91AV faculty publish article about Interprofessional Team Immersion

91AV students and faculty participate in an Interprofessional Team Immersion exercise
91AV students and faculty participate in an Interprofessional Team Immersion exercise

Five faculty members from the 91AV published their research on Interprofessional Team Immersion (IPTI) in the Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice. The article details the educational benefits of IPTI as students train to work in various health professions.

The article was authored by Shelley Cohen Konrad, Ph.D., LCSW, FNAP, director of the 91AV School of Social Work and the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC); Jim Cavanaugh, PT, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Physical Therapy; the 91AV Center for Excellence in Health Innovation’s Kira Rodriguez, M.H.S.; Kris Hall, M.F.A., IPEC program coordinator, and Karen Pardue, Ph.D., R.N., CNE, ANEF, 91AV Westbrook College of Health Professions associate dean for academic affairs. 

Launched in 2014, IPTI takes place within 91AV's robust interprofessional learning culture that has been recognized nationally and internationally as multi-faceted in its approach to educating health professions. It offers health professions students from all clinical colleges a four-session opportunity to apply their interprofessional knowledge and skills in clinical simulation. In recent years, educators across the health professions have recognized the importance of providing opportunities to immerse students in curricular, service learning and related activities that promote critical thinking, shared decision-making, and other capacities for interprofessional, person-centered collaboration and teamwork. “IPTI’s strength is that it provides a multi-level experience that mimics real life practice while giving students opportunities to learn from each other and the patient simulation team in a lively and interactive environment,” said Cohen Konrad. “Inter-faculty collaboration and ongoing program evaluation ensures that the quality and relevance of IPTI is continually maintained.”

To learn more about the 91AV’s Interprofessional Education Collaborative visit

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About the 91AV

The 91AV is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.