New Interprofessional Education Committee enhances healthcare training in College of Health Sciences
Staff Reports |
The College of Health Sciences has established a new Interprofessional Education (IPE) Committee to advance collaborative healthcare education across disciplines. Led by Committee Chair Abbey Wu from the Physician Assistant program, this cross-college initiative brings together students and faculty from kinesiology, nursing, nutrition, psychology, and physician assistant programs. The committee includes faculty members Dr. Amy Draper (Nutrition), Dr. Libby McCurley (Kinesiology), and Professor Beth Twomey (Nursing).
Working in partnership with the College of Pharmacy's established IPE program, led by Dr. Abby Burka, the committee focuses on creating shared learning opportunities that prepare students for the complex, team-based nature of modern healthcare delivery. Students develop crucial problem-solving skills and expand their professional competencies in a multi-disciplinary environment through these collaborative experiences.
A recent success demonstrates this approach in action: School of Nursing students joined Dietetic internship students for specialized training on swallowing disorders and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). This valuable session was led by College of Health Sciences Dean Dr. Lynette Austin, CCC-SLP, and Amy Draper, RDN, CNSC. These interdisciplinary experiences reflect our commitment to preparing healthcare professionals who understand the importance of collaborative, holistic patient care and are well-equipped for the demands of contemporary healthcare practice.