Global Mentorship Pilot Program

A Joint Initiative of the GRAPPA Education & Research Committees, and YGRAPPA.

 

GRAPPA is pleased to launch the 2026/2027 Global Mentorship Pilot Program, a strategic initiative designed to foster meaningful, structured mentorship relationships across our global network. This program is a collaborative effort of the Education and Research Committees and reflects GRAPPA’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis research and clinical care.

The program will support both virtual and hybrid mentorship models:

  • Virtual Mentorship: A structured, 6–12 month engagement conducted entirely online, guided by mutually agreed-upon goals and milestones.
  • Hybrid Mentorship with Observership: Eligible mentees may apply for up to $7,500 USD in support to fund a 2–4 week in-person observership, embedded within a 6–12 month virtual mentorship.

 

This initiative emphasizes skill development, knowledge exchange, and long-term professional growth, with opportunities to pursue clinical, research, or mixed-focus mentorship tracks.

View Information Packet

Program Structure & Timeline

Mentorship Period: Begins between August 1 and October 31, 2026, with completion within 12 months.

 

Observership Duration: 2–4 weeks (minimum 2 consecutive weeks in-person for hybrid mentees).

Hybrid Engagement: Ongoing pre- and post-observership virtual mentorship is expected.

Alternate timing requests must include written justification from the mentee’s Program Director or Chair.

Application Timeline & Two-Phased Process

To ensure strong alignment between mentor offerings and mentee goals, the program will proceed in two distinct phases.

Phase 1: Mentor Applications

Application Period for Mentors Closed December 15, 2025

Mentors Selected:

The below faculty-level clinicians or researchers were selected as mentors for the 2026/2027 mentorship program. 

Mentees: please review and identify the mentor you most align with before submitting your application in Phase 2 below. 

Denis (1)

Denis Poddubnyy

University of Toronto

Canada

RHEUMATOLOGIST

View Mentor's CV

View Sample Program Proposal

Juan Raul Castro Ayarza

Juan Raul Castro Ayarza

Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Colombia

DERMATOLOGIST

View Mentor's CV

View Sample Program Proposal

Michele Luchetti Gentiloni

Michele Luchetti Gentiloni

Polytechnic University of the Marche Region

Italy

RHEUMATOLOGIST

View Mentor's CV

View Sample Program Proposal

 

Samah A. El Bakry

Samah A. El Bakry

Ain Shams University, Cairo

Egypt

RHEUMATOLOGIST

View Mentor's CV

View Sample 6 Month Program Proposal

View Sample 12 Month Program Proposal

 

Phase 2: Mentee Applications

The mentee application period is now closed.

Who may apply:

Residents, post-residency fellows, and early career investigators (within 5 years of training completion).

Mentee application requirements (submitted via the GRAPPA Mentorship Portal):

  • One-page personal statement describing career goals and rationale for mentorship.
  • One-page description of areas of clinical and scholarly interest.
  • Letter of support from current supervisor or program director.
  • Biosketch or CV including information on clinical and academic training, formal education, publications, presentations, awards and any other relevant information
  • Overview of skills and technical competencies (e.g., statistical programming, ultrasound, molecular techniques).

Selection Criteria for Mentees:

  • Alignment of career goals with proposed mentorship.
  • Potential for long-term contribution to psoriatic disease research and/or care.
  • Commitment to completing program requirements and scholarly output.
  • Geographic, institutional, and demographic diversity.
  • Balanced distribution across clinical and research tracks.
  • Mentor may request a virtual interview during the selection process. 

Reporting & Expected Outcomes

  • A post-mentorship report is required within one month of observership completion.
  • Mentees are expected to produce a scholarly output (e.g., abstract submission, presentation at the GRAPPA Annual Meeting, or peer-reviewed manuscript).
  • GRAPPA may highlight select mentorship experiences on its website and at educational meetings.
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GRAPPA-Events (18)

Program Support

Up to $7,500 USD per mentee for direct expenses (travel, lodging, visa fees).

Indirect costs, salaries, malpractice coverage, and institutional overhead are not eligible.

All budgets are subject to review and approval by the Mentorship Committee.

Legal & Indemnification

Participation in the GRAPPA Mentorship Program is voluntary. GRAPPA assumes no responsibility for personal, professional, financial, or medical exigencies during or resulting from mentorship. By participating, all mentors and mentees agree to indemnify and hold harmless GRAPPA, its officers, directors, members, employees, and agents from any claims or liabilities arising from their participation.