The core group of öÏÓãÊÓƵapp Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS) attended the 11th Interprofessional Education (IPE) Training Course that was held on August 20-23, 2024 at Gunma University in Maebashi, Japan, a WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training on IPE. The participating group from FMS was led by the Dean, Dr. Ma. Lourdes Maglinao. The delegation included Assistant Dean Dr. Remedios Chan, Faculty Secretary Dr. Dexter Clifton Pe, Clinical Program Officer Dr. Citadel Castro, and several department chairs namely, Dr. Melvin Marcial (Medicine), Dr. Karl Morales (Surgery), Dr. Ma. Teresa Tricia Bautista (Preventive Medicine), Dr. Maria Angela Cumagun (Dermatology), Dr. Larry King (Anesthesia), and Dr. Patricia Leticia Syson (Legal Medicine). They were joined by academic staff members Dr. Pauline Ramos (Preventive Medicine) and Dr. Joseree-Ann Catindig (Neurology).
The course was conducted by Dr. Hiromitsu Shinozaki, Director, and Dr. Bumsuk Lee, Vice Director of the Gunma University WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training on IPE.
Part of the training included a visit to Mihara Memorial Hospital, a specialized 189-bed facility focusing on neurological disorders, particularly stroke and dementia, with attached geriatric health services. The visit provided insights into interprofessional and collaborative practices in a real-world healthcare setting.
Throughout the course, various aspects of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) were explored, including its necessity and challenges, program evaluation, development, operation, adaptability, and future expectations. The training also featured presentations on the Patient Safety-Focused IPE Training Program at Gunma University, IPE initiatives at Chiba University, and the Community-Based IPE Program of Sapporo Medical University.
Each institution shared an overview of the challenges they face in introducing and enhancing IPE within their respective contexts. Participants engaged in a simulated interprofessional training workshop based on a case scenario, highlighting practical application of collaborative skills. On the final day, each institution presented a strategic action plan to advance IPE, informed by the insights gained during the course.
FMS formulated the following action plans on Interprofessional Education (IPE): 1. Committee Formation and Program Development:FMS will establish a Committee on Interprofessional Education (IPE) responsible for developing a structured, curriculum-aligned IPE program. This program will integrate all levels of education, focusing on the clinical clerkship. Furthermore, the IPE program will be incorporated into simulation-based learning to enhance practical application; 2. Fostering Collaboration: The plan includes establishing and strengthening interdepartmental, intercollegiate, and international collaborations, all centered around fostering mutual respect and collaborative practice; 3. Faculty Development: The initiative will enhance faculty development in IPE through targeted seminars and by exploring opportunities for faculty to attend IPE training courses, such as those offered by Gunma University.
4. Dedicated Space for IPE: Identify and allocate physical space within the new simulation center specifically for IPE workshops; 5. Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain ongoing and assertive communication with key stakeholders, especially leaders, to address logistical and resource-related challenges, including budget allocation; 6. Expanding Community-Based Networks: Strengthen and expand community-based networks, focusing on elderly care, home care, and maternal and child care; 7. Research and Information Campaigns: Promote research collaborations on IPE and launch information campaigns designed to improve patient care, patient safety, and psychological safety through enhanced interprofessional collaboration; and 8. IPE Program Evaluation: Create a more comprehensive and inclusive evaluation on both macro and micro level (especially on the attitude domain) following the Kirk-Patrick’s model to see IPE’s overall impact.
The training course was attended by 28 participants from nine academic institutions across Asia, including Choonhae College of Health Science (Korea), International Medical University and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Malaysia), Mahidol University and Thammasat University (Thailand), Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine (Vietnam), Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (Indonesia), and from the Philippines, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute.
