“I realized that as a pre-med student myself, there were lots of questions about preparing for medical school that I couldn’t answer,” says Zoe Thomas, a third-year undergraduate studying neuroscience and bioethics at the University of Washington. “Given how much I learned from others, I wanted to create a space where students could connect directly with those further along in the journey.”
With support from Dr. Anny Lin and student leaders in the Neurobiology Club, Zoe launched the Graduate Mentorship Program—a quarterly initiative that pairs undergraduates with medical students and residents. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” she says. “We had more than 50 mentors and mentees sign up right away.”
Zoe was paired with Dr. Sumayyah Khan, a neurology resident whose own path into medicine began with caring for her grandparents. “The quality time I spent with them cultivated my understanding of the importance of guidance,” says Dr. Khan. “I saw the mutual value provided by both the younger and older generations.”
Each pairing in the program is customized based on shared interests, and meetings are intentionally flexible. “Certain days and weeks are busier than others, so frequency is really up to each mentor and mentee,” explains Zoe. “The goal is to create meaningful, low-pressure connections.”
For Dr. Khan, the program has allowed her to pass along the support and guidance she received from her own mentors—including a few who first saw her potential while she worked as a restaurant server. “They changed my career trajectory and were pivotal in me ultimately obtaining a medical degree,” she explains. “It is important to me that I find ways to help others achieve their dreams similarly to how my community did for me and continue to learn from younger generation.”
Looking ahead, Zoe hopes the program will continue to grow. “I strongly believe in mentorship because knowledge sharing is one of the most powerful tools to make advancements not just in medicine, but in any field,” she states. “By learning from past experiences, future generations can also make better decisions and avoid repeating those same mistakes.”
As for how to get involved, Zoe notes that the program is currently operated through the UW Neurobiology Club, with calls for mentors and mentees occurring quarterly. She encourages those interested in participating to reach out to the club directly or to keep an eye on their Instagram page.