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Student Engagement in IPE

Active student participation in Interprofessional Education (IPE) is a key step toward becoming a collaborative, patient-centered health care professional. Through IPE, students gain first-hand experience working across disciplines—building the communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills essential for effective interprofessional practice.

Beyond required coursework, co-curricular opportunities allow students to take initiative, lead with purpose, and contribute to a culture of collaboration that mirrors the real-world health care environment.

Student-Led Co-Curricular Opportunities: Fostering Innovation and Engagement

The IPE Student Liaison Advisory Council (SLAC) plays a vital role in expanding interprofessional learning beyond the classroom. Through creative, student-driven initiatives, SLAC organizes a wide range of co-curricular events that promote collaboration, leadership, and communication across disciplines. These activities offer flexible, engaging opportunities for students to apply their interprofessional skills in settings that are innovative, social, and peer-led. Signature co-curricular events include:

• Campus Welcome and Well-being Block Party (Block Party) - Held each fall, this high-energy event brings together incoming students from all UMMC schools to kick off the academic year with a celebration of interprofessional collaboration and personal wellness. Featuring interactive booths hosted by students from each health profession, the event introduces participants to the roles and responsibilities of other disciplines, as well as campus resources that support well-being. With games, giveaways, flu shots, and a BINGO-style engagement challenge, the Block Party sets the tone for a connected and collaborative learning environment.
• Interprofessional Student-Centered Grand Rounds (Grand Rounds) - These monthly sessions provide a platform for students from multiple disciplines to present clinical cases, health policy topics, or real-world challenges through an interprofessional lens. Designed to strengthen communication, critical thinking, and professional identity, Grand Rounds foster peer-to-peer learning and broaden participants’ understanding of how different perspectives contribute to patient care and health care system improvement.
• IPE Ethics Bowl Competition - New for the 2025 academic year, this event invites interprofessional student teams to engage in a live ethical debate. Participants explore complex ethical dilemmas in health care—such as end-of-life care, health equity, or emerging medical technologies—while practicing respectful discourse, argument development, and collaborative reasoning. The competition promotes deep reflection on the moral dimensions of health care and highlights the importance of shared values in team-based practice.
• Defibrillator Derby Tournament (Defibrillator Derby) - Launched in 2024, the Defibrillator Derby is a fast-paced, tournament-style competition where interprofessional teams face off in three rounds of clinical decision-making, communication challenges, and health care trivia. The event builds excitement and camaraderie while reinforcing essential teamwork skills in a fun, competitive format. At the end of the tournament, a champion team and finalist team are awarded—making this a memorable and energizing experience for all involved.