IPEC and COF Celebrate the Winners of the 2023 Interprofessional Education Collaboration Award

One overall winner and five honorable mentions recognized for advancing interprofessional education and practice

WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#IPE–On June 29, the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) and the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF) hosted a ceremony at the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Learning Center in Washington, DC to celebrate innovation in interprofessional engagement.

“On behalf of IPEC and COF, it is my pleasure to recognize Dr. Meg Zomorodi and the collaborators at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the North Carolina Area Health Education Centers as the recipients of the 2023 Excellence in Interprofessional Education (IPE) Collaboration Award,” said U.S. Public Health Service Rear Admiral (retired) Randall J.F. Gardner, PE, FSAME. “The Rural Interprofessional Initiative (RIPHI) has had far-reaching impacts on improving public health and supporting our future workforce and high-quality education.”

“We’re truly humbled by this recognition and honor,” said Dr. Zomorodi. “Our institutions are committed to serving the needs of rural and underserved areas in North Carolina. RIPHI is a true ‘win-win’ for our students, partners, and all those we serve.”

The IPEC Membership Meeting and IPEC/COF Award Ceremony also featured poster presentations by honorable mention finalists. All honorees were recognized for their innovative and transformative solutions to improve the health of their communities. To be eligible, projects had to demonstrate a clear connection between interprofessional practice, outcomes, and impact.

“It was great to recognize the work of these teams and pioneers,” said Alison J. Whelan, MD, IPEC Board Chair and AAMC Chief Education Officer. “It’s challenging work that is pivotal to the future of health care and education. I congratulate each of the awardees for working tirelessly on our shared mission of advancing IPE and equity.”

The complete list of the 2023 winners follows:

2023 IPEC COF Award: Overall Winner

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC), Chapel Hill, NC

The Rural Interprofessional Health Initiative (RIPHI) and Carolina Student Services Corps

Meg Zomorodi, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN, UNC School of Nursing

Hugh Tilson, JD, MPH, North Carolina Area Health Education Centers

Amir Barzin, DO, MS, Carolina Together Testing Program

Amanda Gabbard, MS, UNC Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice

2023 IPEC COF Honorable Mention: Health Communications and Health Technology

Florida State University (FSU), Tallahassee, FL

Using Simulation for Skill Building in Teams: Modified Use of Simulation in Teams for Students in Training (MUST-SIT) Together©: An Interprofessional Education (IPE) model

Debra A. Danforth, DNP, APRN, RN, FAANP, FSU College of Medicine

Niharika Suchak, MBBS, MHS, FACP, AGSF, FSU College of Medicine

Benjamin J. Smith, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FSU College of Medicine

2023 IPEC COF Honorable Mention: Behavioral Health

University of Mary, Bismarck, ND

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Student IPE Community Project

Michelle Keller, PT, MPT, CEEAA, EdD, University of Mary Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences

Jennifer Schroeder, OTD, OTR/L, University of Mary Saint Gianna School of Health Sciences

2023 IPEC COF Honorable Mention: Public Health Infrastructure

University of Georgia (UGA), Athens, GA

Modeling Collaborative Interprofessional Care through a Mass Outbreak Simulation

Timothy R. Brown, PharmD, BCACP, FASHP, UGA College of Pharmacy

Beth McLear, RN, DNP, FNP-C, ACNP-BC, Augusta University College of Nursing

José F. Cordero, MD, MPH, FAAP, UGA College of Public Health

Kay Brooks, MEd, RPh, UGA College of Pharmacy

2023 IPEC COF Honorable Mention: Community Empowerment and Education

University of South Dakota (USD), Vermillion, SD

Child and Adult Advocacy Studies Interprofessional Simulation

Shana Cerny, MS, OTD, USD School of Health Sciences Department of Occupational Therapy

Kelly Bass, PhD, DSW, MSW, CSW-PIP, USD School of Health Sciences Department of Social Work

Carrie Sanderson, JD, MPA, USD Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment

2023 IPEC COF Honorable Mention: At Risk and Vulnerable Communities

University at Buffalo (UB), Buffalo, NY

University at Buffalo’s Lighthouse Clinic: Reducing Barriers to Care and the Impact of Social Determinants of Health

Jessica S. Kruger, PhD, MCHES, UB School of Public Health and Health Professions

Todd Sage, PhD, MSW, UB School of Social Work

William Blymire, Jr., MD, UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

“This cycle, we received the second highest number of applications – only surpassed by the award’s inaugural year in 2017. We would like to thank everyone for their engagement and outstanding submissions,” noted Lieutenant Commander Kodilichi Echeozo, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, BCACP. “We’re also proud to share that we assembled our largest and most interprofessional review team ever to assess these applications.”

“A special thanks to our PHS colleagues for their expertise and assistance with this year’s award program. We hope that the trend of increasing applications continues, and that more schools and programs share their exemplary work that will be shared with leaders across the health professions,” added IPEC Associate Director Shelley McKearney.

The 2024 award cycle will open in September 2023. For additional details about the honorees and the submission process, visit IPEC’s website.

About the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC)

IPEC’s mission is to ensure that new and current health professionals are proficient in the competencies essential for person-centered, community- and population-oriented, interprofessional, collaborative practice. Eligible institutional members must be associations that represent and serve academic units at institutions of higher education that provide an educational program leading to the award of one or more academic degrees to students in one or more of the health professions that provide direct care to patients. For more information, visit IPEC’s website.

About the PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health (COF)

COF was founded to build leadership in public health through advocacy, education, research, partnerships and direct support of prevention and public health programs. COF supports career development for officers in the Commissioned Corps of the United States Public Health Service and supports the growth of the Commissioned Corps as a force for a healthier nation and a healthier world. For more information, visit the COF website.

Contacts

Shelley McKearney

smckearney@ipecollaborative.org
(202) 463-6930 ext. 269