Effects of a Mentoring Program for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color and First-Generation Public Health Students

Objectives: Among graduate public health students, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC; including Latinx, Asian, Middle Eastern and North African, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, and multiracial) experience educational and personal challenges that require institutional support and reform. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an antiracist mentorship program on the sense of belonging and overall experience among BIPOC and first-generation students at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City. Methods: We used 2 data sources to retrospectively evaluate experiences of BIPOC and first-generation graduate students: the 2021 Mentoring of Students and Igniting Community (MOSAIC) Student Survey (n = 39), which collected data on experiences of students who participated in the MOSAIC program, and the 2016-2020 Graduate Exit Surveys (n = 1222), which collected data on graduating students' experiences, satisfaction, and perspectives on diversity, equity, and inclusion. A difference-in-difference analysis compared overall experience, public health career preparedness, quality of life, and department satisfaction among all students before (2016-2018) and after (2019-2020) implementation of the MOSAIC program. Results: Satisfaction among graduate students attributable to the MOSAIC program introduced in 2019 increased by about 25%. Compared with students who had not been exposed to MOSAIC, students exposed to MOSAIC had a 25% positive difference (P = .003) in overall graduate school experience, a 28% difference (P < .001) in quality of life, and a 10% difference (P = .001) in satisfaction with their departments. Conclusion: Mentorship for BIPOC and first-generation public health graduate students offers an effective strategy to improve student experiences and satisfaction with graduate departments and, ultimately, may help students meet educational and professional goals.