The mentor is generally a healthcare manager, director, administrator (with three or more years of experience) who is working at the sponsoring internship site. Responsibilities of the mentor include the following:
- Serve as a role model, coach, and mentor to the student intern.
- Assist the student in getting the proper hiring process and paperwork completed.
- Make equipment, supplies, and necessary space available for the student to perform their duties.
- Provide orientation to the student concerning organizational policies, rules, and regulations.
- Assist the student in identifying learning outcomes and activities to achieve them.
- Assign the student specific and significant duties and projects, that might be a “special project,” to further the student’s understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a health services administrator while contributing meaningfully to the operations of the organization, without replacing other staff.
- Introduce the student to key personnel, and arrange for the student to attend staff- and management-level meetings, as appropriate to their role, during the allotted time.
- Observe the student’s interactions and work within the organization, and provide regular feedback concerning positive notes and needed improvement regarding behaviors and outcomes in all aspects of the organization’s operations, as well as in general managerial activities and skills.
- Share information and thought processes with the student to provide as much insight as possible into successful approaches to management problem solving and administrative roles, including culture, diversity and equity building, and leadership roles.
- Provide a concluding evaluation of the student’s performance during the internship upon completion in a manner which will encourage the student to grow in their administrative skills and competencies.
In the rare instance of misconduct, please contact the internship coordinator immediately (Alissa Bigelow at [email protected] or 612-625-5276) to determine appropriate action to rectify problems or conclude the internship experience at the organization.