Crafting a Team-Based, Interprofessional Undergraduate Research Honors Curriculum in the Health Professions

• Published in: Journal of allied health Vol. 49; no. 1; pp. 57E - 62E
• Main Authors: Bertrand, Fred E., Slovensky, Donna J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions 01.04.2020; Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions
• Subjects: Behavioral Objectives; Collaboration; College students; Colleges & universities; Core curriculum; Critical thinking; Curricula; Educational Development; Experiential Learning; Health care policy; Health education; Interprofessional education; Learning; Medical personnel; Mentors; Professionals; Professions; Research methodology; Research projects; Seminars; Student Interests; Teams; Teamwork; Undergraduate Students
• ISSN: 0090-7421; 1945-404X

Many undergraduate students in the health professions experience group work throughout their educational development, but few have the opportunity to experience teamwork in the professional disciplines. Interprofessional teamwork is necessary for successful delivery of accessible, high-quality healthcare aimed at achieving good clinical outcomes and operational efficiencies. Developing teamwork skills early in health professions education results in more successful teams in the workplace. Implementing project-based curricula that integrate undergraduate research and teamwork can lead to discipline-specific learning. The Biomedical Sciences (BMD) and Health Care Management (HCM) undergraduate majors in the UAB School of Health Professions (SHP) each focus on a distinct arm of the healthcare system. To provide these students with interprofessional training early in their education as emerging health professionals, the SHP honors curricula were revised to provide research-based experiential learning and team-building opportunities. Our approach engages BMD and HCM students in interprofessional teams in partnership with faculty mentors and community health providers to complete discipline-specific research projects that ultimately solve realworld problems, resulting in development of critical thinking, team skills, leadership, and cultural awareness of healthcare.