Dear Medical Learners Curious About Ophthalmology,
Thank you for your interest in participating as a mentee in the Canadian Ophthalmological Society Equity-Focused Mentorship Program (COS-EFMP), which will run from October 2026 to July 2027.
The COS-EFMP provides equity-focused and academic mentorship to aspiring ophthalmologists from groups that are underrepresented in medicine. The program is open to first- and second-year students enrolled in a Canadian medical school who are curious about ophthalmology and identify with a marginalized or underrepresented group. This may include, but is not limited to, students who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, LGBTQIA2S+, the first in their family to attend university, living with a disability or from an economically disadvantaged background.
The program involves one-on-one mentorship alongside optional group activities and events. Mentorship may take place virtually, by telephone, in person or through a hybrid format. There is no requirement for in-person mentorship.
Mentors and mentees are asked to:
- Commit to a minimum of three hours of mentorship during the program;
- Establish goals for the mentorship relationship;
- Determine a mutually agreeable meeting schedule and format;
- Maintain professionalism and confidentiality; and
- Complete required program evaluations.
VIEW MENTOR BIOGRAPHIES
COS will use the information provided in this application to support the matching process. Relevant information may be shared with prospective mentors through an anonymized profile. Your name and contact information will not be shared until a match has been confirmed.
While we will make every effort to create a suitable match, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will be matched with a mentor who meets all their preferences. Applicants who cannot be matched may still be invited to participate in representation circles and other program activities. If additional mentors become available, the program team may contact unmatched applicants.
Applications close September 18, 2026.
By submitting this application, you consent to the collection and use of your information for the administration, evaluation and improvement of the COS-EFMP. After the matching process, program data and metrics will be anonymized.
If you have questions, please contact Katy Eades at keades@cos-sco.ca