Unity Series

Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds

Proposal from Interdisciplinary Student Council, collaboration sought

Focus:  IPE Collaboration, Spaces/Disciplines on campus

The Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds are a monthly seminar discussion to review a current topic that affects the campus community and to provide skills, resources, or education related to that topic as developed and implemented by students with direction from faculty advisors and/or content experts.

Topics from the 2022-2023 series included: 

• September 2022: Introduction to ISC & Grand Rounds
• October 2022: A Guide to Vaccine Hesitancy
• November 2022: Identifying and Combating Burnout
• February 2023: Chronic Pain Management and Opioid Use
• April 2023: Impact of Climate Change on Health and Medicine
• Unity Week: Unity Clinic

All Professions Day (APD)

Hosted by the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs

Focus:  Professions on campus

• A first-year introduction to the different professions on campus.
• Introduction to the IPEC Competencies
• Opportunity to introduce series, intro to diversity/inclusion initiatives, micro-aggressions in communication, social determinants of health (SDOH), health disparities, lifestyle wellness

Unity in Health Symposium

Student-led initiative hosted by HSC Student Affairs

Focus:  Other communities represented within the student body

• Engages students in introductory-level conversations exploring the various communities represented in the student population
• Compliments APD programming by expanding on the roles of different communities in team composition, respect for others
• May include supplementary student-led conversation groups following the event

Diversity Unlearning Series

Yearlong asynchronous learning hosted by Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Focus:  Deeper understanding of communities and patient backgrounds

• A first-year introduction to reinforce awareness of SDOH and health disparities
• Menu of approximately 40 hours of content selected by campus stakeholders
• Reinforce the concepts introduced in first-year Unlearning Bias coursework
• Menu options available before APD1, and pre/post APD2

Community Informed Simulations

Under development with collaboration from the Office of Interdisciplinary Program, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, OUHSC students, and community partners

Focus: Community as team-member

• Hands-on team-delivery of care simulation with a community member/agency included as team member for both curricular development and delivery
• Method: Self-Advocate/Family-Advocate as Medical Educator (SAME/FAME) model for content creation and implementation
• Various simulations may be offered, each focused on a different community
• Examples of communities for engagement:  developmental disabilities, 2S-LGBTQ+, cultural/ethnic, socioeconomic, or specific health populations, mental health, lifestyle wellness
• Include education in multiple delivery settings, including telehealth

Unity Service Learning

Opportunities will arise for academic-based teaming to occur directly related to Unity Clinic preparation. Such activities will likely occur outside the clinical environment and will be held in conjunction with community partners. 

Example: Team-Based participation in medicaid registration informational activities.

Additional Information Regarding Service Learning

Service-learning  “is a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students. . . seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves. In the process, students link personal and social development with academic and cognitive development. . . experience enhances understanding; understanding leads to more effective action.”  (Eyler and Giles) https://www.ou.edu/communityengagement/students

Unity Clinic

Student-led initiative housed under the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs

Focus: Communities near/around OUHSC, throughout Oklahoma

• Student-led, interprofessional clinic providing team-based care to the community
• Student volunteers from 18 professions
• Intent is to focus on patient-centered wellness initiatives
• Current initiatives include:
  • Community health fairs in collaboration with the Health Sciences Explorer vehicle to tribal, rural and underserved communities
  • Crossings Clinic Midtown
    • Primary care and women's health services
    • Free diabetes education classes in Spanish
  • Food pharmacy with Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma
  • Nutrition education initiatives with ONIE and Harold Hamm
  • Medicaid education in collaboration with OU Health

Unity Week Student-led Poster Hall

Annual presentation day hosted by the Office of Interdisciplinary Programs and the Interdisciplinary Student Council

Focus: Teaming with application to communities near/around OUHSC, throughout Oklahoma

• Summative experience to conclude the threaded experience prior to graduation
• Students have requested an opportunity to “Practice my voice”
• Posters – productivity encouraged

• Belonging: Being seen, heard, valued, and respected
• Diversity: All individuals and viewpoints are represented and included
• Equity: All have access and opportunity to succeed through identified and provided resources
• Inclusion: All have a sense of belonging in our cultivated environment of respect and care