A Mentoring Program Builds the Bridge with Nutrition Students and Healthcare Professionals.

Mentoring is an effective strategy to help train and guide emerging professionals to be successful in their careers and to stay abreast as evidence-based recommendations are continuously evolving. Experiential learning opportunities can help students to gain knowledge and improve skillsets. The RD Mentorship Program was established to enhance professional development and knowledge by connecting nutrition students (NS) and registered dietitians (RD). This program used social exchange theory and Kolb's experiential learning theory to evaluate the impact. RD (n=238) and NS (n=302) across Texas and Florida participated in a 1-year, project-based mentoring program from 2016 to 2020. This program collected qualitative and quantitative data in this pre-post program design. While the sheer number of participants over the three academic years was a strength of the program, there were also some valuable lessons learned. Most participants rated their experience as satisfied to highly satisfied (6.7-8.7/10). Five key themes emerged from program evaluation: mutuality, opportunity, career development, diversity and inclusion and barrier. Mentorship, both virtually and in-person, can offer unique "hands-on" learning opportunities that bridge the gap between students and healthcare practitioners. The RD Mentorship Program models how mentorships can successfully be applied in diverse health professions.