Interprofessional Education

What is Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP)?

Our Office of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) has adopted the World Health Organization's definition of Interprofessional Education (IPE) and Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPCP):

IPE -“Interprofessional education occurs when students from two or more professions learn about, from, and with each other to enable effective collaboration and improve health outcomes. Once students understand how to work interprofessionally, they are ready to enter the workplace as a member of the collaborative practice team. This is a key step in moving health systems from fragmentation to a position of strength.”

IPCP -"Collaborative practice happens when multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, carers and communities to deliver the highest quality of care across settings." 

Institutional History

1972 - Dr. William H. Stewart, MD, LSUHSC Chancellor, was an invited speaker at the Institute of Medicine conference, Educating for the Health Team.

2010 - Dr. Sandra Carlin Andrieu, PhD, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor in the School of Dentistry, was a panel member of the 2011 IPEC report, Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice: Report of an Expert Panel.

2011 – IPE Committee was established

2012 – IPE Committee developed the first elective. The elective, INTR 281, was offered from 2012-2016

2013 – IPE was supported as the next SACSCOC Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)

2014 – on September 29th the IPE Committee hosted its first IPE event with a welcome reception, keynote address, and breakout activities for students and faculty

2015 – a centralized office was established on April 1st

2017 – 2 year longitudinal IPE curriculum, known as Team Up: Compassion, Communication, Collaboration®  was established with the first class session on September 18th

2018 – in collaboration with the School of Dentisry, recognized by the American Dental Education Assocation for the Gies Award for Vision Academic Dental Institution

2023 - in collaboration with the School of Allied Health Professions, recognized by the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions for the Award for Institutional Excellence and Innovation in Inteprofessional Education and Collaborative Health Care.