Mentorship has always been a key tenet of the Bluff City Medical Society from the organization’s inception.  In fall 2021, the organization secured grant funding to formalize its mentorship program to further support medical students, residents, and fellows developing Project STAR (Student Advancement and Retention) and Project REZ (Resident Empowerment Zone).   Both programs have a primary focus on racioethnic underrepresented in medicine (URiM) students, residents, and fellows. Each mentee will be paired with a physician for a longitudinal relationship throughout the duration of their medical school, residency, or fellowship tenure. The mentors and mentees will establish personalized goals for each mentee. Other components of Project STAR and Project REZ include networking, professional development, and community service. The programs also include learning modules and panel discussions to develop key skills necessary for success and resiliency including time management, study skills, mental health and well-being, professionalism, racism and bias, financial literacy, and career counseling.  The current Project STAR mentees are students at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center and Lincoln Memorial University College of Medicine.  The current Project REZ mentees are post-graduate trainees from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Project Administrators:

LaTonya B. Washington, MD, MBA, Assistant Professor, Bluff City Medical Society President

Cyrilyn Walters, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine

Christopher D. Jackson, MD, FSSCI, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Center for Health System Improvement

Crystal Pourciau, MD, MPH, FAAD, Assistant Professor, Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics