The Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds: Highlighting Excellence, Catalyzing Growth
Background:
The Interdisciplinary Student Council (ISC) was formed in 2020 under the guidance of the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development and the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC). It represents 19 professions in seven colleges across three campuses in the state of Oklahoma. In the ISC’s inaugural year, an innovative concept was developed to expand access to interprofessional experiences through a recurring monthly event—the Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds (IGR). The original model intended to highlight the interprofessional team-based care provided to patients treated at Unity Clinic. This past academic year, the ISC leadership refined this concept to promote inclusivity and elicit engagement from non-clinical members of the campus community. This process led to the cultivation of a new vision emphasizing student innovation, collaboration, and advancement of Interprofessional Education (IPE). The successful implementation of the IGR catalyzed enhanced student engagement and the expansion of IPE across the broader campus community during the 2021-2022 academic year.
Problem:
Initiating new student-led programming with the added pressure of logistics induced by a global pandemic limited initial recruitment of student leaders and inclusivity of the student body.
Aims:
1. Encourage student leaders to present various interdisciplinary programs and ideas across campus.
2. Enable the student body to seamlessly engage in interprofessional learning experiences across a virtual platform.
3. Orient students to the purpose and value of IPE.
Methodology:
The executive team worked with representatives from each HSC College to develop the topics presented. Members of the ISC collaborate with their respective colleges to showcase the unique perspectives of professions across the campus. Concepts were finalized through the ISC and executed on a recurring monthly basis.
Results:
In the 2021-2022 academic year, the ISC hosted six IGRs with 145 students, 21 staff members, and 48 faculty members attending from September-May.
Conclusion:
Despite the challenges caused by the global pandemic, the ISC was highly effective in implementing the Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds. The IGRs succeeded in highlighting the importance of IPE initiatives at OUHSC and subsequently enhancing awareness of these experiences across the University of Oklahoma community.
Implications:
The ISC seeks to broaden its collaborative partnership within the University of Oklahoma campuses. Consistency established through fixed annual IGR experiences such as the “Introduction to the ISC & IPE” and “Vaccine Hesitancy & Provider Toolkit” will take place each academic year.
