INNOVATIONS IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE CURRICULUM: HARNESSING ONLINE INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Abstract

Interprofessional Education (IPE) is an essential component of healthcare curriculum, fostering collaboration, teamwork, and patient-centric care among students from diverse disciplines. This article explores the value of IPE, its impact on student learning, and various methods employed to incorporate it into healthcare education. Evidence suggests that IPE enhances students' understanding of team roles, responsibilities, communication skills, and their ability to function effectively in complex healthcare environments. Recent studies reveal that when clinical and non-clinical healthcare students engage in IPE programs as teams, they gain an appreciation for shared goals and develop the confidence to work collaboratively.

This paper discusses several approaches to implementing IPE within healthcare curricula, highlighting their benefits and outcomes. Problem-Based Learning (PBL) emerges as a valuable method, allowing students to combine knowledge acquisition with interactions across disciplines, enabling a deeper understanding of each team member's contributions to patient care processes. Additionally, work experiences, such as those in the Family Health course at the University of Florida, demonstrate the tangible benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration for both students and the broader community.

In summary, this article underscores the importance of IPE in healthcare education, emphasizing its positive impact on students and the delivery of patient-centered care. It explores diverse methods of integrating IPE into curricula, showcasing the benefits of Problem-Based Learning, work experiences, and online team-based learning. As healthcare continues to evolve, fostering collaboration among future professionals becomes increasingly critical, and IPE remains a vital tool for achieving this goal