Today the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education proudly announced the University of Washington Center for Health Sciences Interprofessional Education, Research and Practice as the winner of the 2017 Nexus Award. In recognition of exemplary interprofessional, team-based practice in the US, the Nexus Award celebrates those who are thinking and acting differently through innovation to connect higher education and health care.  

Unveiled at Nexus Summit 2017, the National Center recognizes an educational institution, health system, clinic, and/or community organization for extraordinary contributions to transform care delivery, improve health outcomes, and decrease costs.

The University of Washington distinguished itself among submissions through the unique academic practice partnership with the University of Washington Medical Center's (UWMC) Regional Heart Center (RHC). The initiative links health professions education and interprofessional collaborative practice to create, transform, test and scale-up an integrated collaborative learning and practice model that follows the Triple Aim. Working together as an academic practice partnership team, the group has implemented a new model of inpatient HF care and extended an innovative educational and training model to UW health professions students, preceptors, and primary care providers throughout the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) region.

The National Center received a number of strong submissions for the award. Barbara Brandt, director of the National Center remarked “There is no doubt about the current strength and vitality of the field. The submissions received were all impressive and incorporate students, the community and leadership into programming. The selection process was a challenge, but it was also a wonderful confirmation about the existing state of the field.”

The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education is honored to recognize the University of Washington as the 2017 Nexus Award recipient.