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Transcript
Emily Ware: Hello, and welcome back to the Alliance Podcast, Continuing Conversations. I'm Emily Ware, associate director of education programs at the Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine, and I'll be your host. We will be learning more about the Alliance Mentorship Program, which pairs Alliance members for a six-month peer mentoring experience. The Alliance Mentorship Program is an important first step for many of us to learn more about the Alliance and the continuing education space. Joining me are mentor Stephanie Staggs, program manager at Texas A&M University and chair of the Alliance Mentorship Program Subcommittee, and mentee Alyssa Brown, enduring program specialist at the American Society of Anesthesiologists. They will be discussing their personal experience with the Alliance Mentorship Program. Stephanie and Alyssa, welcome to the Alliance Podcast.
Stephanie Staggs, MHA, CHCP: Thank you, Emily.
Alyssa Brown: Yeah, thanks for having us. Look forward to talking.
EW: Me as well. I know I benefited from being a part of this program last year, and I'm very excited to be part of the subcommittee planning things for 2025. First, Stephanie, could you share what motivated you to become a mentor in the Alliance Mentorship Program?
SS: Sure, when I started here at Texas A&M University College of Medicine, there actually wasn't a CE program, so I basically built it, from the ground up. So early on, when I, got here, I attended our state annual, meeting for CE educators, and signed up to be a min- to sign up to get a mentor. And that's when I was paired up with Marilyn Peterson, and Marilyn was an incredible mentor. I could email her anytime, any question and she was extremely helpful when we were getting our initial and then our provisional accreditation through ACCME. And so, she was my mentor for about four years, and so her guidance was just invaluable. And she then retired. But she said I was in great hands, I wasn't confident in that, but then over the years, I just kept reflecting, and I was so grateful for her mentorship and the support she gave me, during that time early on in my career. And then we fast forward to 2020, and that's when the Alliance launched the mentorship program, and I just felt this kind of pull to get involved. So, I thought, you know what? It's time. I've been doing this for a while, so, I thought, I'm gonna go ahead, and I'm gonna sign up to be a mentor, and then pay it forward. Because I knew firsthand, how impactful it was to have a mentor. And so I wanted to be that support to someone else, and it just seemed kind of like a natural step to give back to the CE community.
EW: That's a really lovely experience that you've had through the years, being mentored, and now, paying that forward, as you said. Alyssa, could you share what drew you to apply as a mentee to this program?
AB: Yeah, so I actually was in a different field. I was a teacher for eight years, so I transitioned out of public education and then came into the CE field about two years ago, so I started at ASA and continue to kind of learn and grow, and my manager had actually encouraged me to join the mentorship program with the Alliance. He had previously, participated as a mentee, and had a really good experience with it, and he's actually participating right now, but as a mentor, so he really encouraged me to look into the Alliance and get involved. So, I really wanted to just, like, learn from others in the field, especially with that transition and seeing what others are doing. So, you see the people you work with on a day-to-day basis, and, like, the surroundings you're in, and you can learn from that, but I think just seeing the wider field, and how there's a lot of differences, too. There's some similarities, but just wanting to hear and learn from someone else that has had more experience, and see how they've handled their career, and things that have gone really well for them, things that maybe they're like, I would have done that a little bit different if I could go back, so I think just really learning from other people, and getting some fresh insight and perspective, and getting to share what I'm dealing with in work, and then what they're going through, and see how can I learn from their experience, and really apply that to my own work.
EW: And Alyssa, when you translated from the field of education to continuing education, what was the most surprising thing that you encountered during that transition?
AB: I think there was definitely a lot that was surprising. I've kind of told people, like, I went to school for education, elementary education, and then taught middle school, and I honestly, before two years ago, I didn't know this world really existed. I think even just, like, taking everything in and being like, wow, no one ever told me about this. And I think it's just been interesting. A lot of people I work with or have come into connection with have all been former teachers. There's a lot of former teachers in the field, and just interesting that, like, I had never heard about it. So, it's been definitely very surprising in a good way, though.
EW: Yes, and I can see how, getting to participate in mentorship programs like this would really help for people like you that are transitioning careers. I think a lot of people working in continuing education, even if they're not coming from the same field as you, started somewhere else.
AB: Yeah, I feel like I've heard that from a lot of people. No one really, like, went into this on purpose, right? They all kind of stumbled upon it and had something first, and then they really enjoyed it, though, so I think that's really kind of interesting and unique.
EW: It is. Stephanie, now that you're seeing things from the mentor side, what has been the most fulfilling moment of the mentorship so far, and what made it so impactful?
SS: So, as you mentioned, you know, we're about halfway through our six-month, program, and then let's see, Alyssa and I meet, every other week, so we meet fairly frequently, and even from our first meeting, I feel like I've already seen so much growth in her. As she mentioned, she was a former teacher, and I've often, you know, asked her, well, but you were a teacher. You know, you got up and stood in front of a classroom full of students, and just watching her self-assurance and then her ability to advocate for herself has been, a really awesome thing to watch. And it's been also a reminder to me about how powerful mentorship can be, and it being a catalyst for change that can last for a lifetime. And then, it's also kind of reinforced my belief that sometimes just showing up and believing in someone, makes all the difference, and so it's just been a great opportunity to work with Alyssa so far, and I'm excited to see where we go, for the next three months, and then hopefully, this will be a long partnership. It doesn't have to end at six months, and so I hope we can continue our relationship for years to come.
EW: That sounds very rewarding, Stephanie. Alyssa, what's one valuable piece of advice you've received from Stephanie? And how are you already applying it to your work?
AB: Yeah, so, I mean, I think there's been quite a bit of advice, and we've talked about quite a bit of different topics over the last couple months. I think one thing that I know we've discussed is the importance of, like, volunteering and networking with others, and she's shared her experience of how she got involved with volunteering, and how she started small, really kind of saw what she liked, and, you know, get an opportunity, get involved, and see how it goes. So, I think that has definitely been, like, helpful to hear from her. So in terms of, like, applying that, I know there was an Alliance Town Hall recently about the different volunteer opportunities, so I made sure to join that call and just listen in to see what the Alliance has to offer and the different opportunities out there. And I think just hearing that similar message that, like, Stephanie had said of just starting small, helping out where you can, and just I think it really opened my eyes to everything that the Alliance offers, and what kind of volunteer opportunities are out there. And I think another thing with that is, like, that networking, and I know the mentorship program offers the monthly calls where there's different speakers who come and speak to the group, and then an opportunity to do those breakout rooms, and that has been really helpful, and I think it puts you, you know, sometimes you're like, oh my gosh, I have to talk to people that I don't know, and it's, like, can be a lot, but I think those have been really positive experiences to t6alk with others, and, like, I've seen people who I've worked with previously, or I know from something, and I think I've met… seen them, and then I've met new people, too. So, I think the mentorship has given me that opportunity to apply the things Stephanie and I have talked about, and just giving me more insight into what's out there.
EW: That's so great to hear, Alyssa. And I know when I join the group mentoring calls, I am frequently surprised that people that are much more senior than me in the industry are facing a lot of the same challenges that I am, and, you know, I think a lot of these things are universal and last throughout your career. It's great to have a forum to discuss all of those things.
AB: Definitely.
EW: Stephanie, mentoring often shifts the mentor's perspective, too. How has the experience of mentoring someone new to the field, like Alyssa, influenced your own perspective on the CE landscape and your role in it?
SS: Okay, so, being a part of the mentoring program this year, and being a mentor, has reminded me that the CE landscape has evolved since I, you know, first started, long ago, and then looking forward to the future at all the opportunities that we have to kind of shape that, and what the CE world will look like, in the future. And then it's been, a good reminder for me, as someone who's kind of seasoned in what may seem routine, or just obvious, may not look the same for someone who is just, stepping into the CE world, because it might seem like a bigger hurdle. So, you know, that realization has kind of influenced how, kind of, I approach, mentoring Alyssa in our conversations, during our sessions, and then it also made me think about, oh, as a contributor to CE, you know, it's kind of made me a little bit more intentional about my own work and what I do day-to-day, even though we come from different, backgrounds and then how we approach things, and being a mentor this year kind of has really, deepened that commitment, to being not just a guide and support for Alyssa, but also as a learner. It is keeping me grounded and curious, and, keeps my mind open for my own personal and professional growth.
EW: That's, that's a really compelling point, Stephanie. And, I know that's something that we highlight during the call for volunteers, for mentors, that it's really a two-way learning experience.
SS: Absolutely.
EW: Alyssa, what has been the biggest challenge you've faced during the program, and how have you and Stephanie worked together to address it?
AB: Yeah, I think a lot of people can probably relate to the challenge of just having, like, competing priorities and trying to use your time to the best of your ability to get the work done that you need to get done. So, we've had some different conversations about this, and she shared what works for her, and some just tips of just trying to prioritize and time manage what you have going on. So, I know she had mentioned, like, even exiting out of your email for an hour, if you really need to focus and get something done, and just sit there and really give it your focus. I think… I know I am guilty of seeing an email pop up, and I want to look at it and read it right away, and that obviously distracts you, and you can't sometimes get tasks done all in one sitting, and it might take a little bit longer. So, I think that has been really helpful, and just being more intentional with my time and blocking focus time on my calendar for things that I really need to work on and get done that are gonna require me to sit down for a couple hours. I can't just do the 15 minutes here and there, so that has definitely been helpful, of just setting boundaries and, like, protecting my focus time so that I can get the work done. Obviously this is not something that I have perfected. I am… it's a work in progress. I'm not sure you can ever really perfect it, but I'm sure that's something a lot of people can relate to.
EW: Alyssa, reflecting on that answer, I'm curious, have you either told the people that you work with that you are engaged in a formal mentoring program, or has anyone mentioned noticing changes in your work habits since you entered this program?
AB: So, that's a good question. My mentor, or my manager knows that I am involved. Obviously, he recommended it, and then, our chief learning officer, he… I've had conversations with him about participating in the mentorship program, which he has some involvement with the Alliance, so he was happy to hear that. So, no one has mentioned anything specific, but I'm sure it probably does come across. I feel like I am applying it, but I'm not sure.
EW: And it sounds like even if others aren't saying something yet, that you feel better about what you're able to produce at work after talking with Stephanie about some of those time management strategies and setting boundaries. Is that correct?
AB: Definitely. I feel definitely a lot better about doing that and making sure I can prioritize my time and get the things done that I need to get done.
EW: Stephanie, what is the area where you have seen Alyssa grow the most, and how did you help support that progress?
SS: Let's see, I feel like, I've seen the most growth, as she mentioned, with her time management, and then in her confidence, you know, I've been giving her different, various strategies, I call them tools for your toolbox, you know, things that have worked for me, things that I've tried that haven't worked for me, but they might work for her. And then as I think I had mentioned earlier, you know, her background in teaching, and you know, she was… she has mentioned kind of early on when we first met that she was a little hesitant to kind of speak up. She didn't know kind of where she fit in the realm at certain meetings, and so just even in the short time, that we've been meeting, I can see from our conversations that her confidence has increased, and she's been more, willing to step up and advocate for herself, especially, for some of the complex projects that she's been working on recently. And there's been some issues, but at our last meeting, I was kind of like, oh my gosh, we kind of… you know, the little meter kind of went really high. I felt like,in her confidence, in being able to advocate, because she had mentioned, you know, she had spoken with some of her colleagues and co-workers, and they had all had scheduled a meeting, and, you know, they were all in agreeance of, you know, kind of where their plan was, and so they were kind of carrying, this plan. I haven't received an update, but even if the outcome wasn't what she wanted, I feel like even just, you know, 3 months ago, she would have been more hesitant to not speak up and to not be able to organize, a meeting, to be able to voice what everybody else was feeling, related to that project. And so, I think, offering her a safe space to ask questions, to just talk through ideas and kind of just reflect. It's what allowed for this growth, and so just being able to kind of sit back sometimes and just watch has been very rewarding, as a mentor. And it also, you know, I have learned as well, you know, just from listening and watching her, so I feel like I'm getting just as much out of our meetings as I hope she is getting out of them on the other side.
EW: That's wonderful, Stephanie. Stephanie, since this isn't your first time mentoring someone in the Alliance Mentorship Program, I'm curious if there are common themes that you see emerging among multiple mentees?
SS: That is a very good question. I have had, at least two other mentees in the Alliance program. I also participate in other mentoring programs. I'm still in contact with, actually, my very first mentee, from back in 2020, and I feel like there are some common themes, and, usually related to, like, work-life balance. You know, and I think we all struggle with that, and no one has the answer or the key to how we can do it, but I think we can all help each other, and it's also reassuring to know that you're not the only one that struggles, and I think also, as Alyssa alluded to, time. You know, how do we balance our time when we have, multiple projects, you know, that multitasking.
EW: Thank you for sharing that, Stephanie.
SS: You're welcome.
EW: Alyssa, what is one new skill or professional perspective you've gained that you are most excited to develop further?
AB: So, one of the bigger things for me, and it's kind of funny because this is what Stephanie was touching on right before, so just, like, building that confidence, and I think, like, stepping into leadership opportunities, I think it's super easy to just underestimate yourself and think, oh, I can't really bring anything unique to the table, and I think it's just… that's something to continue to build on, and I think just understanding that, like, your voice matters, you can offer unique perspectives and skills that others might not be able to, and, like, vice versa. So, Stephanie and I have kind of talked about, I'm like, oh, well, I just did XYZ, it's, like, not that big of a deal. But then, for someone else, maybe doing something like that is not something that they can easily do. So, I think it's just, like, understanding that you'd kind of take things for granted that you're good at, because you're like, I just do it, like, I don't really think through it, but I think just understanding that, like, you matter, and your voice matters, and you deserve, like, a seat at the table, and it's been really validating to have conversations with Stephanie, and she'll be like, I feel that exact same way, and I'm like, okay, that's helpful, like, even public speaking, like, I'm terrified when I'm doing it, but it's fine. I get through it, and, like, the world keeps going. So, I think just continuing to build on that confidence is definitely something I think hopefully you know you can achieve one day, but I think it's just something you continue to work on all the time.
EW: Alyssa, would you be able to share one of those things that you didn't realize was one of your special skills until you applied that lens to your own work?
AB: Yeah, I'm a very organized person, and I feel like I'm really good at getting, like, processes completed and improving things and, like, anticipating gaps where I can think ahead before, like, before something becomes an issue, I can spot it and anticipate it so that it doesn't become a bigger issue down the line, and I think it's something, like, simple that I'm like, oh, well, anyone can do that, but some people just don't have that eye for that, and so I think just understanding that that is something that is unique to me, and that others can offer different scales, but it's good to have all of those at the table.
EW: That's such a great example, Alyssa, because I can also see how perhaps not realizing that's a special skill could lead you to not present those recommendations with as much confidence as they should have behind them. So that… that probably really ties together a lot of these themes that we've been talking about. Alyssa, considering that one of the major goals of the mentorship program is to get people more acquainted with the Alliance membership, I'm curious, how is… how has this mentorship program changed your perspective of the Alliance?
AB: Yeah, I think it definitely has. This is actually, like, my first real experience with the Alliance, in 2024, I had a membership, I kind of, like, poked around on the website, didn't do a whole lot, and then I had the conversation with my manager about the mentorship program and everything that he had gotten out of it, and was like, oh, I'm gonna do in 2025, I want to do the mentorship program. So, like, that was actually the driver for me even being like, okay, I'm gonna renew my membership and join the mentorship SHIP program specifically. So, because I was just so motivated to, like, learn from someone else and hear from someone else. So, I feel like that, the program is a good entry point into the Alliance, because you get to hear from different people, you build a relationship with your mentor, but then you get to connect with other people and hear about different topics and things that others are going through. So, I think it's definitely opened my eyes to the Alliance and, like, everything that it has to offer, and just, like, the webinars, the town halls, different things that can help you feel connected and, like, plugged in, and kind of give you some new opportunities to continue to learn and grow. So, the Stewardship program has had, like, a positive influence on how I view the Alliance.
EW: Thank you for sharing that, Alyssa. Stephanie and Alyssa, thank you for joining me in today's discussion. As we wrap up, what recommendations do you have for people looking to get involved in the Alliance Mentorship Program, whether as a mentor or a mentee?
SS: My recommendation is, just do it. We'll open up calls for mentees and for mentors in the spring of 2026, so keep your eye out for those emails. I feel like there's a place for everyone. And we have now, the mentorship program subcommittee, is now a formal subcommittee, and so we are also looking for volunteers there, and so I know the Alliance had just posted, for volunteer applications, so if you are interested in helping us grow this program and evolve. We would love to have you come sit with us at the table.
EW: And Stephanie, could you share just a little bit about what people can expect to do if they join the subcommittee in the future?
SS: Absolutely. So, as I mentioned, the calls, for mentee-mentors is in the spring, so that's, we kind of started meeting early in the spring, where we will collect all the information and kind of assist the Alliance staff with pairing. We also met to set the monthly topics and speakers. The committee has been great. We've created templates for speakers and moderators, and so basically all of our legwork is kind of done in the early spring, early summer, before we launch the program in July, where then, you know, we just kind of meet monthly and encourage the mentees and mentors to meet, and then we will conclude in December.
EW: And like all good continuing education professionals, I know we are also focused on the outcomes of each one of those group mentoring calls and the program, and how we can use that to help shape the program in the future.
SS: Yeah, absolutely.
EW: Alyssa, do you have a recommendation for people looking to get involved in the Alliance Mentorship Program, either as a mentor or a mentee?
AB: I mean, I think my general advice would be to join, join the program either as a mentor or as a mentee. I think for mentees who are interested in joining, I think it's just key to, like, be open-minded and honest and ask questions, and I think there's a lot of things that you can learn through this program, and a lot of growth you can go through, I think Stephanie mentioned earlier, is sometimes it's just, like, having someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of and listen to, and that is, like, encouragement and that belief in you is helpful and helps you continue to, like, believe in yourself, so, I would really say just join the program. I think something that's interesting about Stephanie and I is I know the program tries to match people with… from the same member section, but Stephanie and I are actually from different member sections, so I think we have found a lot of commonalities between us and how we handle things, and just different scenarios, that there's a lot of themes overall that, even though our day-to-day might not be the same, I think there's just a lot you can still learn from each other, so I think that's definitely important. So, just, you know, get involved, join. I don't think people would regret it.
EW: Thank you both for joining and sharing your personal experience in the Alliance Mentorship Program. And like they said, look out for information on the website, and join us next year.