DIKIOHS launches faculty mentoring drive for BDS Batch 2026
KARACHI: What if stronger mentorship could redefine the dental student experience from day one? At Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences, that vision is now taking shape.
The institute hosted its first Faculty Training Workshop on Mentoring, recently, marking the official start of a structured mentoring program for the incoming BDS Batch 2026. A total of 48 faculty members were trained as potential mentors, positioning DIKIOHS among the few dental institutions in Pakistan to formally institutionalize mentoring as part of undergraduate education.
The workshop was led and organized by Dr. Sofia Malik, Associate Professor in the Department of Science of Dental Materials and Lead Mentor for the program. She was joined by Core Mentoring Committee members Dr. Lubna Memon, Assistant Professor in the Department of Prosthodontics, and Dr. Nooreen Adnan, Assistant Professor in Medical Education, who served as facilitators. The event was coordinated by Dr. Fasiha Kazi and Dr. Khadija Tajwar.
The opening session set the tone by introducing mentoring not as an optional add-on, but as a critical academic and emotional support system for dental students navigating an intense professional journey. Participants explored how structured guidance can improve student well-being, learning outcomes, and professional identity.
A focused session on communication and ethics highlighted the practical realities of mentor–mentee relationships. Faculty members were trained in rapport building, maintaining professional boundaries, and ensuring ethical interactions, recognizing that trust is the backbone of effective mentoring.
The final session brought evidence-based mentoring models into the discussion. Using the GROW Model, participants learned how to guide students through goal setting, problem-solving, and reflective learning, while applying targeted communication techniques for mentoring sessions.
The workshop concluded with an overview of the evaluation and feedback framework that will be used to monitor the mentoring program’s effectiveness. Faculty members actively shared their perspectives and collectively emphasized that such workshops should become a regular feature of faculty development at DIKIOHS.
With this initiative, DIKIOHS has taken a strategic step toward strengthening student support systems in dental education, signaling a shift from purely academic training to a more holistic, student-centered model.
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