ABOUT

WHAT IS INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

Interprofessional education (IPE) prepares learners from two or more health professions to learn about, from, and with each other so they are ready to collaborate effectively in practice and improve health outcomes.

Our approach emphasizes collaboration, shared responsibility, and patient‑ and community‑centered care.

OUHC intentionally uses inclusive language that recognizes both interprofessional and interdisciplinary learning, reflecting the breadth of our educational, clinical, and scholarly work and our commitment to preparing learners for team‑based practice.

THE OU IPE MODEL

The OU IPE Model is a longitudinal, competency‑aligned, and practice‑embedded framework that integrates education, experiential learning, evaluation, and community engagement across the academic health campus.

Rather than offering isolated or episodic experiences, IPE at OUHC is intentionally designed to:

• Span the learner trajectory from early exposure to advanced application
• Align with national interprofessional competencies and accreditation expectations
• Engage learners in real clinical and community practice environments
• Support continuous improvement through structured evaluation

This coordinated model is supported through OU Health Campus Interdisciplinary Programs within the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development, ensuring campus‑wide collaboration, consistency, and sustainability.

Why Our Model Works

The OU IPE Model succeeds because it is integrated, scalable, and evidence‑informed.

Integrated Across Disciplines

IPE at OUHC engages multiple colleges and degree programs within a shared framework, allowing students to experience collaboration across professional boundaries in meaningful and authentic ways.

Grounded in Real Practice

Learning experiences extend beyond the classroom into clinical and community settings, including team‑based care environments where learners apply interprofessional skills in service to patients and communities.

Continuously Evaluated and Improved

IPE programming is accompanied by a structured evaluation approach that supports quality improvement, responsiveness to learner and faculty needs, and alignment with institutional priorities.

Adaptable and Resilient

The model has demonstrated flexibility in response to changing educational and community needs, supporting expanded access, innovation, and sustained engagement across campuses and sites.

Our History

Interprofessional and interdisciplinary work has been part of the University of Oklahoma Health Campus for decades, grounded in a strong culture of collaboration across education, research, and community engagement.

Key milestones in the evolution of IPE at OUHC include:

• Early interdisciplinary initiatives that established a campus‑wide culture of collaboration
• 2012 pilot clinical experiences, introducing structured interprofessional learning in community settings
• 2017 formal integration of IPE within OU Health Campus Interdisciplinary Programs
• Development of a longitudinal curriculum, expanding access to structured IPE for learners at multiple levels
• Expansion through clinical and community partnerships, including the evolution of Unity Clinic as a flagship practice‑based learning environment

Today, IPE at OUHC reflects sustained institutional commitment, continuous growth, and a focus on preparing team‑ready graduates to meet complex health care challenges.

Alignment with Mission and Strategic Plan

Interprofessional education directly advances the mission of the University of Oklahoma Health Campus and aligns with institutional and system‑level strategic priorities.

Through IPE, OUHC:

• Prepares graduates for collaborative, patient‑ and community‑centered practice
• Strengthens faculty capacity for educational innovation and scholarship
• Supports accreditation‑driven excellence across health professions programs
• Engages communities as partners in education and service
• Contributes evidence and leadership to the national interprofessional education community

By embedding interprofessional education across curricula, practice environments, and evaluation efforts, OUHC affirms its commitment to workforce readiness, academic excellence, and improving health outcomes for Oklahoma and beyond.

Additional Details

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