SLU IPE Course Receives National Recognition

05/09/2019

A SLU practicum course that pairs about 175 juniors and seniors from multiple health disciplines with 30 community agencies has garnered a national award from the United States Public Health Service and Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC).

Through the class, SLU students design and execute projects that help community partners better reach their constituents, many of whom are underserved, said David Pole, Ph.D., director of SLU’s Center for Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Research.

“The IPE community practicum enables students to integrate their training as future health professionals while demonstrating the mission of SLU by strengthening partnerships and health outcomes supporting agencies in under-resourced communities in the region,” Pole said.

The award is presented to an interprofessional team of health professional students and/or faculty, whose interdisciplinary work has significantly impacted the community they serve. The selection panel identified SLU as one of five programs, with specific recognition for Honorable Mention in Community Empowerment and Education category.

The proposal for the award represents a collaboration between Pole, Nursing Dean Teri Murray, Ph.D., and Doisy College of Health Sciences Dean Mardell Wilson, Ed.D. Pole will represent the team, presenting a poster on the SLU project at the June 13-14, 2019, IPEC meeting in Washington, D.C.

SLU’s IPE programs focus on supporting the development of health professionals who are prepared with the skills and experience to engage in collaborative and effective team-based care. The ultimate goal is to improve health outcomes of patients in both the clinical setting and the community at large.

SLU health professions programs in medicine, nursing and Doisy College of Health Sciences began embedding interprofessional learning experiences into the undergraduate and graduate health professions programs in 2006.