Message from the Founding Chair

Welcome to LAU’s Interprofessional Education Program (IPE) website. As a leading academic institution within the region, faculty members from LAU’s health and social care programs began planning the IPE program in 2010 and by April of 2012, they offered the first educational activity. The program has grown quickly, both in number of participating students and faculty, as well as in the variety of learning experiences. All students enrolled in medicine, nursing, nutrition, pharmacy and social work at LAU can participate in several IPE learning activities over the course of their enrollment. The skills they learn and confidence they gain in interprofessionalism will help them contribute to the delivery of high quality, safe and effective care.

Assessment of learning has been a key part of the IPE program. At each step we have gathered data from students and faculty members to ensure that we are meeting the outcomes established. We have employed a continuous quality improvement approach so that the feedback received and outcomes measured are used to make improvements and inform new IPE initiatives. The IPE Work Group has also begun disseminating information and findings from our work within the region and internationally.

The commitment of the IPE Work Group members is an indicator that LAU will remain on the forefront of interprofessional education. Our students will graduate better prepared to function as full members of the interdisciplinary health care team, wherever they work in the future. Our health and social care programs are also well positioned to meet the increasing expectations of IPE-related accreditation bodies. However, the ultimate beneficiary of these efforts are the patients and clients cared for by our graduates. Indeed, research has shown that patients’ health and recovery improve when they receive collaborative care from a well-functioning team.

Enjoy exploring our website!

Nancy Hoffart, PhD, RN, Founding Dean of Nursing.
Chair, IPE Work Group, 2010-2015.