ESRA LIFT (Leaders Inspiring Future Talents)

About ESRA LIFT Mentorship Programme

The ESRA LIFT Mentorship Programme is structured one-year virtual (or in person if applicable) mentorship programme, focused on advancing knowledge and skill competence in RA, POCUS, Perioperative Care and Pain Therapy. Mentors help steer the mentee’s career path and support their overall professional growth. The programme aims to match current anaesthesia trainees across Europe with senior anaesthesiologists, and is limited exclusively to ESRA members. To enable broad and equitable access across European countries, the program is designed to be virtual (but can be in person if feasible) and involves 12 months of mentor – mentee engagement.

LIFT is designed to complement rather than overlap existing ESRA educational structures, such as the ESRA Academy, Approved Training Centers, cadaver and ultrasound workshops and of course webinars, e-days and other in-person meetings.

Mission statement

To strengthen the future of Regional Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care across Europe, through a Mentorship Programme, which aims to foster excellence, leadership, and lifelong professional growth.

ESRA LIFT Primary Goals

✅ Cultivate Clinical Excellence. 

Support mentees in developing advanced skills in RA, POCUS, and perioperative care through guided mentorship and exposure to ESRA educational opportunities.

• Each mentee will identify one specific clinical skill domain (e.g., advanced RA techniques, ultrasound-guided procedures, perioperative pathway optimization, or pain management strategy, depending on the specialty of the mentor) to focus on during the year.
• Mentees will complete at least one clinical project or case-based presentation related to their chosen domain, ideally shared at an ESRA-endorsed event or webinar. (LIFT-webinar)
• Mentors will facilitate mentee access to ESRA Academy content, hands-on cadaver or simulation workshops, and journal clubs to consolidate knowledge and clinical confidence. (at the ESRA annual meeting,  LIFT workshops.

✅ Foster Leadership & Professional Growth.

Empower mentees to actively engage with and to build confidence and professional identity within the ESRA network.

• Mentors will guide mentees in developing a leadership portfolio (CV, motivation letter, teaching evaluations, or project summary) to prepare for future ESRA committee or fellowship applications.
• At least one career development discussion (e.g., academic pathway, work–life balance, leadership strategy) will be documented. Can be featured in ESRA newsletter as a LIFT opportunity article.

✅ Ensure Sustainable Knowledge Transfer.

Create meaningful, long-term relationships within the ESRA community, foster networking and support professional exchange.

Each mentor–mentee pair will aim to jointly contribute to at least one tangible academic output, such as:

• a poster or abstract submission for an ESRA Congress or national meeting,
• a case report or educational article for the ESRA newsletter or potentially an indexed journal
• or participation in a collaborative survey or research audit initiated within the ESRA network.

Mid-year and final reflection reports will summarize achievements, challenges, and next steps, ensuring continuity beyond the 12-month term.

✅ Promote Diversity, Inclusion & Personal Compatibility.

Ensure equitable representation and match participants according to shared goals, communication styles, and cultural diversity.

• Matching will consider language, geographical diversity, gender balance, and sub-specialty interests (RA, POCUS, perioperative medicine, pain).
• ESRA will track representation statistics (e.g., mentee/mentor gender, country, and professional stage) to ensure cross-border pairings and balanced gender distribution.

✅ Establish Structured Accountability.

Define expectations, milestones, and feedback mechanisms to ensure progress and mutual benefit.

Each pair will sign a brief Mentorship Agreement, outlining goals, communication frequency (minimum quarterly meetings), and expected deliverables. Progress will be monitored via:

• a 6-month checkpoint report (submitted through an ESRA LIFT online form),
• and a final evaluation form at 12 months (jointly completed by mentor and mentee).
• Successful completion will lead to an ESRA Certificate of Mentorship and eligibility for the annual “ESRA LIFT Excellence Award”, recognizing outstanding pairs.