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Abstract

Purpose. The objective of this article is to describe an innovative approach to developing and implementing a longitudinal interprofessional education program in a pharmacy school. Method. A longitudinal and deliberate interprofessional education program has been developed and implemented across the didactic curriculum, co-curriculum, and experiential education in a three-year accelerated pharmacy school. The interprofessional learning objectives are aligned with the 2016 Interprofessional Education Collaborative core competencies. The interprofessional education activities are designed in a scaffolded manner so that pharmacy, nursing, and medical students progressively demonstrate skills from novice to mastery-level competencies. Validated rubrics are used by faculty and preceptors to evaluate students’ interprofessional core competencies. Students document their interprofessional education experiences through guided reflections. Results. Sixty-eight pharmacy students of three cohorts participated in 30 interprofessional education activities during 2019-2022. The outcomes have shown that participating students have performed at or above the benchmarks on interprofessional education competencies in the longitudinal activities. Students' perceptions of their experiences were positive. Thematic analysis of the students’ reflections identified several major themes, including improved interprofessional communication, teamwork, understanding of each other’s professional roles and responsibilities, and positive experiences for real-life applications. Discussion. The school created a culture of collaboration and equipped its students with the necessary knowledge and skills to work effectively in interprofessional teams in healthcare settings. Interprofessional activities were developed longitudinally to scaffold exposure, immersion, experience, and competency through classroom, co-curricular, and experiential settings. This structured interprofessional education model could serve as a valuable blueprint for other healthcare educational institutions aiming to establish a long-term interprofessional education program.

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