Spotlight on Successful Mentoring

This feature introduces some of the outstanding people who have participated in the IAPHS Mentoring Program.  The program introduces individuals needing advice on career-building in population health to mentors willing to help them along.

In this Mentoring Spotlight, we feature mentor Philip Alberti and mentee Patrick Masseo. Philip is the senior director of health equity research and policy at the Association of American Medical Colleges and also chairs IAPHS’s Professional Development Committee. Patrick works as Health Policy Advisor at New York City’s Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services.

After meeting through the IAPHS Mentoring Program, Patrick sought Philip’s advice in crafting his plan for career development, producing a paper on community health and health care delivery systems, and learning about successful strategies for building on his programmatic knowledge and experience to advance policy development and advocacy.

The pair accomplished a great deal during the past year. They submitted a conference abstract together, and Patrick got his paper published.  Philip helped Patrick think about research topics and shared his perspective and support as Patrick considered, and eventually made, an important career move.

In expressing his appreciation, Patrick also spoke to what made their relationship so successful.  “Each conversation, I learned so much from Philip, who has been working on health equity issues for his entire career.  Our mutual passion about health equity fostered engaging conversations and aligned visions that made for natural collaboration.  Setting a long term goal at the start of the mentorship, a monthly call, and moving smaller steps in-between by emails led to a productive and enriching experience.”

For his part, Philip told us: “I think there have been times when I’ve learned more from Patrick than he has from me! I have truly appreciated – and benefited from – his perspective and experience around hospitals’ community health and benefit work, and he has posed questions and offered ideas and challenges that have made our shared work (and my own work!) so much better. I am grateful to IAPHS for connecting us.”

IAPHS is grateful to the many individuals who participate in the Mentoring Program – especially those who, like Philip, give their time to help population health scientists and professionals build productive and impactful careers.  IAPHS welcomes new mentees to the program during an enrollment period each fall. Visit the Mentoring Page for more information.