Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration: trainees addressing siloed medical education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration
• Professional Development

Background:

• Professional siloing is a recognized issue in medical institutions, impacting medical education and resident training.
• Trainees from various disciplines often work in isolation, hindering comprehensive patient care and knowledge sharing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address professional siloing in medical education by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among trainees.
• To establish a sustainable model for interdisciplinary learning and practice within a medical institution.

Main Methods:

• A community of practice (CoP) was established by trainees from psychiatry, developmental medicine, neurology, and education.
• An interdisciplinary seminar was developed and implemented, featuring speakers and attendees from participating disciplines.

Main Results:

• The CoP, initiated in 2008, successfully developed a seminar that promotes institution-wide interdisciplinary collaboration.
• The seminar engages 20 to 35 participants from diverse medical and educational backgrounds.
• The initiative has fostered a growing community of practice and a sense of shared learning.

Conclusions:

• The creation of a CoP and interdisciplinary seminar effectively broke down professional silos in medical education.
• The educational context utilized adult-learning principles, promoting lifelong learning among trainees.
• The seminar fosters a unique community for learning and practice, with ongoing efforts to measure outcomes.