Interprofessional Education Day Showcases UT Health Science Center’s Dedication to Collaborative Learning

Students participate in an exercise during Interprofessional Education (IPE) Day on Oct. 24. IPE Day allowed students to learn about, from, and with their peers in other academic programs at UT Health Science Center.

From Memphis to Nashville to Knoxville, more than 750 students from 11 health professions programs at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center came together recently for Interprofessional Education (IPE) Day.

Held annually, IPE Day introduces students to the principles of interprofessional collaboration through case studies, simulations, and interactive learning. It offers students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the significance of interprofessional collaboration, build skills in communication and problem-solving, and connect with peers and faculty across disciplines.

"Interprofessional education occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes," said Tara Lemoine, DO, chair of the IPE Faculty Council and executive/medical director of the Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation. "The skill of how to work as part of the interprofessional collaborative practice team is essential and is one of the most important aspects of health care providers."

This fall's IPE Day on Oct. 24 featured 11 distinct events designed to mirror the realities of modern health care delivery. Students in Audiology and Speech Pathology, Nursing (both bachelor's and doctoral programs), Dentistry, Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Science, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Physician Assistant, and Medicine engaged in collaborative problem-solving and shared insights across their professions.

"I enjoyed getting to work on a case study with other students from UT Health Science Center's colleges," one student shared. Another added, "I liked how the game we played made us adapt, like how we'll have to adapt in a real work setting."

Dr. Lemoine said each health care discipline adds value and expertise to patient care. "Collectively, we all are working toward the same goal, and that ability to work effectively within teams to provide patient-centered care by fostering a collaborative environment changes people's lives," she said.

Dr. Tara Lemoine facilitates a case simulation, one of several breakout sessions offered during IPE Day. Other breakout activities included a rural health simulation, a lesson on intercultural communication, and a session on interprofessionalism and ethics.

While IPE Day is a pivotal experience for UT Health Science Center students, Dr. Lemoine said the university's commitment to interprofessional education goes far beyond a single day.

"IPE and collaborative practice competency are the new expectations for health care professionals," she said. "This is beyond just meeting an accreditation standard but being intentional about creating well-rounded health care professionals who add to the care and wellbeing of their teams as well as patients."

UT Health Science Center takes a three-pronged approach to interprofessional education that integrates collaborative training in the classroom, clinical experiences, and simulation. Dr. Lemoine emphasized that creating this environment of interprofessional learning is an institutional priority and a cornerstone of the university's mission to train the next generation of health care providers for Tennessee.

"Our institutional structure provides significant potential for teamwork and collaboration among health professions students and providers, which has been shown to improve health outcomes," she said. "We cultivate well-trained health care professionals by fostering collaboration between learners and faculty from across UT Health Science Center's colleges and clinical partners, ensuring a workforce focused on improving patient safety and outcomes."

Looking ahead, Dr. Lemoine envisions a more unified and comprehensive structure for interprofessional learning. "I think it's going to ultimately be the development of a center for interprofessional education and practice, which is not necessarily a brick-and-mortar system, but a program and platform that integrates interprofessional education through all of the colleges," she said. Additionally, expanding faculty expertise in IPE and capitalizing on current faculty members who are invested in IPE will be essential to advancing this vision.

"We look forward to the future of creating robust and impactful experiences for our students to support our mission and vision of Healthy Tennesseans. Thriving Communities."