Got accepted into an SBB program but can't find a mentor

[cbaldwin]

I was just accepted into a 2 year SBB program sponsored by Blood Systems Laboratories. Feel very honored to have been accepted because there are only 9 positions and 27 people applied. The program is mostly on-line, and 15 times each year I will be sent specimens to work up. Once each semester I will be sent a test specimen. I will also need to do some research projects in the second year and some oral presentations.

My problem? I need a mentor! I need someone with an SBB and 2 years experience or a MT degree with 3 years experience in Blood Bank who can meet with me every two weeks to discuss my progress/problems. The mentor will guide me and advise me, review my work, evaluate oral presentations, and communicate my progress with the education coordinator.

The person I thought would be my mentor does not have the time to do this. I have 10 days to find a mentor!

The education coordinator for this program would prefer that I find someone close enough to me that I can meet with face-to-face (I live in California, near the Nevada border, halfway between Reno and Las Vegas--our blood supplier is in Reno because that's the closet city to us). but I am going to try to see if our meetings could be conducted through Skype.

Any suggestions? Ideas? Volunteers? I am very studious and will be a good student to oversee!

[cbaldwin]

And, i make really fantastic cookies

[Malcolm Needs ☆]

I would love to help you, but I live in England. However, if there is anything that I can do by email, please let me know.

[Liz]

I would like to help too, I would not mind a cookie!! But I too am over the pond and beyond!! so I'll just help without a cookie

[DPruden]

Do you know if there is a blood center with a reference lab near you? Many reference lab employees have their SBBs and are involved in teaching, you might be able to find a volunteer? If there is a medical school near you, you might call them to see where the MD students go for their transfusion medicine rotation. Hope you find someone!

[cbaldwin]

Thanks for offering help! You have already helped me a lot over the last few years with your advice and informative posts. I have even perused educational materials you have submitted to the library on this site! I have some leads on people who might be my mentor and it's going to work out.

[Malcolm Needs ☆]

Good news!

[David Saikin]

If you get desparate feel free to use me as much as you need to . . . it would have to be on line as I am on the East Coast.

[cbaldwin]

Thanks for your offers of help and your suggestions! I think I found a mentor and I think things will go smoothly. I know how busy everyone is these days and I feel bad asking someone for time, but I am finding that people are enthusiastic about helping me! (Could it be my offer of cookies?)

[L106]

Well....the cookies don't hurt, I'm sure!

[clmergen]

Let me know if that falls through. I am in CA although quite a few hours away but I have had my SBB only for 2 years and school is still mostly fresh in my mind.