The events of spring and summer 2020 called attention to the racism and social injustices that still exist in our country, along with their impact on patient and population health and on interprofessional healthcare teams and team members. In the wake of these events, at one University Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, team members were compelled to create a Racial and Social Justice Task Force (RSJT) to address issues of racism and social injustice within ourselves, our team, our programs, and Center. Task force members appreciated the interconnectedness of interprofessional collaborative practice and the need to effect anti-racism in health professions education and healthcare settings, as both interprofessional education and anti-racist efforts involve the need for structural changes, dismantling power imbalances and hierarchies, perspective-taking, and amplifying marginalized voices (Cahn).

The RSJT is comprised of staff and faculty who are committed to expanding conversations around systemic justice issues and implementing change in individual and team practices and Center initiatives. The RSJT’s meetings became a place for team members to discuss and reflect on racism and bias in general, and in our interprofessional student programming and faculty development approaches. We developed a diversity statement and created a self-study tool to encourage critical reflection on our curricula regarding diverse representation, health disparities, and assumptions and stereotypes. Initial efforts at faculty development in these areas will expand over the next year.

This session will focus on the RSJT’s experiences, challenges, lessons learned, and future plans. The interconnectedness of interprofessional practice and education and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work will be highlighted throughout. Attendees will gain ideas on how to start or continue similar interprofessional DEI work within their own teams and organizations so as to strengthen individual practices and educational and clinical teams, and ultimately, positively impact patient and population health.

Accreditation Details

In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The National Center OICPD is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.

Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.

Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.

Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.

Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.

Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.

Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.

Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.

IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.