Institute for Health Disparities Interprofessional Education Team Activity

Professional identity formation within the health professions includes self- identification as a member of an interprofessional health care team.  Research has identified effective health care teams as a factor in improved patient outcomes.  Translational research bridges the gap between basic science and clinical practice.  This workshop brings together basic science researchers and healthcare professionals to collaborate on a clinically relevant topic in need of basic science research and community-based approaches.

The focus of this activity for students from basic science and clinical professions will focus on the following 3 core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice:

1. Roles/responsibilities—Student teams will discuss their current understanding of the role science researchers and healthcare professionals play in improving care— focusing on contributions of clinical and basic science knowledge to identify problems and devise solutions.
2. Interprofessional communication—With the assistance of a facilitator, team members will be guided through introductions, questions, and problem-solving as a method they can utilize in the future.
3. Teams and teamwork— Student teams comprised of healthcare professionals and scientists will use information from a recent research study to complete a (1) team-based learning activity , (2) discuss directions for future study and (3) design a study to address the unknown related to the topic.