A Bibliometric and Thematic Network Analysis of Faculty–Student Mentoring in Undergraduate Medical Education

Abstract

This bibliometric analysis maps the global research landscape of faculty-student mentorship in undergraduate medical education from 2000 to 2024. Analysing 167 publications from the Scopus database, the study identifies key international trends and thematic network patterns, including professional development, career guidance, and mentor-mentee dynamics across diverse educational contexts. The findings show that scholarly discourse frequently addresses mentorship in relation to educational equity, access, and institutional development within medical training systems. The study highlights growing attention to mentoring in relation to professional development, career progression, diversity, and educational development. It underscores the need for further research to inform context-specific strategies that address equity challenges and formalise mentorship programmes, offering significant relevance for scholars, practitioners, and policy-makers in international medical education.