Interprofessional Education Event Unites 320+ Healthcare Students with Collaborative with WFUSM and WSSU

On April 8, 2025, an Interprofessional Education (IPE) event brought together a diverse cohort of over 320 students from multiple institutions and healthcare disciplines. This collaborative experience centered around a simulated patient case, designed to foster interprofessional communication, critical thinking, and team-based problem-solving within a realistic clinical scenario. The event is put on in collaboration with Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Winston-Salem State University.

Participants represented a broad spectrum of healthcare education programs, including students from Winston-Salem State University’s Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nursing, Healthcare Management, Therapeutic Recreation, Rehabilitation Counseling/Services, Social Work, and Clinical Laboratory Science departments. The event also welcomed students from Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Studies program and Forsyth Technical Community College’s Nursing program.

Post-event evaluations are currently under review. The review process aims to identify key strengths—such as team engagement, communication effectiveness, and scenario realism—as well as areas for improvement to further enhance future iterations of the event.

This initiative not only highlights the value of interprofessional education but also reinforces the importance of preparing future healthcare professionals to work in diverse, team-based environments. As we analyze outcomes, we remain committed to refining this collaborative model. The continued success of this event underscores its potential to shape more cohesive healthcare teams and ultimately improve health outcomes for the communities we serve.

We look forward to the continued evolution of this initiative and the positive impact it will have on the development of competent, compassionate, and collaborative healthcare professionals.