What is Interprofessional Education?

Interprofessional Education: "When students from two or more professions learn about, from and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes."
- World Health Organization. Learning Together to Work Together for Health. Report of a WHO study group on multiprofessional education for health personnel: the team approach. Geneva 1988

Working collaboratively across professions in healthcare is often referred to as interprofessional practice (IPP). Through IPP, the diverse expertise of each healthcare professional is harnessed to develop and manage a team-based, patient-centered plan of care. For this collaborative approach to be successful, healthcare professionals must understand the knowledge base and skill sets of their colleagues so that mutual respect and trust can emerge.

To meet this growing need, the School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS) has embarked upon an Interprofessional Education (IPE) strategic initiative. The premise of IPE at SHMS is to bring together students, faculty, clinical partners, alumni and other stakeholders from different healthcare professions to learn about, learn from and learn with each other — leading to effective collaboration and, ultimately, improved health outcomes for our patients and communities.