On February 23-24, 2020, Gulf Medical University team participated in the 5 th Regional Pharmacy Faculty Development Workshop on Interprofessional Education (IPE) at Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi campus. The workshop was organized in collaboration with the Commission for Academic Accreditation, Ministry of Education, UAE, Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, and American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
The workshop was led by Joseph A. Zorek, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and Sarah P. Shrader, University of Kansas School of Pharmacy to highlight well-published practices from around the world designed to ensure high-quality interprofessional practices. Interactive lecture sessions were followed by team-based activities to provide hands-on training in planning curricular changes with IPE. Dr. Joseph and Dr. Sarah helped GMU team to develop 2 action plans to improve IPE at GMU. Sessions discussed all elements of IPE with a focus on theoretical underpinnings as well as using practical approaches when designing the IPE curriculum.
Dean, 2 faculty and 2 preceptors from the College of Pharmacy participated in the workshop. A poster was presented showcasing IPE activities at Gulf Medical University from 2017. One of the highlights of the workshop was an IPE case presentation demonstration from an IPE experience of a medical, nursing, and pharmacy student at Thumbay Hospital Ajman.
Vice Chancellor for Quality and Global Engagement and Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Prof. Sherief Khalifa commented : At GMU we are privileged to be part of an “Academic Health System” combining Colleges for all health professions with our own hospitals in one campus. This puts us in the best position to incorporate IPE in our curricula across all healthcare disciplines. We are proud of what we have achieved so far and will continue to build up on it and to adopt international best practice in educating our students.