Interprofessional education prepares health care professionals to best care for their patients, their colleagues and themselves. At the MU School of Health Professions, we focus focus on strengthening the communication, collaboration, conflict resolution and leadership skills necessary to provide extraordinary client-centered care.
By working alongside other disciplines, a deeper understanding and appreciation for collaboration is possible.
“All of our programs do a fantastic job of educating future healthcare providers in their respective fields, but health care is a team sport, and in order for our students to be successful working as team members, they need to learn how.”
Lea Ann Lowery, Faculty Fellow for Interprofessional Education
Health Professions Interprofessional Education Initiative
Mission: The School of Health Professions seeks to create educational experiences for students that meet the unique needs of individual programs, while creating a sense of community around Interprofessional education and research. Interprofessional programming at SHP will foster a sense of respect for all healthcare team members, excellence in communication and collaboration and the place clients and the communities we serve at the center of care.
Vision: SHP Interprofessional Education will utilize creative educational approaches that embrace the ever-changing healthcare system and catalyze quality care for clients and communities. Creating the infrastructure for change within SHP can lead to improvements in Interprofessional collaboration that benefit the community and advance healthcare for all.
Interprofessional Education Highlights
IPE Day
Students spend the day participating in activities, examining case studies and ultimately strengthening their ability to cooperate and work as a team. IPE Day is designed for students that are a part of professional graduate programs.
SHP Hosts First Interprofessional Education Day
IPE Grand Rounds
Each semester, the School of Health Professions community is invited to attend two presentations which cover best 
practices and case studies related to interprofessional care. Presentations are given by faculty, staff and students.
Introduction to Interprofessional Collaboration Course
The course teaches client- and community-centered care and effective teamwork. Students must be enrolled in a professional graduate program (Occupational therapy, Physical Therapy, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Athletic Training within the School of Health Professions or other approved programs (Applied Behavioral Analysis) in order to enroll in the course.
What does Interprofessional Collaboration look like in real life?
Each day, health professionals of all disciplinary backgrounds work side by side to provide the best care. Listen to SHP alumni experiences with Interprofessional Collaboration below.
