Office of Interprofessional Education Holds Fall Symposium

Office of Interprofessional Education Holds Fall Symposium

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Office of Interprofessional Education held the annual fall Interprofessional Education Symposium, which was attended by about 900 faculty, students and staff. The symposium, which was formerly organized by the Quality Enhancement Plan from 2009 to 2013, was brought back for 2015 as an initiative of the new Office of Interprofessional Education. The symposium focused on interprofessional teamwork and communication.

“The symposium was established last fall with a mission to increase synergy and awareness of the importance of interprofessional teamwork, collaboration and communication across all TTUHSC campuses,” said Christie Beauregard, unit coordinator in the Office of Interprofessional Education.

The keynote speaker for the event was Brian Goldman, M.D., host of “White Coat, Black Art,” an award-winning show on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. He is also an emergency room physician at one of Canada’s busiest emergency rooms. During the talk, Goldman shared personal experiences and observations regarding the health care team and communicating effectively in order to talk through and prevent medical error. He also conducted a hands-on activity wherein participants had the opportunity to share their own experiences.

TTUHSC students participated in small groups as members of the health care team, during the afternoon case-based learning activity, which replicated the needs of a stroke aphasia patient. The team coordinated a plan of care.

“For many students, this is the first formal interprofessional education collaborative simulation between groups of students and provides valuable insight into the needs of the patient and the goals of patient-centered care,” Beauregard said.

Through events like the symposium, the Office of Interprofessional Education works year round to inspire and transform future health care professionals through collaborative learning and interprofessional methods in student education, faculty development and preceptor training to advance the overall health and well-being of the West Texas community and beyond.