President's Report Masthead
September 30, 2017

Superheroes of healthcare unite

The Healers, The Social Health League and 11 other teams – all representing Binghamton University’s own brand of superheroes – came together Monday, Aug. 21, to begin their collaborative fight against poor healthcare. In all, 13 teams of nursing, pharmacy and social work students were launched on their interprofessional education path as the new academic year begins.

A total of 145 students from the three disciplines were assigned to the teams, and met for an orientation and their first interprofessional activity – to choose their superhero team names.

Before students named their teams, Vicky Rizzo, chair and associate professor of social work, introduced the Department of Social Work’s “superheroes” that represent different areas of focus. “Our department develops a new superhero every year – we have Emma Pathy, Ed Thics … ,” she said. “Now we need an interprofessional one.”

The orientation and dinner included an overview of what interprofessional education is and how it will prepare students to improve healthcare delivery by working across the multiple professions that deliver care. “The healthcare industry is changing dramatically,” said Provost Donald Nieman. “This allows us to prepare for the future of the healthcare professions as our students will play ever-increasing roles. They need the ability and opportunity to learn to work together as part of a team where each brings their experiences to the table and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

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