of more comprehensive, multimodal programs.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866125000846/type/journal_articlementoringprofessional developmentasynchronousmentor trainingworkforce development
spellingShingle Anne Marie Weber-Main
Kimberly Spencer
Emma Dums
So Hee Hyun
Christine Pfund
National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change
Journal of Clinical and Translational Science
mentoring
professional development
asynchronous
mentor training
workforce development
title National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change
title_full National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change
title_fullStr National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change
title_full_unstemmed National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change
title_short National dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention: Evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change
title_sort national dissemination of an online research mentor training intervention evidence of an asynchronous model to promote learning outcomes and behavior change
topic mentoring
professional development
asynchronous
mentor training
workforce development
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2059866125000846/type/journal_article
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