Optimizing IPE Integration into Curricula

Interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) have evolved over the past two decades. Interprofessional education (IPE) curricula for health professional students have expanded beyond the single, attendance-optional learning events typical of IPE in the early 2000s (and earlier). Today, we are more likely seeing institutions with large-scale, multi-semester, attendance-required interprofessional teaching sessions and courses. However, educational programs already have full curricula and are faced with learners acquiring both profession-specific and interprofessional competencies. Could greater integration of these be the key to elevating interprofessional collaborative practice as a robust component of health professions education? How is integration defined and actualized? In this seminar, we will explore how IPE can be integrated into uniprofessional curricula to maximize student learning of profession-specific and interprofessional competencies. The theme Interprofessional Learning for Collaborative Practice and Education will be addressed through consideration of ways to optimally integrate interprofessional competency development within educational programs. The session objectives are: 1) Describe models of curricular integration; 2) Identify potential features of IPE curricular integration; and 3) Apply a proposed framework for IPE curricular integration to local curricular structures and learning needs. Participants will gain knowledge of how an IPE curricular integration framework can optimize collaborative competency integration within uniprofessional curricula and identify actions to better integrate IPE within curricula. Participants will learn through interactive discussion of a case study, application of a framework to their institutional context, and peer feedback.
Session agenda:
Welcome and Introductions (5 minutes)
Presentation: Proposal for an IPE Curricular Integration Framework (10 minutes)
Presenters will present about a) general models of curricular integration; b) how curricular integration can benefit uniprofessional curricula in addressing IPE competencies; c) a proposed IPE integration framework.
Applying the Framework I: A Case Study (15 minutes)
To gain knowledge of how an IPE integration framework could benefit curricula, participants will work through a case study in small groups applying a proposed IPE integration framework. Groups will reconvene to share their insights through the case study.
Applying the Framework II: Local Contexts (25 minutes)
To optimize their use of an IPE integration framework locally, participants will first work independently (5 minutes) to: a) consider their own institutional context and needs for integration; b) identify their own specific curricular example for achieving integration at a designated level; and c) consider ways they can act on achieving integration with that example. Then, participants will work in small groups (10 minutes) to share their curricular examples and action steps, and to obtain peer feedback. Finally, small groups will reconvene (10 minutes) and share examples and insights from applying the framework locally.
Summary and Conclusion (5 minutes)
Presenters will summarize major themes discussed during the session, including perspectives on the merits and challenges of the proposed IPE curricular integration framework. Participants will commit, as desired, to an action step to better optimize IPE curricular integration at their own institution.