In the realm of health professions education, the intersection of teaching and patient care is more profound than often acknowledged. The journey of molding future healthcare practitioners inevitably circles back, impacting the educators themselves as they eventually become patients. This dynamic reinforces the importance of a teaching philosophy that transcends mere academics to influence real-world patient care.
A recent incident at Michigan Medicine highlighted this connection. A long-time advocate for interprofessional practice and education (IPE) received treatment from a team that had been students in an IPE course. These practitioners attributed their collaborative skills and patient care approach to the interprofessional education they received, underscoring its long-term impact.
Reflecting on his own health challenges in 2023, Rajesh Mangrulkar experienced firsthand the significance of interprofessional teams, affirming his belief that education is the very essence of healthcare.
At the University of Michigan, initiatives such as the Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (CIPE) and RISE aim to bridge the gap between education and clinical practice, emphasizing that these domains are inseparable. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, U-M reinforces its commitment to integrating education with healthcare delivery.
Education as the Cornerstone of Healthcare
Today’s health education faces several formidable challenges: workforce shortages, increased costs, disparities, and the complexities of modern medicine. These issues demand collaborative strategies across disciplines, which do not form spontaneously. Education plays a crucial role in cultivating these team dynamics deliberately, transforming innovation from a mere concept into actionable progress.
U-M’s approach involves engaging students from diverse health science disciplines, such as medicine, nursing, and public health, to learn in unison. This fosters the development of an expert team, rather than just a team of experts, promoting shared decision-making and mutual respect centered around patient care. Evidence suggests that such teams enhance care quality, reduce burnout, and improve workforce retention.
Dismantling Hierarchies and Cultivating Shared Leadership
Healthcare hierarchies can hinder teamwork and patient safety. Mangrulkar’s experience with the Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model at the Ann Arbor VA highlighted the benefits of a collaborative care approach, focusing on shared responsibility and trust.
Through CIPE and RISE, the University of Michigan is fostering a cultural shift, encouraging learners and faculty to adopt a collaborative mindset. These initiatives are extending beyond the university, partnering with community organizations and health systems to promote shared leadership and innovation.
Translating Education into Practice
The University of Michigan emphasizes the translation of educational concepts into clinical practice. RISE’s Innovator Development Program collaborates with faculty and learners to test and implement innovative ideas. Meanwhile, CIPE’s Thriving Together initiative partners with UM-Health to enhance interprofessional teamwork in clinical settings, leading to measurable improvements in patient care and provider well-being.
Such efforts ensure that students entering the healthcare workforce do so with a strong foundation in interprofessional collaboration. As noted by Thomas Lee of Press Ganey, teams with strong relationships and shared purpose are better equipped to deliver excellent care and support ongoing learning.
Innovation in patient care is evident, with RISE-supported projects enhancing care delivery, from simulation models for early disease detection to training for treating mental health conditions. These initiatives facilitate the translation of education into tangible improvements in patient outcomes.
Building a Collaborative Future
The future of health depends on educators willing to innovate and institutions ready to break down silos. As U-M approaches its Human Health and Well-being theme year, it stands ready to lead these efforts, leveraging its resources and expertise to enhance health education and practice.
Current students, learning the importance of teamwork, are poised to carry this ethos into their professional lives, ensuring that collaborative care becomes the norm. The integration of education and healthcare remains a central focus, reflecting a commitment to improving both domains in tandem.
— By Rajesh Mangrulkar, the Marguerite S. Roll Professor of Medical Education, director of the Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, and executive director of Michigan Medicine RISE. Mangrulkar is the former associate dean for medical student education at the Medical School, where he served for 10 years. A recipient of the Robert J. Glaser Award for Distinguished Medical Teaching, the highest national award given for medical student education, he has spent his career working to transform health professions education at scale. In 2024, he was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow into the National Academies of Practice, where he now serves as chair-elect of the Physicians Academy. He has published over 60 journal articles, given over 250 presentations, and delivered a TEDMED talk on transforming medical education.
