Interprofessional Education (IPE)

UDM students, healthcare professionals, hospital and community clinic staff, alumni from various health-related professions, leaders from local health systems and faculty from different disciplines that incorporate well-being into their curriculum.

The proposed IPE program effectively supports the mission of the University of Detroit Mercy by providing a holistic, student-centered education that integrates intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development in an urban context. The program embodies the core values of the university's Jesuit and Mercy traditions by preparing students to be compassionate and competent health professionals committed to social justice and community engagement:

Student-Centered Education: The IPE program focuses on learner engagement and active learning. By encouraging collaboration among learners from different health professions, the program ensures that education is personalized and relevant to the real-world contexts in which students will practice. This approach fosters a learning environment where learners feel valued and empowered to contribute.

Integration of Intellectual and Ethical Development: The IPE program enhances students’ intellectual development by providing them with interdisciplinary knowledge and skills necessary for effective collaboration in healthcare settings. Ethical considerations will be integral to the curriculum, prompting learners to reflect on their responsibilities as future health professionals and to engage deeply with ethical dilemmas in patient care.

Spiritual Development: Rooted in the Jesuit and Mercy traditions, the IPE program encourages students to understand holistic healthcare, which respects not only the physical health of individuals but also their emotional and spiritual needs. By fostering a compassionate approach to care, the program helps learners grow as individuals who recognize the importance of the spiritual dimensions of health and well-being.

Social Development through Urban Context: The IPE program emphasizes the importance of community engagement and service within Detroit's urban environment. Through partnerships with local organizations and healthcare facilities, learners will gain practical experience working with diverse populations, allowing them to apply their learning in socially relevant ways. This focus prepares students to respond to urban communities' unique challenges.

Advocacy for Social Justice: The program will address health equity issues and access to care, grounding students in advocating for marginalized populations. This advocacy aligns with UDM's mission to promote social justice and encourages learners to become leaders in addressing systemic issues in healthcare.

Collaborative Learning Environment: The IPE program fosters a cooperative atmosphere that mirrors the university’s commitment to community and cooperation. By working together, learners will appreciate different perspectives, which enhances their communication skills and prepares them to function effectively in diverse teams.

Preparing Graduates for Global Citizenship: While focusing on local urban issues, the IPE program also prepares learners to recognize healthcare trends and challenges on a global scale. This broader perspective is essential for fostering responsible and informed global citizens in an increasingly interconnected world.

National Center for IPE

The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education introduced the concept of “interprofessional practice and education”, or the “new” IPE as a conceptual bridge between interprofessional education and collaborative practice, emphasizing practice and community settings to align IPE with health systems redesign, focused on Triple Aim (now Quadruple Aim) outcomes. The National Center provides a hub for measurement tools for evaluating individuals, teams or work environments, as well as assessing the impact of interprofessional education and collaborative practices.

IPEC

The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) represents 21 national health professions associations working to promote member IPE efforts to help prepare future health professionals for enhanced team-based care of patients and improved population health outcomes. These organizations – which represent higher education in allopathic and osteopathic medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and public health – created core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice to guide curricula development across health professions schools. See IPEC's archive of webinars.

AIHC

The American Interprofessional Health Collaborative (AIHC) is the professional community of the National Center for IPE mentioned above. AIHC is open to people who are interested in transforming health in the United States through interprofessional collaboration. AIHC creates opportunities for colleagues to come together, learn and grow.

TeamSTEPPS

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (within the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services) has developed TeamSTEPPS, short for Team Strategies & Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety. The TeamSTEPPS framework provides an evidence-based set of teamwork tools, aimed at optimizing patient outcomes by improving communication and teamwork skills among healthcare teams, including patients and family caregivers. It requires clearly defined and appropriate team structure and the use of four teachable-learnable skills: communication, team leadership, situation monitoring and mutual support. Among its resources are welcome guides, training videos, a pocket guide and curriculum materials.

• Many faculty-led short-term international experiences welcome non-Detroit Mercy participants age 18 and over. No minor children may participate.
• Alumni and students from other universities are subject to the same program fees, policies, accommodations and itineraries.
• Non-Detroit Mercy participants may be required to enroll in academic credit, attend all orientations and meet all program expectations. Visiting students should consult their home institution regarding financial aid eligibility.

International IPE experiences are intentionally interprofessional and interdisciplinary. Students from nursing, health sciences, engineering, architecture, business, law, education, liberal arts, sciences, optometry, dentistry and other academic areas may participate, depending on the focus of each program.

Yes. Each international IPE immersive experience has a registration deadline to allow time for travel planning, preparation and university approvals. Deadlines are posted with each program destination.

This page is specific to international interprofessional education (IPE). Be sure to also refer to other important information about immersive international experiences on the UDM Study Abroad FAQ page. Topics include passports, accommodations, financial aid, vaccinations, etc.

You may also wish to visit the UDM Study Abroad home page.