3-4th March 2023, The Center of Interprofessional Education, Research, and Practice (IPERP) at Gulf Medical University (GMU) organized a two-day faculty development workshop on “Interprofessional Education & Collaborative Practice. The workshop aimed to equip GMU faculty and IPE facilitators with the necessary tools and resources to properly implement IPE and interprofessional collaboration in their teaching, research and practice. Attendees from 13 countries participated in the workshop online and onsite.
Prof. Sherief Khalifa, the Vice Chancellor for Quality and Institutional Effectiveness and the Dean of the College of Pharmacy at Gulf Medical University, delivered the opening remarks highlighting on the GMU progress made in promoting interprofessional education and collaborative practice over the years & establishment of the center of IPERP.
Day 1: Friday 3rd March 2023
“Interprofessional Education Rationale & Principles”
Prof. Hossam Hamdy, Chancellor of Gulf Medical University shared insights on system thinking in the design, implementation and evaluation of IPE.
Dr. Alla El-Awaisi, Director of Clinical Operations And Engagement, Head of Interprofessional Education Program & QU Health, Qatar University, presented a session on “Interprofessional Education Principles“
This was followed by a panel discussion on “sharing best practices on Integrating IPE into the University Curriculum “featuring Dr. Alla El-Awaisi, Dr. Anthony Breitbach, Dr. Kelly Lockeman, Dr. Joseph Zorek, and Dr. Megan Willson.
The Panel was moderated by Dr. Eman El-Labbad, Director of the Center of Interprofessional Education, Research, and Practice at GMU. During the session keynote speakers engaged with GMU faculty and shared experiences and best practices on integrating IPE into the curricula. They brought perspectives from Saint Louis University, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Washington State University, and Qatar University.
Day 2: Saturday 4th March 2023
“Developing and Facilitating an IPE activity”
On Day 2 of the workshop, 36 faculty, from 6 colleges at Gulf Medical University engaged in interactive workshops on “how to develop and facilitate an IPE activity “. The workshop was conducted Dr. Alla El-Awaisi, Director of Clinical Operations And Engagement, Head of Interprofessional Education Program & QU Health, Qatar University
The workshop started with an icebreaker activity emphasizing collaboration and team functioning. The participants were grouped into 6 interprofessional groups representing faculty from 6 colleges at GMU.
Dr. El-Awaisi described 12 steps for developing and evaluating IPE activity. Each of the 6 interprofessional teams engaged in an exercise developing and evaluating an IPE activity. Each group shared their designed IPE activity with the other groups.
The faculty members participated in the session “Being a learner in IPE“. The interprofessional teams engaged in a “case-based discussion on health professions communication“ and presented their reflections to the rest of the participants.
The workshop concluded with a reflection on GMU’s plan to take Interprofessional Education, Research and Practice to the next level based on best practices and lessons learned during the workshop.
The workshop provided an excellent opportunity for faculty and IPE facilitators to learn and exchange experiences and best practices on integrating IPE into the curricula, ultimately enhancing the quality of healthcare education and practice at Gulf Medical University.