U-M Health Science Schools Advance the Interprofessional Curriculum

Sixteen faculty and staff from across the health science schools have been appointed to the newly formed Interprofessional Curriculum Workgroup. The workgroup is charged with examining the curricula and accreditation standards for each of the professions and developing a curricular map for interprofessional education (IPE) across the health science schools. 

 

The workgroup was created by the recently funded Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education and includes representation from the School of Dentistry, School of Kinesiology, Medical School, School of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, School of Public Health, School of Social Work, and School of Health Professions and Studies (Flint) and two student representatives. It is expected that U-M Dearborn will name representatives in the near future.

“It is exciting to see the health science schools come together to develop an IPE curriculum,” says Nicole Boucher, a U-M School of Nursing (UMSN) Clinical Assistant Professor. “The curriculum will not only strengthen and enhance the educational experience for the students in all schools, but also will increase collaboration between professionals and lead to improved patient care and public health outcomes.” Dr. Boucher and Clinical Instructor Christine Leech are serving as the UMSN representatives on the IPE Curriculum Workgroup. Leech says she strongly believes in IPE education and sees improved communication as one of the most important benefits. 

 

“This workgroup is focused on building a set of principles to guide the development of courses and experiences that cross health disciplines,” says Mary Ruffolo, co-chair of the workgroup and professor at the School of Social Work. “Integrating the education of all health professionals, especially around core interprofessional competencies, is critical.”

 

One of the key challenges facing the IPE Curriculum Workgroup is the lack of common time in students’ schedules across programs. The first item of business was to engage the IPE Executive Committee in finding a window of time when students’ schedules could be aligned so they will be available to take courses with colleagues from across the health disciplines.

 

"The creation of a common time in students’ schedules will be instrumental in allowing the workgroup to move forward in creating effective, integrated educational opportunities for our students," says Mark Fitzgerald, co-chair of the workgroup and associate professor at the School of Dentistry. "Currently, we are focusing on creating opportunities that will expose our students to IPE and better prepare them for more immersive and experiential interactions in the future."

 

“I am very pleased,” adds Frank Ascione, director of the IPE center, “to see individuals from so many schools collaborating effectively to plan our future IPE curriculum. I look forward to the wonderful ideas they will generate on how to best educate our students.”