title: Peer-mentored research development meeting: a model for successful peer mentoring among junior level researchers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This report describes a model for the development, process, and tracking methods of a Peer-mentored Research Development Meeting (PRDM), an interdisciplinary peer mentoring program. The program was initiated in 2004 by a group of postdoctoral scholars and junior faculty from the Schools of the Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh.
  
  
  METHODS
  From February 2004 through February 2006, PRDM's first five members tracked and documented their research activity (e.g., manuscripts, grants) every 4 months. The defining features of PRDM are adherence to a structured frequency and format for meetings, systematic tracking and evaluation of research development activities, and maintenance of ongoing relationships with senior mentors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 24-month data collection period, members were involved in 91 research development projects including grant applications, journal article manuscripts, book chapters, and conference abstracts. Members' productivity increased during the 24-month period, as did the efficiency and focus of the completed projects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Members increased the efficiency and focus of their research development activities during the study period. Structured peer-mentoring groups have the potential to enhance research productivity among junior investigators in research intensive environments.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, General Internal Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. santucciak@upmc.edu
authors.forename: Aimee K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Santucci
authors.forename: Jennifer H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lingler
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Beth A D
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thatcher
authors.forename: Deborah E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Polk
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D004526:Efficiency; D006801:Humans; D008611:Mentors; D017712:Peer Review, Research