On March 14, 400 University of Manitoba students from eight health and social care faculties will participate in the first large-scale event hosted by the University of Manitoba’s Interprofessional Education (IPE) Initiative.

This event, which will occur on both U of M campuses, will focus on health promotion and team communication skills so that U of M graduates will be prepared to manage and adapt to the interprofessional teams necessary to achieve optimum person- and family-centred health and wellness outcomes.

Throughout this day groups of students will attend sessions and collaborate with students from other disciplines to figure out how best to care for patients and clients in a particular case study.

“We are so delighted to be hosting this truly unique event” said Ruby Grymonpre, a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and IPE Coordinator. “Our goal is to take what we will learn this year and embed the session into courses from an even greater number of academic units next year.  We are optimistic that what we have developed and implemented is sustainable and will be offered each semester in future years.”

Students from the following faculties are involved: Nursing; Dental Hygiene; Human Ecology; Kinesiology and Recreation Management; Medicine; Occupational Therapy; Pharmacy; and Social Work.