By Vanessa Orr
Traditionally, health professions have been taught in silos despite the fact that doctors, nurses, social workers, pharmacists and more are expected to function as teams once in practice. To prepare students to successfully work together, Florida Atlantic University created the Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice (IPE&P) to enhance the abilities of students, faculty, and providers to engage in effective, person-and-family-centered interprofessional practice across a range of educational and practice settings to improve overall population health.
“Students from across the health professions, including medicine, nursing, social work, pharmacy and speech-language pathology complete foundational, intermediate and advanced IPE&P programming throughout their academic journey,” explained IPE&P Executive Director Dr. Terry Eggenberger, noting that FAU was at the forefront of these efforts, establishing the office well before it became an accreditation mandate.
Programming includes activities focused on building the core competencies outlined by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative including Values and Ethics, Role and Responsibilities, Communication, and Teams and Teamwork. Activities may also include workshops providing an introduction to interprofessional healthcare communication techniques; learning activities centered on a drug interaction case, and a simulation-based learning activity to enhance interprofessional communication.
“Students who participate in interprofessional programming utilize evidence-based approaches to collaborate with individuals and families as part of an interprofessional healthcare team across various learning and real-world settings,” said Dr. Eggenberger. “They also connect with the community, working directly with community partners to design and support real-world interprofessional projects and collaborative practice opportunities.”
There are many benefits to working as interprofessional teams, according to Dr. Eggenberger. Addressing patients’ needs from multiple perspectives leads to care coordination, while avoiding duplication of services, preventing complications, and managing chronic conditions more effectively.
“Collaboration also enhances the patient experience by ensuring care is person-centered, communication is clear and consistent, and patients feel supported and involved in decision-making,” she added.
One example of this is the Senior Adult Geriatrics Education (SAGE) Mentor Program, an interprofessional learning experience designed to help students from different healthcare professions collaborate while learning about healthy aging directly from older adults. During SAGE mentor visits, students meet with a senior adult who serves not just as a patient but as a mentor and educator who is considered a key member of the healthcare team.
“Students from different healthcare disciplines learn about, from, and with one another—and with the SAGE mentor—to understand each team member’s role in providing holistic care; practice effective interprofessional communication; conduct collaborative assessments and screenings; develop ethical responses to identified needs, and build trusting, patient-centered relationships,” said Dr. Eggenberger.
She added that the program also aims to deepen students’ understanding of healthy aging, emphasizing disease prevention, lifestyle choices, functional independence, and active engagement with life, while preparing them to translate these concepts into clinical practice.
To date, SAGE program results have been highly positive, with students gaining a deeper appreciation of collaborative care and learning how coordinated teamwork can improve patient outcomes.
“By working closely with mentors, they see firsthand how interprofessional practice enhances population health, reduces unnecessary interventions and costs, and improves the patient experience through more personalized, respectful and effective care,” said Dr. Eggenberger. “Many also note that interacting with the SAGE mentor helps them build confidence in their clinical and communication skills, preparing them for future careers in healthcare where teamwork and patient-centered approaches are essential.”
“In essence, the SAGE mentor visits transform theoretical classroom learning into meaningful, hands-on experiences, benefiting students, older adults, and the healthcare system as a whole,” she added.
Partnerships beyond FAU play a crucial role in making the SAGE Mentor Program possible. Community partners include Abbey Delray, the Weisman Delray Community Center, and the West Palm Beach Housing Authority. IPE&P also works closely with Palm Beach Atlantic’s University School of Pharmacy, whose students join FAU students from medicine, nursing, social work, and speech-language pathology to form interprofessional teams.
“Many of these partnerships, some of which have lasted over a decade, have helped the program grow into a sustainable, community-centered initiative,” said Dr. Eggenberger. “These collaborations not only enrich student learning but also strengthen relationships with local organizations, ultimately improving care delivery and promoting healthy aging in the community.”
To learn more about IPEP, visit https://www.fau.edu/provost/oipe.
