Hear from Our Mentees
Discover the transformative experiences and successes of our REMS Consult mentorship program participants.
Being part of the REMS Consult Mentorship Program has been a transformative experience. The program significantly enhanced my research and writing skills, leading to multiple published papers and a research fellowship.
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Interviewer:
Alright. Thank you very much, Joshua, for making time to chat with us. Before we begin, we are going to talk about our REMS mentorship program. Are you ready to start?
Joshua:
Alright, thank you.
Interviewer:
Before we go into the main topics for today, can you briefly tell me how you joined the REMS mentorship program?
Joshua:
Okay, thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts about the program. I think it started in 2020, during the COVID-19 period, at the peak of COVID in Ghana. At that point, I didn’t even know that writing was going to be a thing. I was just addressing some of the social issues that were coming up during that time by writing opinions and sending them to places that accept opinions, like Modern, Ghana. During one of those times, I shared a link online, and Aziz saw it and contacted me. He told me it was impressive and suggested that it would be better to also write in an academic manner, doing research and writing research papers. I took that advice and went to him. I think I wrote something first, which we submitted somewhere, and there was another one too. At that point, I knew nothing about how to handle article processing charges. Once I saw that, it discouraged me, and I didn’t progress further. Subsequently, Aziz introduced me to the team, which included Bright at that time and some other colleagues. Occasionally, I was introduced to some of the things we were doing and given aspects to complete. At the beginning, I was given the background section of a research article to start and develop myself in that area. It wasn’t smooth initially, but with time and more corrections, it became much easier, better, and faster.
Interviewer:
Nice. You’ve indicated when you joined, around the 2020 COVID time. I really remember that time when we met and discussed how to submit papers to peer-reviewed journals. That’s great. Now, let’s look at how this mentorship program has benefited you. What are some of the key things you’ve learned from this program? What opportunities have this program given you?
Joshua:
The impact has been huge, both tangible and intangible. Initially, all I knew was writing opinions. Even though we had done research methods in master’s classes and undergraduate courses, the proper application of research methods to do research and come out with research articles was something that was lacking. Through this program, I learned how to write very well, particularly the background sections of articles and the discussion sections. Subsequently, through this group, I built connections with other people. For instance, Aziz introduced me to Pascal from Lingnan University through our collaborations, which helped me get a job at KNUST’s School of Nursing and Midwifery as a research assistant. This experience eventually led to my current position as a research fellow at Challenging Heights. Additionally, I had the opportunity to present my thesis findings at a conference in Lusaka, Zambia, thanks to the opportunities shared on our platform. The skills I gained from this program helped me fast-track my thesis writing and resulted in five publications from my thesis. Since December, I’ve published several papers using quantitative methods, performing the analysis, and developing the manuscripts.
Interviewer:
Apart from that, what other benefits have you derived from this program?
Joshua:
Through this program, I connected with lecturers at the University of Huddersfield, UK, and collaborated on several projects, including one on dementia, which resulted in three strong papers. This collaboration also provided advice and support for starting a PhD. Additionally, there have been financial benefits. We also learned about receiving royalties from UK journals, which I’ve benefited from twice. These financial aids have helped sort out various needs, including paying fees.
Interviewer:
What advice would you give to someone interested in joining the REMS mentorship program?
Joshua:
The main advice I’d give is not to rush for papers. The primary focus of the program is to build your capacity. If you already know how to write, focus on learning how to analyze data. If you can analyze but can’t write, focus on writing. You should be open to criticism and patient in learning from your mistakes. Developing your skills should be your priority, rather than just accumulating papers. Be willing to commit time to learn and correct your mistakes.
Interviewer:
Good point. Anything else to add?
Joshua:
It’s important to have clear priorities. If you don’t, whatever the group does will not benefit you. Some people join thinking it will be straightforward, but end up quitting because they don’t take the time to open up, ask questions, and learn on their own. Push yourself to develop your skills in various aspects of research.
Interviewer:
Amazing. Thank you very much for sharing this great insight with us. We really appreciate your time. We wish you the very best in everything you are doing, especially with your PhD program. Let us know how it goes, and if you need any help, feel free to reach out. Thank you so much, Joshua.
Personally, and I know Bright shares the same sentiment, we are always super happy to see how you guys are progressing. I remember the first day we met in my room around Amamoma. I saw the potential in you, and you’ve never disappointed me. Keep going; the sky is your limit. There are many opportunities awaiting you. Always reach out if you need assistance or advice. Congratulations.
Joshua:
Thank you so much, Prof. Enjoy your day.
Being part of the REMS Consult Mentorship Program has been a transformative experience for me. The program provided invaluable training in academic writing, manuscript preparation, and effective communication, which significantly enhanced my research skills.
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Interviewer:
So this is just a normal kind of conversation. We just want some ideas about your presence in the mentorship group, how it has been, how you joined the group, and whatever you have gained from it. So, first of all, can you please tell me how you became part of REMS Consult, the mentorship group aimed at training young researchers in the field of health? How did you become part of the mentorship program?
James:
Okay. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to talk about how I joined the mentorship group for REMS Consult. So, I was in Ghana in 2021 or 2020 when one of my professors came from Germany to the University of Cape Coast. At that time, I was doing my national service in 2018. When he arrived and was about to teach, I went straight to him and introduced myself, telling him that I wanted to assist him in research matters. He was teaching research methods, and he said, “No problem, you are James.” We communicated, and I introduced myself fully. He asked me what I wanted to do in the near future, and I told him I wanted to be in academia. He said, “Okay, no problem.”
He then looked at me and said, “You don’t have muscles to do manual jobs, so if you want to be in academia, that’s a good decision. I’ll connect you with Bright and Aziz.” I had already known you from UCC and knew you left for Australia, but I didn’t know how to connect with you. When he said that, I was excited. He connected me with you via email. Before that, Aziz was in Ghana, so he called Aziz, and we all met and spoke. You added me to the group, and we started working. I went through all the processes of learning how to write introductions and everything, and here I am now.
Interviewer:
So that is the long and short of it. Do you remember specifically when you officially joined the group?
James:
Yeah, I think it was in 2021.
Interviewer:
2021?
James:
Oh, yeah. So, it’s either 2020 or 2021. I’m very sure of that.
Interviewer:
Okay. So that means you have been in the group for about three years, right?
James:
Exactly, exactly. You are right.
Interviewer:
Okay, alright. Do you want to tell me something about what you have gained from being part of the group? I know there are a lot of things you have gone through, a lot of training you have encountered, but eventually, what did you gain from being part of the group throughout your three-year stay?
James:
Yeah. So, when I joined REMS Consult, the mentorship group, I learned how to send clear, concise, and comprehensive emails to people in different jurisdictions. I also learned how to write an introduction, edit or review manuscripts, write various parts of a research article, submit a manuscript to a journal, and address reviewer comments. These are very important skills that have helped me in most of the things I am doing now.
Interviewer:
Okay. Apart from writing and contributing to manuscript writing, are there other benefits you obtained by being part of the group? Some people join mentorship programs and gain opportunities like scholarships or job offers. Did you experience any other benefits?
James:
Yes, definitely. Aside from my academic writing skills, I also got a fully funded scholarship at New Mexico State University, where I am currently pursuing a PhD in kinesiology. There’s another big opportunity that I would like to keep under wraps for now because it’s still in the process.
Interviewer:
Okay, sure. So, these opportunities were presented to you because of what you gained from REMS Consult, the research mentorship group?
James:
Yes. Even though when I started, I just wanted to learn and contribute scientifically, I didn’t anticipate receiving all these opportunities through the knowledge I gained from your research mentorship.
Interviewer:
Alright. Thank you so much for your feedback. Is there anything you would tell someone who wants to be part of the REMS Consult Mentorship Program?
James:
Yes. I would tell anyone interested in joining the REMS Consult Research Mentorship Group that if you have ambitions of becoming an academic, this is the starting point where you will learn a lot. Some of us joined without having certain ambitions, but it opened many doors for us. Being under the mentorship of Professors Bright and Aziz will provide you with the needed training and skills to navigate the academic journey. It has been very helpful to us, so I encourage you to join REMS Consult Mentorship Group, and you will never regret it.
Interviewer:
What else apart from all these academic skills and opportunities?
James:
Yes, definitely. The mentors are closer than brothers, always there to check on you and give you advice during stressful situations. They are very understanding and supportive. I went through a serious issue and didn’t know what to do, but Professors Bright and Aziz were there to help me. Now, I’m stable and very thankful to them. They genuinely care about your well-being and understand if you can’t meet a deadline, giving you time to adjust and resubmit. I encourage you to join REMS Consult Mentorship Group for these reasons as well.
Interviewer:
Okay. Thank you so much. What about someone who isn’t interested in academia but still wants to be part of the mentorship program? Do you think they will still benefit?
James:
Oh, yes, definitely. The skills you learn are not just for academics. The prestige of having your name published in major journals comes with many benefits. Even if you are not in academia, you might be in the industry where clear, concise, and comprehensive emails are crucial. Attention to detail is another skill emphasized by Professors Bright and Aziz, which is valuable in any field. This program is beneficial to everyone, regardless of their professional area.
Interviewer:
Okay. Thank you so much, James, for sharing your experiences. We appreciate everything you have said. We’ll get back to you in due time, and if we need further information, we will not hesitate to contact you. We wish you the very best in everything you do.
James:
Thank you so much, Prof. Thank you. Enjoy your day.
Interviewer:
Thank you.
I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to be part of the REMS Mentorship Program. This program has significantly enhanced my research capabilities, enabling me to complete my PhD program successfully and publish high-quality papers in reputable journals.
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Interviewer: All right. Thank you very much, Dr. Mohamed, for making time to have this interaction with us. It’s going to be a short one, and we’ve already done our introductions. So, I just want you to briefly tell me how you joined the REMS Mentorship Program and when you joined. Over to you.
Dr. Mohamed: Alright. Thank you very much for the opportunity to share my experience with others regarding the REMS Membership Program. I’ve always wanted to engage in research activities because I want to be an academic; that has been my childhood dream. And, of course, I want to be a great academic, not just any other academic. I knew to be able to survive in academic environments, I needed to build on my research skills and attitudes before I could join academia. As a nurse clinician, I spend most of my time in the hospital environment. With the demands of nursing in Ghana, it is difficult to find adequate time to participate in research work. Because of my interest, I started speaking to people in academia so they could offer me opportunities to collaborate with them or give me research assignments to develop my skills and experience. However, it was difficult because many people thought that as a nurse, finding time for serious research work would be challenging for me.
Fortunately, I met Dr. Ahinkorah in 2018. After meeting him, I began to follow some of his research outputs and publications. In 2020, when I was convinced that he could help me navigate through research, I reached out to him. He welcomed me and informed me about the Research Mentorship Program. Since then, he has been giving me assignments to develop my research capabilities. It’s been a great learning experience and a pleasure going through the Research Mentorship Program. So, that is how I joined the Research Mentorship Program.
Interviewer: That’s amazing. Nice one. Okay, now let’s look at some of the benefits, both tangible and intangible. You can start with the tangible, then end with the intangible ones.
Dr. Mohamed: Yeah, regarding the tangible benefits, I think the most significant one has been my PhD program. Participating in this research mentorship while doing my PhD offered me opportunities to consult other researchers, particularly my mentors, Dr. Ahinkorah and Dr. Seidu, whenever I faced difficulties. Whenever I encountered trouble in my research work, I could easily consult them and other members of the mentorship program. Tangibly, it helped me complete my PhD program on time. I think that’s one of the greatest benefits I got from the program.
With other benefits, I feel more equipped to become an independent researcher. I can now personalize my research and go through the processes for publication. Before joining the mentorship program, it was something I only dreamed of. Now, I am confident in developing manuscripts and selecting appropriate journals for submission. Additionally, the program has opened up a research network for me. Before joining, I didn’t know many researchers. Now, I receive unsolicited emails for collaboration based on my research publications. This has been a great opportunity.
In terms of job prospects, when I go for academic interviews, I use my research output as my selling point. The number of publications I’ve achieved increases my prospects, and though I haven’t fully joined academia yet, I have a lot of prospects of joining very soon. These are some of the great benefits I’ve gained from this mentorship program.
Interviewer: That’s fantastic. We know monetary value is not something heavily emphasized in the REMS Mentorship Program, but just to ask, have you gained any direct monetary value from joining this mentorship program, either directly from us or from other sources?
Dr. Mohamed: Thank you very much. For now, I haven’t benefited directly in terms of monetary value from this program, but that wasn’t my focus in joining REMS Consult. I know with the experience and collaborations I’m engaging in, I’ll start to see some monetary benefits in the future. Currently, it’s not an issue for me because that wasn’t my initial purpose. However, I’m using some of the experience I’ve gained to work on a program with a colleague that seeks grants for clinical research in Uganda. So, I expect monetary benefits to come later.
Interviewer: Obviously. We know it will come and in abundance. Have you heard about ALCS (Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society)?
Dr. Mohamed: Yes, I’ve gotten some information about that through my mentors, but I haven’t participated yet or registered. I haven’t focused much in those areas, but I think with time, I’ll begin to explore that.
Interviewer: Okay, that’s fine. Now, what advice would you give to prospective mentees interested in joining the REMS Mentorship Program?
Dr. Mohamed: The REMS Mentorship Program is a great program that will develop their confidence in research and publications. The training from our mentors, particularly in manuscript writing and data analysis, is crucial for success in research. Before joining REMS, I had little skill in data analysis. Now, I can use software like Stata for my analysis. I’m able to understand research manuscripts better and select credible research journals for my work. REMS Consult provides a free opportunity to develop essential skills, unlike many other platforms. I would advise anyone interested in research to join REMS Consult for dedicated mentorship and valuable experience.
Interviewer: Amazing. Thank you so much. Anything else you’d like to add to the advice you’ve given?
Dr. Mohamed: Basically, that’s all. But I want to emphasize that whoever wants to join REMS Consult should not hesitate. The benefits are far greater than they can imagine.
Interviewer: Nice, nice, nice. I want to go back a little bit to your PhD program. What was your experience with your thesis, and were you able to publish before completing your PhD?
Dr. Mohamed: It was a challenging experience, but I was able to publish two papers from my thesis and am currently working on a third. These publications were in Q1 journals, and I was confident in publishing them due to the skills I gained from REMS Consult. The program made it easier for me to produce high-quality work.
Interviewer: Great. Connecting that to the advice you are giving to prospective mentees, what do you have to say about the group’s advocacy for quality?
Dr. Mohamed: The group places a lot of emphasis on quality and credible research work. We were trained to detect credible journals and avoid phishing journals. The training ensures that our work is original and high quality. The group doesn’t compromise on quality or credibility.
Interviewer: Thank you very much. Now, your final words?
Dr. Mohamed: I would like to thank Dr. Ahinkorah and Dr. Aziz for the wonderful opportunity they have offered me and many other young researchers globally. In many settings, you have to pay a lot for such training, but REMS Consult offers it for free, which is an immeasurable opportunity. I am very grateful to my mentors and senior researchers like Mr. Richard, who supported me during my research publications. Thank you, and continue offering such opportunities to up-and-coming researchers.
Interviewer: Thank you very much. We want to congratulate you once more on successfully completing your PhD on time. Your papers were outstanding. Although we provided informal support, you implemented it well. You’ve been great. Bright, do you have anything to add?
Bright: That was amazing, Dr. Mohamed. We appreciate your responses. This chat aims to share your experiences with others to know what REMS Consult is all about. Congratulations on completing your PhD, and we hope you secure the academic job you’ve been yearning for. With the experiences you’ve gathered, we believe you’ll excel in any organization. We also hope you’ll use this opportunity to groom others. At this stage, with your experience, you can help others independently, collaborating with them efficiently. If you need any assistance or advice, we’re here to help. Thank you for your time.
Dr. Mohamed: Thank you, Bright. I’m very grateful. I’ll continue to reach out if I need assistance.
Bright: Enjoy the rest of your day. Bye.
Dr. Mohamed: Bye. Thank you. Bye.