I have been traveling quite a bit this fall – it is a learning opportunity for me to meet people working to implement interprofessional education and collaborative practice.  I meet people doing interesting work, learn about what is happening in interprofessional education nationally and continue to discuss how the National Center can support their efforts.

Recently, I was invited to The Ohio State University by Bernadette Melnyk, vice president for wellness and dean of nursing, and John Mahan, director of the Center for Education and Scholarship in the medical school to join faculty and students for the Medical School’s Celebration of Educational Scholarship.   I told them I would accept only if I could have a scoop of Jeni’s salty caramel ice cream, a local favorite.  They agreed; I went.

The faculty collaboration in interprofessional practice and education is extraordinary.  Interest on the OSU campus in IPE is growing, led by the deans of the health sciences, implemented by committed faculty and fueled by a campus-wide wellness initiative.  And, we had the opportunity to discuss Ohio State’s decades-long history in interdisciplinary and interprofessional work. 

Jim invited me to participate in the faculty poster and podium presentations about educational scholarship.  The Office of Evaluation, Curriculum, Research and Development has hosted a competitive faculty teaching scholars program for four years. Each year, nearly thirty faculty apply for twelve positions to participate in the year-long cohort. The cohort meets for four hours once a month with senior faculty members who serve as mentors.  During the year the faculty are required to conduct an educational research project.   The celebration was the opportunity to share their findings – it was an extraordinary day.

These types of events are important to connect faculty and make serendipity happen. After a briefing on the Lead – Serve – Inspire medical curriculum currently in its second year, pharmacy and medical faculty found common ground to work together on the LSI longitudinal community component of the curriculum, turning it into an opportunity. Each school was unaware that the other was implementing a service-oriented community program – they instantly found low-hanging fruit to work together in teams. Given the breadth of faculty who participated in the celebration, I’m certain more IPE will follow.  Turning uniprofessional into interprofessional by learning about, from and with each other while serving together. . . .

A lasting part of the day, however, was the award made for being a visiting faculty member: a shipment of Jeni’s to my home when I return. . . .Thanks, Buckeyes, for an inspiring day.

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