UCSF Hosts Second Annual Interprofessional Education Day

UCSF hosted its second annual interprofessional education day recently, welcoming students from all four professional schools, as well as those in physical therapy and dietetic interns from UCSF Medical Center. Eugene Washington, MD, executive vice chancellor and provost, welcomed the students to the event. He explained how interdisciplinary communication and collaboration across professions are important in health care, particularly in ensuring patient safety. Washington also explained that the UCSF Strategic Plan, a blueprint for the next 20 years, spells out the vision to develop innovative, collaborative approaches for education, health care and research that span disciplines within and across the health sciences. In fact, one of the strategies to realize this vision calls for ensuring that "students and trainees are immersed in a culture that embraces interdisciplinary, interprofessional and transdisciplinary educational programs." Kathy Dracup, RN, DNSc, dean of the UCSF School of Nursing, was elected this year by the other deans to speak on their behalf. She called for a new model of care and urged the new students to abandon stereotypes and old traditions of hospital hierarchy to work as a team to provide exemplary care. Related Links: UCSF Works to Expand Interprofessional Education UCSF Today, April 26, 2007