Transforming Interprofessional Education Through Integration with a University Core Curriculum

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Effective collaboration among stakeholders is crucial for improved health outcomes.
• Interprofessional Education (IPE) aims to foster collaboration but often lacks integration with general education.
• Challenges exist in aligning IPE programs with institutional core curricula.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the process of integrating Interprofessional Education (IPE) courses and outcomes with a university-wide core curriculum.
• To enhance the alignment of IPE competencies with broader university student learning outcomes.
• To strengthen the value and impact of IPE within health professions education.

Main Methods:

• Faculty collaboratively integrated IPE courses and outcomes into a new university-wide core curriculum.
• Revised and realigned existing IPE courses and updated pedagogical approaches.
• Developed new interdisciplinary teaching teams to support the integrated curriculum.

Main Results:

• A Core Framework, essential criteria, and defined outcomes were established for the integrated curriculum.
• IPE competencies were successfully aligned with university-wide student learning outcomes.
• Interprofessional learning was strengthened as a key component of graduate attributes.

Conclusions:

• The iterative process fostered shared goals, language, and a broader understanding of IPE across the university.
• Aligning IPE with the core curriculum enhanced the perceived value of IPE courses among health professions.
• The integration contributed to more robust transformational learning experiences for students and faculty.