The Power of Mentorship in the Cultivation of Advanced Practice Providers

In Sum

Throughout the course of my grant year, and thanks to the encouragement of my mentors, I grew in confidence to pursue my own interests in rheumatology. I was nominated for, and am currently serving on, the ACR’s newly formed Global Engagement Special Committee, where I am connected to an expanded network of rheumatologists. In addition, I participated in the ACR Advocates for Arthritis event.

I was also able to participate in a joint injection teaching session for first-year residents at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. I have had the opportunity to precept nurse practitioner students enrolled in the ENRICH program during their first exposures to rheumatology.

This grant allowed me dedicated time for career development. I hope to use what I have learned from my mentors to further irrigate and refresh the field of rheuma­tology. Through mentorship, we can cultivate providers who understand and value the innate dignity of their patients and the challenges they face.

Sara Kellahan, MSN, APRN, AGPCNP-C, is a nurse practitioner at Washington University School of Medicine’s Division of Rheumatology. She sees patients in the Vasculitis and Rare Disease Clinic, the Ocular Rheumatology Clinic and in general rheumatology clinics.

Disclosures

Ms. Kellahan has received a Mentored Nurse Practitioner/Physician Assistant Award for Workforce Expansion.