When we launched the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, we were ready to move much faster than usual in higher education, but we didn’t know how fast we might move until recently. One example of this speed is how quickly our idea of “Nexus” has caught on – even starting to become part of the interprofessional education lexicon.

We’ve seen significant and substantive progress in three areas. Plus, many more things are happening that I want to tell you about.

First, we’ve turned a major corner on the question of the national center’s vision. Our evaluation team has been working on a concept that will drive decisions about the work, and we finally have some clarity about how the center will move forward on its priorities. Our original proposal included a great big idea; now we’re starting to detail the next level of thinking. The more we drill down, the clearer the vision. You’ll be hearing a lot more about this in the next few weeks.

Another piece we’re getting to is what the Nexus innovations incubator will look like. In late March, we convened the eight members of the pioneer innovations incubator—from Arizona, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and South Carolina—to develop strategies for collaboration and define the projects that each site will undertake in an effort to improve local health outcomes.  We will be reporting on deliberations about large-scale implementation of interprofessional practice and education, and we are looking forward to new opportunities to engage more groups doing this work across the country.

Our senior advisor, Frank Cerra, has also organized the process redesign advisory group. This group is reviewing draft documents and giving us some very good feedback. Their enthusiasm is exceeded only by their intensity about the work. Coaches’ expert comments are insightful and always valuable. This isn’t a shy group of people by any means.

These are three big leaps forward, but many other things are happening as well:

• We’re recruiting the core members of the national advisory council. Very busy people are saying “yes” to this involvement, as well as with other national center groups.
• Our foundation funders have asked for a proposal, complete with priorities and a 12-18 month work plan, from us later this month. We are madly working on the best ideas for them to invest in.
• We are working with our University of Colorado colleague, Mark Earnest, M.D., Ph.D., in a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation project to explore the issues at the Nexus.  Together, Mark and I with our Colorado and Minnesota colleagues are learning how to lead “courageous conversations” at the interface of systems transformation and higher education.   These discussions are invaluable and will help inform the work of the national center.
• Presentation requests continue to flow in. We are working on a system to ensure that every group interested in the work of the national center can access one of our leaders for in-person or virtual presentations. I’m doing as many as I can, but I can’t do it all, and we have a great team.   It’s really important that we get to speak with as many of you as we can.  Your questions, comments and input in our work are vital for the success of the national center.
• We have hired a technology analyst and a communications manager. We’re also getting operations organized, which will ease the pressure on the staff.
• Students have been calling and asking about the possibility of rotating through the national center. I will be developing a practicum for student consultants in my office to work on engaging learners nationwide. The University of Minnesota CLARION national case competition for students and led by students is April 19 and 20.  It’s the ninth year of this wonderful student activity on our campus.  Student teams from nine institutions will come to Minneapolis to compete this year. I will be blogging about students, learners, and residents soon.

Our primary takeaway from these past few months is that every step we take is breaking new ground. This is something we knew going in, but now we are living it every day. It’s exciting, challenging, frustrating, enlightening and always interesting. It’s what happens when you bring together great minds who have never worked together and charge them with a task that’s never been done.