The Alumni-Student Mentorship Program aims to seed the culture of collaboration among the next generation of public health professionals with the ultimate goal of extending public health’s impact locally, nationally and globally.

 2026 Alumni-Student Mentorship Program (February – November 2026)

Information

For Alumni Mentors:  Mentors are invited to learn more about the program in the information package available here or reach out to Daniel Downey, Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving Officer at daniel.downey@utoronto.ca: Overview for Mentors – PHS Alumni-Student Mentorship Program 2026

For Students: November 26, 2025 Student Information Session Slides can be found here. If you missed the session, the recordings can be found here: https://utoronto.zoom.us/rec/share/cl1iK3DYkB3xArRyC-QyUQQLjgyfO-jGD8fG9pfVAszgh1-VmG632yAKB-jQuvtw.ZdKZ4V28ITVAU2Uy

Passcode: @=*c#KtV2*

Student Mentee and Alumni Mentor applications are now OPEN!

Alumni Mentor Application: 2026 Mentorship Application for Mentors – Fill out form

Student Mentee Application: 2026 Mentorship Application for Mentees – Fill out form

Please complete this application by Monday, January 19, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

To be a mentee, you must:

  • Be enrolled as a first year MPH, MSc or MHSc student within Public Health Sciences at DLSPH at the time of application for the Alumni-Student Mentorship Program and be available for the full 2026 calendar year to participate as a mentee from February to November (full and part-time students are encouraged to participate).
  • Be committed to communicating with your mentor at least once a month. Student mentees are expected to initiate and maintain communications for the duration of the program.
  • Be open to attending 3 virtual networking events (March, June, Oct/Dec 2026) if your schedule allows. The events will be about 1 hour each usually in the evening 5 or 5:30pm.

To be a mentor, applicants must:

  • Be a graduate of the Public Health Sciences division of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (or its predecessors) with over one year of relevant work experience.
  • Be willing to engage with your mentee at least once a month between April and November 2026.
  • Support your mentee by discussing:
    • The mentee’s career/academic objectives
    • The ways the mentee can achieve their objectives
    • The mentor’s career path, insights, and experiences

As public health professionals, we are keenly aware of the vast importance of building partnerships and sharing knowledge. The program provides professional and personal development opportunities to participants. Mentors are matched with current 1st year graduate students based on program stream and shared areas of interest.

What can students expect from the program?

  • Being matched with an alum in your field
  • Meet virtually with your mentor to discuss career goals ​and gain advice
  • Expand your professional network
  • Exclusive access to mentorship program virtual events – 3 events in total (March, June, Oct/December 2026)
  • Gain useful advice regarding career and courses or practica, build networking contacts, and develop a general “feel” for work in their areas of interest.

Alumni mentors benefit from opportunities to stay current on educational offerings in their respective field, connect with other mentors, and engage with the School’s talented students and help them to prepare for a meaningful career in public health.

The program takes place over ten months, from February to November of each year.

Mentors and mentees are expected to:

  • Virtually meetup at least once a month from April – November 2026
  • Respond to the two check-in surveys that will be sent during the program period
  • Respect each-other’s time and answer each-other’s emails, calls or messages within a reasonable amount of time
  • Use meetings to discuss:
    • The mentee’s career/academic objectives
    • The ways the mentee can achieve their objectives
    • The mentor’s career path, insights, and experiences

Questions? Contact the program Co-Leads:

Sarah Ko, Practicum and Professional Development Officer

sarah.ko@utoronto.ca

or

Daniel Downey, Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving Officer

daniel.downey@utoronto.ca