Thirty years and counting: The downs and ups of IPECP

I am Dr. Jill Thistlethwaite, an interprofessional champion and academic, retired from being a family physician but still involved in health professional education through mentoring, writing and presenting, working in Australia but born in the UK.

I became involved with IPE while a general practice educator as we introduced joint education sessions for GP trainees and practice nurses in the 1990s in the north of England, though we did not call this IPE then! In 1996 I moved into academia and met Hugh Barr, one of the principal proponents of IPECP globally - he invited me to be an associate editor for the Journal of Interprofessional Care.  I was also involved in setting up IPE activities for a mix of HP students and recently graduated HPs. 

Over the years I have seen IPECP promoted, forgotten, sidelined and embedded in various places but with an ongoing commitment of the IPECP community to collaboration and improving healthcare delivery, social justice and inclusion.  There is much work to be done as healthcare is subject to political forces and, unfortunately, tribalism still exists amongst HPs in some jurisdictions.  

My achievements in IPECP have been realised through collaborating with a network of colleagues - nothing can be accomplished alone.  I am proud of my publishing record, the nurturing of younger colleagues to write and publish, global presentations to help others develop IPE and my senior Fulbright time at the National Centre for Interprofessional Practice and Education in Minnesota. 

IPR.Global is a global community of practice, that supports and motivates the development and dissemination of IPECP initiatives and research/evaluation concepts and projects.  It is a network of friend and colleagues with similar perspectives and ambitions from diverse backgrounds and cultures. 

@Jill Thistlethwaite

IPR.Global Scholar Spotlight - Dr. Kelly Karpa, East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, Tennessee, USA)

Intersecting education and patient care to improve teamwork, communication, and health outcomes.

Hello, I'm Dr. Kelly Karpa, my undergraduate degree is in pharmacy. I also have a PhD in Pharmacology.  I served as an Interprofessional Education Dean at a R1 institution for many years, before accepting my current role as Associate Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Innovation at East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine. 

How did you first get involved in interprofessional education and research?  

My first foray into IPE education and research was in 2013, and resulted from being awarded with the Josiah Macy Faculty Scholars 2 year fellowship. 

What achievement are you most proud of in the area of interprofessional education and research?  

At my former institution, we launched an IPE student-led telehealth consult service in which students from PA, MD, PT, OT, Pharm, and RD programs provided profession-specific assessment and recommendations back to the primary care providers who had referred patients to the student team.  Students loved the experience and learned much from their IP colleagues, physicians loved the model, and some patient lives were changed for the better as a result of the encounter with the student teams.  We published a bit about our pilot project. 

IPR.Global Scholar Spotlight - Dr. Sarah Meiklejohn, Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)

Open communication between IPE educators, accreditation authorities and health services is essential

Dr Sarah Meiklejohn is a dietitian, educator and researcher based at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. She is currently a Lecturer and Education Coordinator at the Monash Centre for Scholarship in Health Education (MCSHE), and a Research Fellow in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University.  As an emerging methodology in health professions education, Sarah is currently sharing this applied knowledge and expertise of policy analysis across a variety of national projects. She is best known for her research focused on work integrated learning, interprofessional education and collaborative practice, accreditation, certification and regulatory policy in health professions education.

I first became involved in interprofessional education and research through my role as a Lecturer into the Masters of Dietetics at Monash University. Interprofessional practice was such a core part of my practice as a community dietitian and health promotion practitioner that I was drawn to teaching and research opportunities in this area.

Our team at Monash University was recently recognised at the 2023 All Together Better Health Conference in Qatar for our Collaborative Care Curriculum, where we received an Interprofessional.Global Award to celebrate and honour our achievements in global interprofessional collaboration. I am very proud of this achievement as it showcases the value and importance of long-term investments in interprofessional education and commitment to the development of meaningful relationships with shared goals.

As an Early Career Researcher, Interprofessional.Global is a key network for not only developing my capacity as an educator and researcher, but for shared learning and mentoring across global and regional networks to improve collaborative practice and interprofessional learning across all healthcare networks.

Finally, pineapple may only be on pizza when in the form of a Hawaiian or “the LOT” pizza, but under no other circumstances!

IPR.Global Scholar Spotlight - Dr. Aayesha Kholvadia, Nelson Mandela University (South Africa)

Fostering Collaboration and Innovation in Interprofessional Education and Research at Nelson Mandela University.

 Who Are You? Where Are You From? And What Is Your Role

I am Dr. Aayesha Kholvadia, a dedicated senior lecturer, HOD, and researcher and the IPE chairperson at Nelson Mandela University, within the Faculty of Health Sciences. My role involves advancing interprofessional education (IPE) and research, with specific focus areas on fostering collaborative practices among healthcare professionals. This includes bringing education and engagement to the three schools within our faculty: the School of Medicine, Clinical and Medicinal Sciences, and the School of Lifestyle and Behavioural Sciences. Originating from and working in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), a city in the Eastern Cape, I am acutely aware of the health inequality challenges in both curative and preventative health in our region. I am committed to promoting innovation and cooperation in health education and practice at NMU.

How Did You First Get Involved in Interprofessional Education and Research?

I am Dr. Aayesha Kholvadia, a dedicated senior lecturer, HOD, and researcher at Nelson Mandela University, within the Faculty of Health Sciences. My role involves advancing interprofessional education (IPE) and research, with specific focus areas on fostering collaborative practices among healthcare professionals. This includes bringing education and engagement to the three schools within our faculty: the School of Medicine, Clinical and Medicinal Sciences, and the School of Lifestyle and Behavioural Sciences. Originating from and working in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), a city in the Eastern Cape, I am acutely aware of the health inequality challenges in both curative and preventative health in our region. I am committed to promoting innovation and cooperation in health education and practice at NMU.

My journey into interprofessional education and research began during my early career as a PhD candidate at Wits, where one objective focused on the multidisciplinary management of knee osteoarthritis. Additionally, I was involved in IPE sessions where different departments in the faculty worked together on cases, witnessing the transformative impact of collaborative practice on patient outcomes. This inspired me to pursue further studies and research in IPE, eventually leading to my current role where collaborative practice is a focal point of my research, engagement, and teaching.

I am a member of The Network: Towards Unity for Health (TUFH) and the African Interprofessional Education Network (AfrIPEN), both national and international bodies dedicated to collaborative healthcare.  Further I am supervising PG students in the discipline area (3 PhD and 2 Masters and 2 undergraduate). Research collaboration with Prof W Burdick from the University of Philadelphia 

What Achievement Are You Most Proud of in the Area of Interprofessional Education and Research?

I am most proud of several significant achievements in the field of interprofessional education and research. I was a guest and invited speaker at the TUFH conference in Vancouver, Canada in 2022, which provided a platform to share insights and advancements in IPE on an international stage. Additionally, I serve as the chairperson of our faculty's IPE committee, where I lead efforts to integrate collaborative practices across different departments. I have also contributed to the academic literature, with my most recent publication being a literature review in the Patient Experience Journal titled "Patients’ Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaboration: A Scoping Review." These accomplishments have not only advanced the field but also significantly benefited our community and demonstrated the power of interprofessional collaboration.

What Does IPR.Global Mean to You?

To me, IPR.Global represents a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation. It is a community that unites scholars and practitioners from around the world, dedicated to enhancing interprofessional education and research, and ultimately improving global health outcomes.

Pineapple on Pizza: Yes or No?

Pineapple definitely belongs on pizza! There’s people who eat pizza without pineapple? Is that even legal? 😊

Email: Aayesha.Kholvadia@mandela.ac.za