Academic Affairs

Building Excellence in Academic Mentorship (BEAM) Series and Certificate Program

Overview

The Office of Faculty Professional Development and Engagement and the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research are pleased to announce the launch of BEAM: Building Excellence in Academic Mentorship Series and Certificate Program. BEAM is a faculty development program designed to strengthen the quality and consistency of mentorship across CUIMC. This flexible, evidence-based series is designed for busy faculty and uses active learning and case studies to emphasize meaningful engagement. Dates for the fall 2026 cohort will be announced soon.

  • BEAM uses the core competencies developed by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  • BEAM is open to all CUIMC faculty who mentor advanced/late postdocs and junior faculty, including:
    • Research faculty mentoring postdocs and junior investigators.
    • Clinicians and clinician-educators mentoring trainees, junior faculty, and medical students.
    • Investigators serving as mentors on NIH training awards (e.g., K12, T32, CTSA).
  • Both new and experienced mentors are welcome.

BEAM Certification benefts

  • Flexible and modular. BEAM combines a brief recorded lecture with a choice of live sessions focused on key mentoring competencies, including aligning expectations, effective communication, navigating the hidden curriculum, fostering independence, and promoting well-being. Mentors can focus on the topics most relevant to their needs. 
  • Designed for busy faculty. For mentors supporting scholars on NIH training grants, the recorded lecture satisfies the pre-award mentor-training requirement, helping avoid delays in award activation. Completion of a Mentoring Development Plan (MDP) and one live session within the first 12 months fulfills the remaining expectations. Learn more here: BEAM Mentor Training. 
  • Centrally supported. Enrollment tracking, certification, and documentation are managed centrally, eliminating the need for individual programs to develop and maintain their own mentor-training infrastructure. 

Requirements to obtain a BEAM Certificate

  1. Watch the online modules
  2. Complete and pass the Mentoring Training Assessment 
  3. Complete your Mentorship Development Plan (MDP)
  4. Attend one live BEAM session within 12 months of watching the videos  
View the full program details, including eligibility and requirements.

Program Agenda

Core Sessions

  • Entering Mentorship – CIMER Foundational Principles (Recorded)
  • Session 1: Being an Effective Mentor: Fundamental Principles (February 27, 2026)
  • Session 2: Introduction to the Hidden Curriculum of Successful Mentorship (April 14, 2026)
  • Session 3: Conflict and Collaboration in Mentorship (May 4, 2026)
  • Session 4: Leveraging Self-Awareness for More Impactful Mentorship (June 10, 2026)
  • Session 5: Fostering Well-Being, Building Resilience - Supporting Mentees and Mentors (Fall 2026)
  • Session 6: Mentoring to Independence – Supporting Transitions (Fall 2026)

Electives

  • Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback – “Tell Them So That They Hear You” (Fall 2026)
  • Coaching for Growth and Independence (Spring 2027)
  • Strategies for Time Management – Supporting Mentee Effectiveness, Progress, and Sustainability (Spring 2027)
  • Developing Goals – Using the IDP and SMARTer Goals for Supporting Mentee Success (Spring 2027)

For more information about BEAM, please contact us by email at: Office_Acad_Affairs@cumc.columbia.edu(link sends e-mail). 

Congratulations to the Spring 2026 BEAM Certified Mentors!

We are proud to recognize and celebrate the 23 faculty mentors who successfully completed the Building Excellence in Academic Mentorship Certificate (BEAM) Program. Through this evidence-based professional development experience, participants strengthened key mentoring competencies, deepened their self-awareness, and enhanced their ability to support the growth and success of trainees, postdoctoral scholars, and junior faculty. Thank you for your commitment to fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and meaningful mentorship across CUIMC. Your dedication helps shape the next generation of academic and clinical leaders. 

BEAM Cohort spring 2026

2026 Spring Cohort

Randy P. Auerbach, PhD, ABPP
Professor of Medical Psychiatry (in Psychiatry)

Daniel Belsky, PhD
Associate Professor of Epidemiology (in the Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center)

Jamie Daw, PhD
Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management

Alex Dranovsky, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Medical Center

Ragy R. Girgis, MD, MS
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

Margaret Haney, PhD
Professor of Neurobiology (in Psychiatry)

Alexander Harris, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

Rebecca F. Hough, MD, PHD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Christoph Kellendonk, PhD
Professor of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (in Psychiatry)

Penelope Chun Lema, MD
Professor of Emergency Medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center
Director of VP&S Mentoring Initiatives and Faculty Engagement for the Office of Academic Affairs

Frances R. Levin, MD
Kennedy-Leavy Professor of Psychiatry in the Division of Substance Use Disorders at the Columbia University Medical Center

C. Anthoney Lim, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics (in Emergency Medicine) at the Columbia University Medical Center

Monica Lypson, MD, MPH
Rolf H. Scholdager Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center
Vice Dean for Education, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Rachel Marsh, PhD
Irving Philips Professor of Medical Psychology (in Child Psychology) at the Columbia University Medical Center

Priyanka Mehrotra, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Columbia University Medical Center

Claude Ann Mellins, PhD
Professor of Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry and Sociomedical Sciences) at the Columbia University Medical Center

Dheeraj Nagpal, MD
Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at the Columbia University Medical Center

Taylor B. Sewell, MD, MBA
Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Columbia University Medical Center

Ardesheer Talati, PhD
Professor of Clinical Neurobiology (in Psychiatry)

Shiny Titus, PhD, MS
Research Scientist in the Department of Medicine

William Turner, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Medical Center
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Anjali S. Vora, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at CUMC

Jonathan M. Wai, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

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