Participants praise Digital Health Networks mentoring programme

Participants of the Digital Health Networks mentoring programme shared their experiences at a workshop on day one of Summer Schools 2024, and urged others to apply for the next cohort.

The programme was launched in October 2023 to support aspiring, emerging and senior digital leaders seeking personal growth in CCIO, CIO or CNIO equivalent roles.

Mentoring was carried out virtually by the Networks CCIO, CIO and CNIO Advisory Panel members over a period of six months, starting in January 2024.

At the Summer Schools workshop session on 17 July 2024, three pairs of mentors and mentees spoke about their experience of the programme.

Misbah Mahmood, deputy chief midwifery information officer at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said she was “apprehensive at first” about being a mentor, but found it helpful.

Her mentee, Caroline Palmer, clinical lead at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, described Mahmood as “the queen of networking” and said she had helped her to not feel isolated.

Palmer recommended the mentoring programme as a way to “build a network and knowledge”.

Another mentor on the panel was Euan McComiskie, health informatics lead at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, who mentored Bobbie Phippin, lead clinical safety officer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.

“I became a mentor because I have been a mentee and felt a duty to feed back,” McComiski explained.

He said he had learned as much being a mentor as he did when he was a mentee.

“You do not have to know everything as a mentor, you are just a conduit, a facilitator.

“If you’re thinking about being a mentor, grab it, don’t be scared of it.

“If you’re thinking about being a mentee, what are you waiting for? Go for it,” he urged those in the session.

Mentor, Dr Ali, clinical advisor, transformation directorate at NHS England, said mentoring is built on respectful relationships and that she loved seeing mentees evolve.

Her mentee, Kola-Abodunde, digital health manager and physiotherapist at PUBLIC, said she enjoyed the “varied experience” of the programme and the opportunity to meet like-minded people.

Barry Frostick, chief digital and information officer at Mid and South Essex Health and Care Partnership, shared his experience of how mentors were supported by their advisory panels and peers on WhatsApp.

He added that Lauren Hoodless, head of networks at Digital Health, was “fantastic” and a key driver of the mentoring programme who provided constant support.

Jon Hoeksma, chief executive of Digital Health, confirmed that the mentorship programme is expected to open for applications for the next cohort in 2024, once feedback has been received from the previous participants.

Digital Health Summer Schools took place at Durham University on 17-19 July 2024.

The winners of the Digital Health Networks Awards were announced at the event on 17 July.