Career mentoring matters: A multi-component program for early-stage HIV investigators at the University of California, San Francisco.

Background: Evidence supports the key role research mentors play in bolstering the success of early stage investigators (ESI). However, there are limited data about the impact of supplemental, cross-disciplinary career mentorship and professional development opportunities for ESIs seldom included during academic training. We assessed the perceived value of this approach among post-doctoral fellows and early career faculty who participated in a multi-component career mentoring program organized by the University of California, San Francisco Center for AIDS Research (UCSF CFAR). Methods: We surveyed past program participants (2005-2020), assessing demographics, current career status, perceived impact of the program, and feedback on program elements. We performed thematic analysis on open-ended responses to explore program benefits. Results: Of 146 program participants contacted, 102 responded (70% response rate). Over two thirds (65%) were female, and 38% self-identified as underrepresented minority (URM) investigators. A majority of respondents now dedicate >70% of their time to research. All would recommend the program to ESI colleagues, and over 80% reported that their CFAR mentors influenced their career trajectories in several ways, including help with grant writing, linkage to researchers sparking new collaborations, and support through personal challenges or navigating conflict with primary research mentors. While 90% of URM ESIs valued advice from CFAR mentors, only a third reported receiving specific support around challenges faced as minoritized investigators. Conclusions: A career mentoring program designed to complement the support offered by research mentors positively influenced the career trajectory of ESIs. Focused efforts are needed to support URM investigators who face ongoing structural barriers to success in academic settings.