OPTA Elevate | The OPTA Mentorship Program 
Fostering growth, engagement and retention of OPTA membership, providing value to both the mentors + mentees through formalized relationships with defined limits and goals.  

The Roles:

OPTA Elevate Mentors offer guidance about the organization, profession, industry, or career path and provide informed viewpoints.

OPTA Elevate Mentees are dedicated to learning new skills and hungry to improve and grow as physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in the workforce and in the classroom. 

Both mentors and mentees may draw on personal lessons from past experiences, and discuss questions and challenges related to professional life and career progression. Participants must be an OPTA member in good standing, who is dedicated to both personal and professional growth. Participants are asked for a one-year commitment to the mentorship program, but are encouraged to continue the relationship.

Mentors + Mentees:

Participation in OPTA Elevate runs on the calendar year.  Mentors will be paired with mentees with the goal of monthly communication that fosters meaningful relationships and connects generations through shared professional interests. Teams are based on number of available mentors and mentees, and if you are not placed immediately—be patient! We’re working to find your best match.

Connections:

Teams can set their own expectations and meeting structure—be creative and flexible for what works best for you! It’s important to set communication expectations from the start. Whether it’s in person over coffee, a video check-in, a regular phone call, or a district event, you can find the arrangement and meeting schedule that meets your needs. OPTA Elevate participants will also be recognized at the OPTA Spring Conference and have the opportunity to network with other program participants.

Not the Right Fit? That's ok!

If your match is not meeting your needs, just let us know. We can help you examine what’s missing in the relationship and whether there is an opportunity to reshape it in some way. If the expectations don’t align, we will facilitate the disengagement with both transparency and honesty and help both the mentor and mentee establish new connections. We’ll carefully evaluate what could have gone better, and what can be done the next time to avoid a similar problem. Though sometimes a relationship just isn’t the right fit, the connections made are still valuable—your paths may cross again in the future!

We are no longer accepting applications for Elevate 2024. Information on the 2025 program will be posted later this year.