20  Cindy Farley and Georgetown U  Cohort 35 Midwifery Students
Channel: Virtual Midwives
Date: 2022-05-12

VIDM 2022: Peer to peer support in a US distance midwifery education program
Cohort 35: Kelly Grant; Zoe Pappas; Tayla Tingstad; Fleure Fraser; Jennifer Pearcy

Facilitator: Lorraine Mockford

A peer is someone that shares common experiences and social similarities.  A midwifery student peer can provide the deeply felt empathy, encouragement, and assistance that comes from going through similar experiences in their midwifery education. Peer mentors and mentees both gain from the establishment of a reciprocal relationship of support. Limited evidence regarding peer support among midwifery students suggests that benefits for mentors include the opportunity to develop mentorship and leadership skills while benefits for the mentee include enhanced confidence and practical advice to optimize their educational experience. 

Midwifery students expected much of their classroom work to be in the remote environment when they enrolled at Georgetown University, in fact, a number of students chose Georgetown for this very reason as they are place bound with family and work obligations. They are able to maintain these ties with occasional trips to campus for simulation learning. However, COVID-19 caused faculty and students to pivot to an entirely remote learning environment for didactic education. Peer support has been even more precious and critical during this time. These students are looking forward to their first on campus experience in April 2022 in the face of uncertain and evolving conditions imposed by the pandemic. Please come hear their stories of peer support and share yours at our VIDM Student Cafe.