Peer-assisted learning in medical education: experience of the Proyecto Hermano Mayor at Universidad Científica del Sur
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21142/mecp.2026.1.3.%25pKeywords:
Medical Education, Mentoring, Medical Students, Academic PerformanceAbstract
Peer-assisted learning (PAL) is widely used in medical education because of its positive effects on active learning, academic performance, and leadership skills. The Proyecto Hermano Mayor (PHM), implemented since 2020 by the Academic Standing Committee of the Scientific Society of Medical Students at Universidad Cientifica del Sur (CPA SCIEM UCSUR), is a structured peer-mentoring program for early-year medical students. During the 2025-I semester, the program included 10 high-risk courses, 51 senior student mentors, and more than 203 academic sessions. Approximately 80% of mentees were first- and second-year students, while 65% belonged to the Villa campus. The absence of formal evaluation tools and academic outcome indicators remains a limitation and highlights opportunities to strengthen the program’s sustainability and replicability in other Latin American medical education settings.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Álvaro M. Ñaña-Córdova, Victor Velásquez-Rimachi, Fiorella Neyra-Cordova
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