February 3, 2015
Dr. Bruce Mueller teaching the pharmacy module of the IPE course.

Written by: University of Michigan School of Dentistry

On the afternoon of January 14, 2015, 52 students gathered in the Kellogg Auditorium at the School of Dentistry to participate in one of the university’s first courses in interprofessional education. They were among approximately 270 students in dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and social work who began studying and working as teams of professionals. In the months ahead, students will rotate through all five schools and colleges working to solve difficult patient care cases. 

Students from all five schools and colleges welcomed the new course, Team-Based Clinical Decision Making, with enthusiastic feedback. 

“I have had nothing but positive comments from students I have talked to since the end of the first class,” Dr. Mark Fitzgerald, associate professor and associate chair of the Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics (CRSE), said.  “The positive, energetic participation and response among all students present was not only evident, but increasingly noticeable as the session continued.”

Dr. Gundy Sweet, clinical professor of pharmacy and director of curriculum assessment, agreed.  “I was very pleased with the positive energy we saw in the classroom.  Students were genuinely interested in learning about, with, and from each other, which is the true spirit of interprofessional education,” she said.  Sweet said when she heard similar comments from other colleagues, “I was thrilled.  This is exactly what we hoped for.”

Dr. Fitzgerald concurred.  “From a faculty’s perspective, you could not ask for more. But what is really a bonus is the team of faculty who are involved and the incredible, collaborative, cooperative and fun times we are having creating and presenting this course.”

“This is one of the key courses in our Interprofessional Education Curriculum because its size and its focus on a key skill (clinical decision making).  It was a challenge to develop and I applaud the faculty who help create this exciting experience for students,” adds Dr. Frank Ascione, Director of the new Center for Interprofessional Education.

Who's Enrolled

Dentistry Required for third-year dental students (114 students)
Medicine Elective for medical students (20 students)
Nursing Elective for all graduate nursing students (16 students)
Pharmacy Required for third-year pharmacy students (75 students)
Social Work Required for Integrated Health Scholars and Detroit Clinical Scholars, but an elective for other MSW students (36 students)

Read the full article from U-M School of Dentistry.