A co-curricular interprofessional education activity to facilitate socialization and meaningful student engagement

Interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice are important drivers of healthcare transformation. Early learning activities designed to foster socialization may help students develop an interprofessional identity, built on an understanding of their unique contributions to interprofessional teams.

At the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio), an institution-wide initiative called Linking Interprofessional Networks for Collaboration was started to advance IPE and strengthen students' attitudes, knowledge, and skills related to interprofessional teamwork. An IPE orientation focused on socialization and meaningful student engagement was developed. The event included dinner, a socialization activity, a roles/responsibilities-focused activity, faculty member accounts of interprofessional collaboration, and a recorded patient interview with guided reflection. One hundred thirty-one students attended. The event was evaluated for student satisfaction and meaningfulness of pedagogical strategies to inform the design and implementation of future IPE activities.

Quantitative results were positive, with activities rated 3.5 or higher using a 4-point Likert scale. Faculty stories were rated the most meaningful component. Student comments indicated a desire to have more time dedicated to socialization activities and an increased opportunity to see their profession highlighted.

Outcomes informed the creation of a Common IPE Experience at UT Health San Antonio, which launched in 2020 for approximately 1000 students. The Common IPE Experience featured interprofessional socialization, wide-ranging representation of professions, case studies inspired by patient experiences, and faculty interpretations of case studies, all of which were derived from lessons learned in this IPE Report.