Academy of Clinical Excellence

ACE Mentorship Lunches

Connecting the Next Generation of Clinicians with Leaders in Clinical Excellence 

ACE Mentorship Lunches is a faculty-driven initiative of the Academy of Clinical Excellence (ACE) that fosters meaningful mentorship through informal lunch conversations. 

Supported through philanthropic funding, the program provides Faculty Club meal vouchers for ACE members to host medical students, residents, fellows, graduate trainees, and junior faculty for one-on-one or small-group mentorship discussions. 

These conversations are intended to promote clinical excellence, humanism, professionalism, career development, and community across the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. 

Program Goals 

ACE Mentorship Lunches seeks to: 

  • Foster meaningful mentorship relationships between ACE faculty and medical students, residents, fellows, graduate trainees, and junior faculty. 
  • Promote the values of clinical excellence, humanism, and compassionate patient care. 
  • Support professional development and career exploration. 
  • Encourage interdisciplinary connections across VP&S. 
  • Inspire the next generation of clinician leaders through informal, relationship-centered conversations. 

Who Can Participate? 

ACE Faculty Mentor Eligibility  

  • Active ACE members 
  • ACE Emeritus members 

Trainee Participants Eligibility  

ACE members are encouraged to invite: 

  • Medical students 
  • Residents 
  • Fellows 
  • Graduate trainees 
  • Junior faculty and early-career clinicians 

How the Program Works 

1. Request Your Vouchers 

ACE members may request Faculty Club meal vouchers by emailing ColumbiaACE@cumc.columbia.edu with the subject line: 

ACE Mentorship Lunch VOUCHER REQUEST 

Please include the number of voucher requests. You can request up to five vouchers in total.  Lunch meetings can be one-on-one or in a small group of up to five to facilitate a small group lunch. 

Each voucher is good for 1 grab and go lunch from the Faculty Club (Grab & Go Café Information | Columbia University Irving Medical Center). 

Voucher requests will be fulfilled on a rolling basis while funding is available. 

2. Pick Up Your Voucher 

Once your request has been confirmed by ACE staff, your meal vouchers will be available for pickup at our office located in the Office of Academic Affairs suite, PH 1-132 (located in the short hallway between VP&S and PH buildings across from the Chase ATM). 

OAA staff will distribute vouchers upon request Monday through Thursday during regular business hours (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Please plan to pick up your voucher prior to your scheduled mentorship lunch. 

Additional pickup instructions or hours of operation will be provided in your confirmation email. 

3. Schedule Your Lunch 

Invite a trainee (or small group of trainees) to meet for a grab and go lunch from the Faculty Club. ACE members are responsible for inviting trainees and coordinating a mutually convenient meeting time.   

Faculty Club seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. If seating is unavailable, participants are encouraged to enjoy their lunch at another nearby campus location, such as Haven Plaza or the seating area in Schaeffer Gallery (enclosed space outside Alumni Auditorium). 

4. Have a Conversation 

The discussion is intentionally informal. Topics may include: 

  • Career development  
  • Leadership in medicine  
  • Clinical excellence and patient-centered care  
  • Professional identity formation  
  • Wellness and resilience  
  • Academic medicine  
  • Lessons learned through clinical practice  

There is no required agenda—the goal is to create an authentic mentoring experience. 

5. Complete a Brief Evaluation 

Following the lunch, ACE will ask faculty mentors to complete a brief (2–3 minute) feedback survey to help evaluate the program, measure its impact, and inform future enhancements. Feedback also helps demonstrate the program's value to our philanthropic supporters. 

Expectations for ACE Faculty Mentors 

ACE members are asked to: 

  • Foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for conversation. 
  • Share their experiences and perspectives honestly and thoughtfully. 
  • Encourage questions and open dialogue. 
  • Help trainees explore their professional interests and goals. 
  • Complete the brief post-lunch evaluation survey. 

Program Evaluation 

The ACE Mentorship Lunches are supported through philanthropic funding, and participant feedback plays an important role in demonstrating the program's impact and guiding future improvements. 

Faculty mentors will be asked to complete a brief evaluation after each mentorship lunch. The survey will collect information such as: 

  • Date and location of the lunch 
  • Number and training level of participants 
  • General discussion topics 
  • Overall value of the experience 
  • Suggestions for future program enhancements 

Participants may also choose to share brief reflections or testimonials that may be used (with permission) in donor reports or future program communications. 

Questions? 

For additional information or to request a Faculty Club voucher, please contact Emily Frey and Emily Taveras (the ACE staff) at: ColumbiaACE@cumc.columbia.edu.

The ACE Mentorship Lunches are made possible through the generous support of philanthropic donors who share the Academy of Clinical Excellence's commitment to mentorship, professional development, and the cultivation of future clinician leaders. 

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