Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Human interaction and communication are key to successful professionals engaged in health professions. For students preparing for these careers, the development of interpersonal skills provides the foundation for good working and social relationships. They are the building blocks for learning to collaborate effectively, to work in teams, and to develop relationships with colleagues and clients. Interpersonal skills can be cultivated and developed throughout our lifetime and are shaped by our experiences. Institutions of higher education, engaged in preparing students for these critical roles, are expected to deliver quality instruction, dynamic curriculum and opportunities for personal and professional growth in a concerted effort to produce a well-skilled workforce. Professional programs prepare graduates for eventual practice in an interprofessional team, yet disciplinary concentrations in undergraduate programs socialize education in the context of respective disciplinary norms. Students benefit from multiple perspectives, from interaction with and learning across interprofessional boundaries. It is through this lens that we can provide a unique learning experience to engage students in the practical application of these expectations in the educational context. With support and collaboration from senior administration and program faculty, interprofessional education can not only meet the learning outcomes of common interpersonal communications curricula. But, more importantly, this model provides a unique opportunity for learning that engages students across disciplines in enhanced learning with and about one another, improving their ability to work on interprofessional teams and establish collaborative relationships with one another.