A look at how Binghamton University’s IPE program began.
In Oct. 2015, Vicky Rizzo (Social Work Department), Gloria Meredith (School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences/SOPPS) and Nicole Rouhana (Division of Nursing) attended a three-day interprofessional education collaboration (IPEC) training to begin developing Binghamton University’s IPE curriculum. The foundation for the IPE communications course content and the healthcare delivery assignment were created at this training.
Of note is that Binghamton’s team at IPEC was one of only a few that included social work. The Council on Social Work Education, the national association representing social work education in the U.S. and the sole accrediting agency for social work education in the nation, wasn’t a member of IPEC until 2017. However, Binghamton’s Department of Social Work recognized IPE as innovative and an integral opportunity for social work students.
In Nov. 2015, Provost Donald Nieman hosted an IPE event and invited faculty from nursing, pharmacy and social work. The breakfast presentation focused on the importance of IPE at the University and the benefits of the three disciplines collaborating. The idea of a University-wide IPE committee was introduced at this meeting.
In spring 2016, the provost formed the University-wide Interprofessional Education Curriculum and Assessment Committee (IPECAC).
- Gail Rattinger (SOPPS), chair
- Nicole Rouhana (Division of Nursing)
- Judy Quaranta (Division of Nursing)
- Youjung Lee (Department of Social Work)
- Vicky Rizzo (Department of Social Work) replaced Lee
During academic year 2016-17, planning continued in the Department of Social Work with Alana Gunn and Rahbel Rahman working with Vicky Rizzo on healthcare delivery content; Miesha Marzell and Vicky Rizzo working on simulation content; and Sarah Young and Vicky Rizzo working on IPE communications content.
In fall 2017, Binghamton launched IPE concurrent with the opening of the SOPPS. This included IPE orientation and the healthcare delivery assignment, which was delivered to students in nursing, pharmacy and social work throughout the fall 2017 semester. The IPE communications course launched in spring 2018.
Since its inception, IPE has included administrators, faculty and students from nursing, pharmacy and social work.
In academic year 2018-19, the Division of Public Health (students from the Master of Public Health program) joined the professions participating in IPE.
The University continued to expand its support of IPE as an ongoing, University-wide initiative and the provost appointed an IPE director in fall 2019.
IPE now has dedicated, University-level resourcing and support. Further, IPECAC is run by the IPE director, who reports to the provost and a deans’ council composed of the deans from all participating programs.
In academic year 2020-21, the IPE director and IPECAC began working with a nationally recognized IPE consultant, Barbara Brandt, to develop an ongoing strategy for further development and implementation of IPE at Binghamton as the University continues to expand its presence in healthcare professional programs.
