MSDCI National Mentorship Program

We understand firsthand that premedical and medical students with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses often have questions about navigating medical education. MSDCI’s National Mentorship Program was created to help fill that gap by connecting students with peers and physicians who have lived experience with disability and chronic illness.

Our free mentorship program pairs premedical and medical students with medical student mentors for individualized 1:1 peer mentorship over the course of a 5-month cycle. In addition, every mentor-mentee pair becomes part of a mentorship pod led by a physician with a disability and/or chronic illness, providing opportunities for broader discussion, shared experiences, and professional guidance.

Seek Guidance in Topics Such As:

• Applying to medical school
• Navigating accommodations
• Managing disability or chronic illness during training
• Study strategies and clinical rotations
• Specialty exploration
• Residency applications
• Work-life balance
• And much more

Our long-term goal is to foster lasting connections within the disability and chronic illness community, support participants throughout every stage of their medical journey, and help increase representation of physicians with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Who Can Participate?

• Mentees: Premedical students and medical students enrolled in a U.S. medical school (both DO and MD) with a disability and/or chronic illness who are seeking mentorship and support.
• Mentors: Medical students enrolled in a U.S. medical school (both DO and MD) with a disability and/or chronic illness who are active MSDCI members (either through a local chapter or as national members).
• Pod Leaders: U.S. Physicians at any stage of training (resident, fellow, or attending) with a disability and/or chronic illness who facilitate mentorship pod discussions.

What Does Participation Involve?

• One-on-one mentorship between mentors and mentees
• Small-group mentorship through physician-led mentorship pods
• A minimum of three mentor-mentee meetings during the program (can be via phone or video call, text message, email, etc.)
• At least one mentorship pod meeting each cycle
• No cost to participate
• Medical student mentors may be eligible to earn volunteer hours through their participation

Learn More & Apply

Program Guide (2026):
View the 2026 Mentorship Program Guide

Interested in becoming a mentee?
Complete the Mentee Intake Form

Interested in becoming a mentor?
Complete the Mentor Intake Form

Interested in becoming a pod leader?
Complete the Pod Leader Intake Form

Questions? Contact mentorship@msdci.org.

If you haven’t already, be sure to explore the MSDCI Resources page for additional information about navigating medical education with a disability and/or chronic illness.