About IPE

IPEC leads Howard University in preparing faculty and students to learn and collaborate with professionals across disciplines through patient-centered, collaborative approaches. We develop, coordinate, and support comprehensive activities, events, practice models, and resources that empower our community to address patient needs with excellence and cultural competency, with special focus on serving underserved and global communities. 

We envision a university-wide culture of collaboration among Howard University's Health and Behavioral Science programs, cultivating culturally responsive, collaborative, and practice-ready professionals across the complete spectrum of health and behavioral science disciplines. 

Foundational Beginnings (1980s) 

Howard University's commitment to interprofessional practice and education traces its roots to the early 1980s with the pioneering Health Care Ethics Course. For over three decades, this innovative program has created an integrative learning environment where students from across the health sciences come together through interdisciplinary lectures and collaborative case presentations led by faculty from multiple health disciplines.

This foundational course exposes students to bioethical principles, patient-provider relationship dynamics, professionalism standards, legal considerations, and moral reasoning concepts—establishing the ethical framework that continues to guide our interprofessional education efforts today.

Expansion and Innovation (2012)

The year 2012 marked a transformative period for Howard University's IPE initiatives. Building upon our strong curricular foundation in healthcare ethics and supported by committed academic and community leadership, we embarked on an ambitious expansion that would reshape healthcare education at our institution.

During this pivotal year, plans for our interdisciplinary simulation center began to take shape. Simultaneously, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the American Dental Education Association awarded Howard University support through the "Minority Dental Faculty Development Program" grant. This program emphasized interprofessional education, team-based care, cultural and linguistic competency, academic mentoring, pipeline development, and academic-community partnerships.

As one of seven participating dental schools, the College of Dentistry established the Howard University College of Dentistry Integrative Center, launching several groundbreaking initiatives. Notable among these was the cross-training program for nurses, where the Family Nurse Practitioner Program incorporated pediatric rotations at the College of Dentistry. Students learned to assess oral cavities and recognize tissue changes, applying their knowledge through community partnerships with the Colgate Bright Smiles Bright Futures Van alongside dental residents and students.

This collaborative training model expanded throughout 2012 and 2013 to include the District of Columbia Foster Care Nursing Group and DC Health Services for Children with Special Needs, preparing nurses to conduct assessments and connect children with safety net services.

Institutional Growth (2014)

The year 2014 brought several milestone achievements that solidified Howard University's position as a leader in interprofessional education. In January, we celebrated the opening of our state-of-the-art Health Sciences Simulation Center, providing dedicated space for collaborative learning experiences.

Simultaneously, the HU Health Sciences IPE Workgroup was established under the Office of the Provost, creating formal institutional support for our initiatives. Students demonstrated their commitment to collaborative care by establishing the Howard University Chapter of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

Our community engagement expanded to Prince George's County, Maryland, through collaboration with the National Congress of Black Women's "Saturday College for Kids" program. Howard students conducted comprehensive health assessments linking oral health to systemic health, covering oral mechanisms, nutrition counseling, hearing and speech evaluation, and pediatric dentistry. These assessments were followed by engaging lunch-and-learn sessions where students shared their career journeys and inspired children to consider health professions.

Global Impact Through Service

Howard University's interprofessional education extends beyond our campus through decades of collaborative service. For over twenty years, the Alternative Spring Break program, sponsored by the Office of the Dean of the Chapel, has provided platforms for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to engage in team-based responses to disasters, social injustice, and health disparities across the United States and internationally.

Additionally, our sixteen-year partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through pre-health profession summer enrichment programs has focused on academic enrichment, interprofessional education concepts, clinician wellness, and team-based care through clinical simulation. The Summer Medical and Dental Education Program and current Summer Health Professions Education Program serve students from dentistry, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy, producing alumni scholars committed to improving national health through collaborative care.

Our Vision Moving Forward

The foundation of our IPE efforts rests on four pillars: enhancing academic excellence, inspiring new knowledge, serving the community, and improving healthcare delivery efficiency and effectiveness. 
As we advance, three strategic goals guide our path:

Goal 1: Knowledge Enhancement

Expanding understanding of IPE concepts through bi-annual training and workshops across Howard's 13 schools and colleges, with strengthened leadership support for university-wide initiatives.

Goal 2: Infrastructure Development

Establishing a dedicated Howard University IPE Center with full-time staff, developing university-wide IPE curriculum based on core competencies, and creating sustainable facilities that centralize and promote innovation.

Goal 3: Partnership Strengthening

Building new academic and community partnerships while strengthening existing collaborations through formalized agreements and expanded service activities.

A Unique Legacy 

Howard University's interprofessional education efforts reflect our institution's core values and renowned legacy. Our unique approach channels pedagogy and technology through the lens of social justice, social determinants of health, health disparities, and health equity. This intersectionality positions us as distinctive leaders and change agents in preparing future health professionals who are equipped to address the complex healthcare challenges of our time. 

Through teamwork, innovation, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Howard University continues to shape the future of collaborative healthcare education and practice.