Introducing Interprofessional Education: A Career Exploration Course for Underrepresented Undergraduate Students
In October 2018, the University of Minnesota’s (UMN) Pre-Health Student Resource Center (PHSRC) created an initiative to diversify health professions. As part of the initiative, the Health Profession Pathways program was created to enhance exploration, application, and matriculation to health professions for underrepresented, undergraduate students. For undergraduate students, there is little exposure to and understanding of why interprofessional collaboration is a critical role in health care settings. Pathways students are required to enroll in an exclusive interprofessional course led by the PHSRC. This course is designed for students interested in exploring a variety of health professions while learning about the roles, attributes, and qualities of interprofessional teams in healthcare.
The PHSRC partnered with the UMN’s Center for Interprofessional Health (CIH) and eight UMN health science schools. Over sixteen weeks, Pathways students engaged in hands-on experiential learning provided by a health science school, each week highlighting a different profession. Health science schools provided an overview of their profession and how they worked with other health professionals. Nestled within the hands-on experiences were designated interprofessional days where CIH professionals introduced the four IPE core competencies to students. The CIH professionals that facilitated the interprofessional days represented multiple health care fields such as physical therapists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physicians, administrators, and psychologists. The course culminated in the M Health Simulation Center allowing students to have an experience with simulated patients.
After the course, students completed a survey. The following are notable student survey results:
1) 100% of students agreed or strongly agreed that their understanding of how health professions work in interprofessional teams had increased.
2) 93.8% of students stated the course increased their interest in the health profession they want to pursue.
3) 100% of students agreed or strongly agreed that they would recommend this course to other pre-health students.
At the end of the course, students shared their top health professional experiences and noted these experiences were their top choices because of the hands-on, interactive, and fun design. Similarly, students stated they enjoyed the CIH activities since they highlighted the importance of teamwork in the health professions in an engaging way.
Based on survey results and course reflections, students have a better understanding of interprofessional health care teams and will carry this information forward into their health professions. Early exposure to interprofessional health care teams is key to ensuring students have a basic understanding and familiarity with the IPE core competencies.
