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Weitlauf, J. C., Hager, M. J., Hsieh, S., Cronkite, R. & Ekstrom, J.
Sustaining mentoring communities of practice. The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching, 9(2), 76-85 (2025).
https://doi.org/10.62935/s1999r
| Citation (APA): |
Weitlauf, J. C., Hager, M. J., Hsieh, S., Cronkite, R. & Ekstrom, J. (2025). Virtual conference platforms enhance early career researchers’ professional networking and skill development. The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching, 9(2), 76-85. https://doi.org/10.62935/s1999r |
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Services Research Career Development Award Enhancement Initiative (CDAei) is a long-standing tele-training platform serving the professional needs of early career researchers in VA. CDAei was used to foster strong developmental networks, hone critical professional skills (e.g., presenting and promoting one’s research), and help bridge mentoring and professional development “gaps” for HSR Career Development Awardees (CDAs) throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The present work describes CDAei’s participation in the development, implementation, and evaluation of a virtual research meeting designed to promote professional socialization and career development despite Covid-era restrictions on in-person gatherings. Descriptive data (i.e., attendance, engagement, and satisfaction with the conference) are presented; implications for future conferences are discussed.
Keywords: Career development, research, tele-training, Covid-19
Acknowledgement: The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Funding for this work was provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Office [VA SDR 13-428]. No portion of these findings has been presented previously. The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
