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History of CIPER

Our efforts to introduce Interprofessional Education (IPE) began with pilots across the schools at KUMC. IPE simulations began with the School of Nursing and medical students from pediatrics in 2010 and 2011. An interprofessional graduate level classroom experience was created for the Geriatrics Champions Program and an IPE family practice clinical experience involving multiple health professions.

In June 2011, a retreat was planned with representatives from all health professions departments, Graduate Medical Education and KU Hospital. This event was funded by the Reynolds Grant and hosted by the Landon Center on Aging. The goal was to bring together key stakeholders to network about IPE, focus our strategic priorities for IPE and determine a plan for moving our efforts forward.

In 2011, our leadership team appointed an Associate Vice Chancellor for Educational Resources and Interprofessional Education and a Program Director was hired in 2012 to help formalize the CIPER strategic plan and move the program components forward. Core planning teams were formed with representation from each of the health professions departments, hospital, graduate medical education, (including students) to begin designing the overall mission, goals and curricular activity planning in March of 2012. These individuals are our foundational leaders and continue their dedicated efforts to promote interprofessional learning and collaboration today.

From 2012 to the present the KUMC CIPER program has experienced significant growth. Our Foundations of Interprofessional Collaboration: Introduction to TeamSTEPPS is the single largest IPE program on all 3 campuses (Kansas City,Salina and Wichita) with over 1,000 students and 100 faculty involved from 14 programs. Our planning efforts for currciular and clinical practice expansion continue to date. Our involvement with the National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education in Minnesota has further expanded our national recognition as a leader in Interprofessional Education.  In addition, we continue to spread our interprofessional education practice sites to our rural and community sites. In addition to our Interprofessional Family Medicine, Geriatric and JayStart clinics, we will spread to 3 new practice sites in 2019-2020.

To learn more about IPE, contact Kristy Johnston at 913-588-1634 or kjohnston3@kumc.edu.